3 minute read
The Brumbies are heading to Argentina to face the Jaguares for a place in the Super Rugby final after beating the Sharks in Canberra.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says the best defence he's seen in his five years at the club earned them a Super Rugby semi-final berth.
The Brumbies are one win away from their first final in five years after dispatching the Sharks 38-13 at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
It marked the first time the Brumbies have won seven straight games in a season and they'll now travel to Argentina and face the Jaguares for a spot in the decider.
"Our defence is as good as it's been since I've been at the club and we take a lot of confidence out of that," McKellar said.
"On the other side of that is a lot of our attacking opportunities coming on the back of really good defence, with turnover ball. Our game is in good shape but so is the Jaguares.
"We need to recover well and go over to Buenos Aires and get a result."
The Brumbies could host their first decider since 2004 if the Hurricanes beat the Crusaders next Saturday, but first they must overcome the gruelling trip to South America.
The Australian conference winners have won nine of their past 10 games and the red-hot form continued in freezing conditions against the Sharks as they scored three superb first-half tries.
It laid the platform for victory as the Sharks came into the game in the second half but the home side's defence was resolute in front of 11,1120 fans.
"I'm really proud of the boys. The Sharks threw a lot at us and the way the boys kept digging deep for each other was special," said Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano.
"The way these boys handle whatever is thrown at them is amazing, we have a big job ahead of us but we'll prepare well."
Brumbies back-rower Pete Samu scored in the first minute after receiving an inside ball from lock Rory Arnold and dashing 35 metres to cross between the posts.
Curwin Bosch then got the Sharks on the board with a 50-metre penalty, but Arnold had his second try assist on 10 minutes when he put Henry Speight into the corner for a 14-3 lead.
The teams traded penalty goals before the Sharks conceded their first rolling maul try of the season when Samu bagged a double on 24 minutes.
The Brumbies held a 24-6 lead at the break but the visitors closed the gap when Andre Esterhuizen barged through Irae Simone to score in the 56th minute.
Joe Powell iced the game when he dummied from the ruck and ran 20 metres to score in the 72nd minute while his replacement, reserve halfback Matt Lucas, finished the job with a try in the final minute.
"It's disappointing. We were one of the top defensive teams all year and to concede those three flash tries early on in the game really put us on the back foot," said Sharks coach Robert du Preez.
The Jaguares are also in-form having won 10 of their past 11 games; the Brumbies most recent loss came against the Argentine side in Buenos Aires eight weeks ago.
