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The ACT Brumbies have survived a scare from a spirited Moana Pasifika facet to keep up their unbeaten Tremendous Rugby Pacific document with a rollicking 62-36 win in Canberra.
The aptly named Miracle Fai’ilagi – noticed on the World Rugby Pacific mix in Samoa final 12 months – set the tone within the second minute with a galloping intercept strive on Saturday.
And winless Moana kept throwing punches in the hunt for a significant upset at GIO Stadium, even beating the Brumbies at their very own sport with a effectively labored rolling maul strive.
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But Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham was capable of lean on a top quality bench to drag away late within the second half, highlighted by Ben O’Donnell’s very good maiden strive that was arrange by fellow former Australian sevens star Corey Toole.
“The quickest man, just about, within the competitors,” 9 and Stan Sport commentator Morgan Turinui stated of breakout winger Toole.
Ollie Sapsford – who shifted to exterior centre after Len Ikitau’s late withdrawal – was additionally spectacular for the Brumbies, who returned to second on the standings behind the additionally unbeaten Chiefs.
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Subsequent up for the Brumbies is a mouthwatering date with the defending champion Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.
The now 2-2 Crusaders returned to kind with a gutsy 34-28 win over the Blues on Saturday in a rematch of final 12 months’s last at Auckland’s Eden Park.
The Brumbies will first must nurse some critical bumps and bruises.
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“It is a huge rating however gee Moana Pasifika pushed this Brumbies facet in all facets,” former ACT and Wallabies lock Justin Harrison stated.
“The scoreline is not actually reflective of what they put in.”
It was additionally an emotional return to Canberra for Brumbies legend Christian Lealiifano, who now captains Moana.
“We got here to Canberra with excessive ambitions mate, and 36 factors, you suppose you get near profitable a contest,” Lealiifano instructed Turinui.
“I believe simply the bodily battle, we misplaced that tonight and that was disappointing for us man. It is in our DNA to play bodily and the Brumbies actually matched us and form of overtook us in that house.”
Moana’s subsequent match is towards the Hurricanes at Mt Sensible Stadium subsequent Saturday.
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