The Brumbies were given a major scare by the Cats in a pulsating Vodacom Super 12 encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday night, but they managed to hold on in the dying seconds for a narrow 34-29 win.
The Brumbies led 20-16 at half-time.
The Australians scored four tries to two for a bonus point, but they certainly were worried as the Cats took the game to them throughout and particularly in the closing five minutes.
”I’m proud of the way the guys kept fighting out. Tonight I could look the guys in the eyes in the change room and have respect,” said captain Wikus van Heerden. ”It is disappointing to lose as we were so close, but the guys gave their all.”
In the end, however, the Brumbies maintained their march to a play-off spot, while the Cats’ losing streak stretches to three. The Brumbies were far from lucky, but crucial errors at kick-offs handed them two tries.
”Finishing was the difference,” admitted Van Heerden.
Coach Chester Williams was upbeat.
”While I’m disappointed in the result, I’m happy for the guys who showed tremendous guts,” he said.
One of those was flyhalf Andre Pretorius, who had a perfect night with the boot — despite carrying a stomach bug into the game. He slotted six from six (four penalties and two conversions) for a personal haul of 16 points. His performance did much to keep his side in the game, while centre Jacque Fourie can be proud of his efforts.
For the Brumbies, none was better than diminutive number 10 Matt Giteau. Apart from marshalling his troops magnificently, he scored 19 points via two tries, four conversions and two penalties.
”Matt was a handful, but then there were a few of them out there,” said Van Heerden. Despite the difficulty in containing the dangerous brumbies backs, the Cats were in the game throughout the 80 minutes.
It was the Cats who took the lead via a Pretorius penalty in the first minute, but that did not last long as the Brumbies showed just why they are favourites for the title.
They scored from their very first attacking foray into Cats territory when flyhalf Matt Giteau collected a neat chip to go over untouched just three minutes later, and the signs were ominous.
Pretorius, though, was in fine touch with the boot and kicked two more sweetly struck three-pointers, but Giteau replied with one of his own to leave the home side trailing by one point midway through the half.
The Cats’ performance was undoubtedly up a gear from the previous weekend’s display and they deservedly regained the lead — after some pressure — when Wayne Julies put his centre partner, Fourie, away for a fabulous try. Fourie still had plenty of work to do after receiving the ball outside the 22, but he powered past several defenders. Pretorius converted (16-10).
That was the last time the Cats featured on the scoreboard in the first half as the Brumbies came fighting back — centre Gene Fairbanks broke the line before off-loading to fullback Sam Norton-Knight, who scored under the poles despite close attention from scrumhalf Paul Delport in the 29th minute.
Giteau’s conversion restored the lead to the visitors. He added a penalty shortly thereafter to give his team a four-point cushion at the break.
The topsy-turvy nature of the game continued after the restart, when the Cats scored a stunning try, only to see the Brumbies return the compliment immediately from Joel Wilson. 27-23 to the Brumbies.
Both sides made changes — once again hooker Schalk Brits was awesome — and though the game stalled momentarily, it was not long before it again exploded into life.
Cats lock Boela du Plooy spilled a gilt-edged chance to score, but Giteau made no mistake to cap a superb individual display with his second five-pointer on 67 minutes to make the score 34-29 to the visitors and set up a grand-stand finish.
The Cats had chances to score an upset in the dying moments, but the game ended with the Brumbies victorious — only just.
Next weekend, the Brumbies travel to Durban to take on the Sharks, while the Cats host the Highlanders in a must-win match. — Sapa