A 77th-minute Corey Toole try has allowed the Brumbies to extend their streak against the NSW Waratahs to 11 games after stealing a come-from-behind 40-36 Super Rugby Pacific victory.
In an excellent Wallabies selection trial on the eve of Eddie Jones naming his first national team squad, the Brumbies trailed 33-21 with 20 minutes left and by one point three minutes from time and looked at risk of losing to their arch-rivals for the first time since 2018.
But a scintillating pass from bench five-eighth Jack Debreczeni allowed Toole to grab the vital points and seal victory in the pulsating GIO Stadium encounter.
The Brumbies looked to be on the ropes when down 12 points with 20 minutes to play, but flipped the switch via forward dominance with tries for No.8 Pete Samu and hooker Lachie Lonergan.
NSW five-eighth Ben Donaldson slotted a penalty to take a 36-35 lead, before Toole’s heroics ensured the Brumbies protected their winning run against the Waratahs.
The Brumbies were only in the game thanks to prop James Slipper, who scored a remarkable double that included a storming run when he split the NSW line untouched.
Waratahs winger Mark Nawaqanitawase produced try of the night to extend the lead to 33-21, breaking the line and then chipping for himself before regathering and grounding the ball.
In one of the Tahs’ best performances of the Super Rugby Pacific season, young gun Max Jorgensen produced a sizzling line break before he put centre Lalakai Foketi through for a 28-14 lead.
The Waratahs seemed certain for a drought-breaking win after 40 minutes, finding the line three times including through winger Dylan Pietsch, the beneficiary of a clever line-break from Michael Hooper as the visitors put their foot down.
But the Brumbies hung in and struck back through centre Len Ikitau after a delicate touch kick from Tamati Tua.
So dominant was the Brumbies’ scrum, they forced two NSW tighthead props to the sin-bin for repeated fouling on the try-line, a sequence that looked to be capped with a Rory Scott try before it was brought back for an obstruction.
The Tahs struck back despite their two-man disadvantage via Jed Holloway, before Slipper’s effort gave the Brumbies a lifeline.
Toole put himself firmly on Wallabies boss Jones’ radar with another strong outing, his elite speed matched with a series of bruising runs and defensive efforts.
Jorgensen is another bolter that could earn a nod, his brilliant attacking work complemented with a defensive work-rate that included a magical try-saving tackle on Toole.
The win leaves the Brumbies 5-1 for the season, while the Waratahs are 1-5.
