Tahs hold off Brumbies, end long Super losing streak
The opportunistic NSW Waratahs have snapped a 13-match losing streak to the Brumbies with a dramatic 25-23 Super Rugby Pacific home win.
The Tahs scored 21 unanswered points to lead by 15 at halftime.
But the resilient Brumbies, who played with 14 men for a quarter of the game, got within three with just over 12 minutes left on Satuday night.
Max Jorgensen soothed the nerves of the home supporters in the 20,572 crowd, when he chipped ahead and then toed the ball forward, with centre Joey Walton winning the chase.
The anxiety returned within three minutes, as the never-say-die visitors hit back, with winger Andy Muirhead catching a crossfield kick from Jack Debreczeni following great work from Wallabies centre Len Ikitau.
The conversion cut the deficit to three, but the Waratahs held on to record their first victory over the Brumbies since 2018 and first over them at Allianz Stadium since 2015.
The win lifted the Sydney-based team above the side from the capital up to fourth on the ladder.
Brumbies five-eighth Noah Lolesio kicked two early penalties and the visitors enjoyed a barely believable 97 per cent of territory after 14 minutes.
But things unravelled from that time after a break in play caused by an injury to hooker Mahe Vailani, who was a late inclusion the starting side after Dave Porecki pulled out.
Shortly after play resumed the Waratahs scored a couple of long distance tries off turnovers against the run of play to tilt the match in their favour.
Halfback Teddy Wilson crossed after the Tahs moved the ball quickly down the left.
However, it appeared NSW fullback Andrew Kellaway might have touched the sideline early in the buildup, one of a few decisions that appeared to irk the Brumbies.
The visitors were punished for another turnover, when winger Triston Reilly kicked the ball forward from close to halfway and regathered after a friendly bounce to score.
The Waratahs added a third try through flanker Rob Leota, who scooped up a bounce pass from Jorgensen and pushed off winger Andy Muirhead.
Rob Leota pulling out all the tricks 🪄#SuperRugbyPacific #WARvBRU pic.twitter.com/mhjhg3FpcT
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 22, 2025
The Brumbies were down to 14 at the time with hooker Billy Pollard in the bin for a high tackle.
They started the second half well and appeared to have got five points back when fullback Tom Wright crossed after a 20-phase move.
But the score was rubbed out upon review with Lolesio judged to have knocked on in the leadup.
Undaunted by another setback the away side produced another multi-phase move with captain and prop Allan Alaalatoa barging over from close range.
They suffered another blow with flanker Tom Hooper binned for a dangerous lifting tackle in the 55th minute.
Flanker Luke Reimer crashed over from a trademark Brumbies drive from a lineout to keep them in touch and set up a thrilling finish.
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