Discarded Wallaby Noah Lolesio shines as Brumbies end Hurricanes’ winning run in Super Rugby Pacific

Noah-Lolesio-Brumbies-v-Hurricanes-SRP-2024-Alamy

Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio played a starring role in his team’s 27-19 Super Rugby Pacific victory against the Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday.

The 24-year-old fly-half caught the eye with an excellent all-round performance as a solid goal-kicking display and excellent game management helped his team achieve what not other side has done this year – hand the Hurricanes their first defeat of the season.

In the end, Lolesio finished with a 17-point contribution courtesy of a well-taken try, three conversions and two penalties.

The Brumbies‘ other points came via tries from Tamati Tua and Ollie Sapsford while Xavier Numia (2) and Jordie Barrett scored tries for the Hurricanes, and Brett Cameron succeeded with a couple of conversions.

Click here for scorers

Lolesio’s performance will also be a timely reminder to new Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt of his ability after he last played for Australia in 2022 as former Wallabies boss Eddie Jones deemed him surplus to requirements in 2023.

Lolesio got the ball rolling for the Brumbies in Canberra when he crossed for the opening try as early as the fifth minute.

This, after the home side launched a lineout drive deep inside Hurricanes territory and Ryan Lonergan found Lolesio with a well-timed pass before the fly-half crossed the whitewash in the left-hand corner.

He dusted himself off and added the extras from close to the touchline but the Hurricanes struck back when Numia went over for his first five-pointer in the 12th minute.

Cameron’s conversion attempt was off target and it was all the Brumbies during the rest of the half with Lolesio leading the way as they were rewarded with three further tries before half-time.

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In the 16th minute, Tua showed his class when he glided through a gaping hole in the Hurricanes defence to score his try and shortly afterwards Sapsford rounded off superbly after the ball went through several pairs of hands in the build-up.

Lolesio succeeded with both conversions and added a penalty in the 27th minute before Numia scored his second try five minutes later, which meant the Brumbies held a 24-12 lead at the interval.

The second stanza was a much tighter affair as the Hurricanes tried to narrow the gap but the only points scored in that period came during the early stages of the half.

First, Lolesio slotted his second penalty in the 45th minute and one minute later Barrett dotted down with Cameron adding the conversion.

And although Super Rugby Pacific‘s table-toppers launched several attacks during the rest of the match, they were kept at bay by a resilient defensive effort from the Brumbies.

The teams

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper

Replacements: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Jahrome Brown, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Andy Muirhead

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Kini Naholo, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 James O’Reilly, 1 Xavier Numia

Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Riley Higgins, 23 Bailyn Sullivan

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Jeremy Markey (Australia)

TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)