[patch01]

The Brumbies have claimed the first scalp of their French Tour defeating reigning Top 14 Champions, USA Perpignan, 17-0 at Stade Aimé Giral this morning (AEST).

The win was built on an improved physical display and a phenomenal defensive performance with the visitors holding the seven-times French premiers at bay throughout the match.

Leading 10-0 at half time, the Brumbies were forced to defend their own line for the first 20 minutes of the second term, continually repelling wave after wave of French pick-and-drive of up to nine phases at a time. The defensive achievement was all the more impressive with the side forced to do so with only 14 men after scrumhalf Josh Valentine was sidelined with a yellow card for an early scuffle.

Brumbies coach Tony Rea was proud of his side’s ability to scramble in defence and said the Brumbies showed their true mettle against the French champions.

“The guys prepared well and had their heads on for what was a tough match,” he said. “We learned where we needed to be physically from the first two games and we were able to bully them on the ball and we were rewarded for it. We realised that we needed to win every collision for the 80 minutes, we did and we got the result.

“This tour has been a very demanding one. There’s been a lot of travel, many sleepless nights and limited opportunities for training but tonight the team showed a lot of character. Tonight the tough times on the field moulded the team as a group rather than broke them.”

The Brumbies started in emphatic fashion with outside centre Andrew Smith breaking through from the first lineout of the match. Smith was dragged down two metres from the Perpignan line with an infringement from the ensuing ruck giving flyhalf Christian Lealiifano a straightforward penalty goal.

Patrick Phibbs extended the lead midway through the half when quick turnover ball inside the Brumbies’ half saw the zippy scrumhalf run 70 metres to score under the posts and give his side a 10-point advantage at the break.

Having survived countless raids on their own line in the opening stages of the second stanza, the Brumbies sealed the result 10 minutes from full time when lock Ben Hand charged over under the posts.

Pat McCabe was a standout for the Brumbies in the breakthrough win. The Brumbies fullback was consistently strong in contact and highlighted his performance with a strong kicking game while the halves combination of Phibbs and Lealiifano moved the ball quickly and controlled the play well.

The forwards were well served by hooker Nathan Charles, prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa and flanker Colby Faingaa, who shrugged off an early head knock to remain of his side’s best.

However, the win has come at a cost with Alfi Mafi (suspected broken fibula) and Peter Kimlin (shoulder) unavailable for the final tour match against Toulon, while the fitness of captain Stephen Hoiles (knee) will be determined in the lead in to Thursday’s fixture.

[honeybee]

Phew great game New Zealand against SA mmmm SA won
Fantastic game

[patch01]

Originally Posted by honeybee

Phew great game New Zealand against SA mmmm SA won
Fantastic game

SA won again and congrats to them, but i felt our boys played flat, again ........(even the aussies could've beaten us.............)

With a Tri-Nations record 31 points from flyhalf Morne Steyn, the Springboks notched up their second successive win over New Zealand on Saturday, beating the All Blacks 31-19 in Durban to extend their lead at the top of the Tri-Nations standings.

A number of Springboks were playing in milestone matches and got to celebrate in style; Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers led the Springboks onto the field in their 50th tests, while captain John Smit captained the Boks for a world record 60th time on his home ground in front of friends and family. When he was substituted three minutes from the end of the contest, Smit left the field with a rare self-indulgent grin to the cheers of an adoring crowd.

While Steyn was the star of the show, scoring a try and landing nine out of 10 kicks while playing with an assurance that belies his relative inexperience, he was quick to credit the SA forward pack after the match. "I couldn't have done that without the Bok pack, if our forwards from one to eight had not stood up so strongly," he said.

[patch01]

Originally Posted by patch01

SA won again and congrats to them.............(even the aussies could've beaten us.............)

^^ that comment isn't a detraction against the Boks, they played a flawless game of rugby and deserve every accolade possible.... they made us look like complete clowns.................

[patch01]

Melbourne has won the sole backing of the Australian Rugby Union to join the expanded Super 15 in 2011.

Melbourne beat off bids from western Sydney, rural New South Wales and the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast regions in Queensland to become the sole Australian candidate put forward for inclusion in the expanded competition.

Melbourne's proposed franchise will now go before tournament organisers SANZAR, along with rival bids from South Africa and New Zealand.

ARU chief executive John O'Neill claimed Melbourne, which missed out to the Perth-based Western Force when the competition last expanded in 2006, received the backing of the board as it had the best chance of success.

"At this stage in the evolution of Super Rugby, we believe Melbourne has the best chance of success," said O'Neill.

"We are in a three-nation race for the licence and we want the 15th team in Australia. So we need to focus our energy on what will be our most compelling bid.

"However, that is not to say we are turning our backs on other areas that we consider extremely important to our strategic plans and future development."

************************************************** ******************************

The three interested Melbourne parties - Vic Super Rugby, Belgravia Group and the Victorian Rugby Union - have not always seen eye to eye during the bidding process, but are now being asked to form an uneasy alliance.

Asked if the three foes could work together, O'Neill replied: "We'll soon find out. Melbourne has shown itself to be able to find solutions.

"We're now going to work with the three bidders and the desirable outcome is to put them into one consolidated bid.

"We've spoken to all three parties down there and I think we can align each of their interests fairly elegantly where the ability to run a sporting franchise, a proven ability to run a sporting franchise, the ability to find a franchise and the connection with the community and to the game could be well attended to.

"In doing the due diligence and the assessment by ARU management, each of the three Melbourne bidders had a lot going for them but together they are irresistible.

"We will be encouraging them - with the ARU's help - to get together."

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by patch01

^^ that comment isn't a detraction against the Boks, they played a flawless game of rugby and deserve every accolade possible.... they made us look like complete clowns.................

It is going to be interesting to see how the boks fare away from home
This last game we were lucky Morne Steyn kicking was top class. Most of the points came from penalties

[patch01]

Originally Posted by honeybee

It is going to be interesting to see how the boks fare away from home
This last game we were lucky Morne Steyn kicking was top class. Most of the points came from penalties

I wouldn't write them off HB, the aussies aren't in top form and I thought I heard that Mortlock won't be there and our boys, (All Blacks), well, plain fact is, we win a lot of games through the opposition taking the field, believing they have little chance against us..... when in point of fact, we can be pushed into making mistakes through impetuous play....

The boys get a bit carried away and all of a sudden, we lose the ball and lose the game.....

[honeybee]

OOOps Patch SA against Australia 32-25 SA won please dont bash your head... I could not watch much of the second half as I had visitors.

[patch01]

^^ it's ok HB, i don't follow the wallabies, always been an All Blacks supporter.....

at the end of the day, australia, new zealand and south africa are THE best rugby nations in the world and any game between them is always good value.....

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by patch01

^^ it's ok HB, i don't follow the wallabies, always been an All Blacks supporter.....

at the end of the day, australia, new zealand and south africa are THE best rugby nations in the world and any game between them is always good value.....

oops I thought you were in Australia