The ACT Brumbies have had to roll up their sleeves to notch a much harder-earned 24-0 Super Rugby Pacific victory over Moana Pasifika than the end scoreline suggests.
Try-scoring doubles to fleet-footed winger Corey Toole and replacement hooker Billy Pollard ultimately secured the Brumbies back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
For almost an hour, though, Saturday’s match in Pukekohe seemed destined to finish as the lowest-scoring affair in Super Rugby’s 30-year history.
The first points weren’t posted until the 41st minute after both sides had players held up over the line either side of Moana winger Fine Inise having a try overturned by the TMO for a lineout infringement in the lead-up.
But Toole showcased his lightning speed to pounce on an Andy Muirhead chip kick in a spectacular counter-attacking play 30 seconds after the halftime siren had sounded.
The heartbreaker took the wind out of Moana’s sails after the home team had enjoyed the bulk of possession and territory as well as a one-man advantage for 10 minutes of the opening stanza after Brumbies lock Tom Hooper was yellow-carded.
Pollard’s first of two driving maul tries in the 55th minute ensured the Highlanders’ 6-0 win over the Crusaders in 2009 remains the lowest aggregate total of points for a Super Rugby match in any version of the competition.
He jagged a second – and his sixth for 2025 – to give the Brumbies an unbeatable 17-0 lead, before Toole dived over in the corner late following some brilliant work from replacement scrumhalf Harrison Goddard and fullback Tom Wright.
Ironically, the dour contest on New Zealand’s North Island came after the Brumbies piled on 122 points in their previous two 60-21 and 62-36 wins over Moana.
The victory shot the Brumbies up to second on the ladder ahead of a home game next Saturday against the Hurricanes.
