Coach Protects Charlie Cale After Early Exit in Brumbies’ Narrow Victory
Coach Stephen Larkham revealed that he made a difficult decision to remove star back-rower Charlie Cale from the field early during the ACT Brumbies’ 14-10 win over the Highlanders. The move came just 27 minutes into the Super Rugby Pacific clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday.
Cale, who is the Brumbies’ top try-scorer, was taken off as a precautionary tactical replacement after showing signs of being affected by heavy contact. Later, he reported experiencing shoulder soreness and will undergo further assessment in the coming days.
Despite losing one of their key players, the Brumbies managed to secure a narrow victory, though their performance was not without issues. They turned over the ball 18 times, which highlighted some challenges in their game plan.
Larkham explained the decision to take Cale off, stating: “He’s part of the nationally medically managed players, so I’m just going to say … that we took him off for next week. I’m protecting him for the Wallabies’ campaign down the track.”
The win marked a crucial moment for the Brumbies, who had returned from a bye week where they had lost three of their previous four matches. This poor run followed a strong start to the competition, where they had climbed to the top of the ladder with a 3-0 record.
Friday’s victory helped ease some pressure on the team, moving them into third place, just one point behind the Hurricanes, who lead the table with 25 points.
Key Performances from the Match
Winger Corey Toole stood out with 63 metres gained and three defenders beaten, showcasing his ability to create opportunities. Meanwhile, captain Ryan Lonergan delivered a standout performance in his 100th game, recording 105 passes and scoring a try.
Veteran forward Allan Alaalatoa, who has earned 88 caps for the Wallabies, returned from a back injury and contributed with six tackles and four passes. Lachlan Lonergan also made his season debut after recovering from a knee injury sustained in July, making three carries and beating one defender.
The Highlanders made six changes ahead of the match but struggled to break through the Brumbies’ solid defense. However, winger Jona Nareki scored a second-half try that threatened to create a boilover.
A late yellow card to hooker Henry Bell proved costly for the Highlanders, despite Ethan de Groot’s efforts. De Groot, an All-Black, recorded 16 tackles and nine passes, leading the home team’s charge.
A Hard-Fought Game
The Brumbies started slowly, but they eventually scored their first try when Ryan Lonergan picked up the ball from the ruck and powered over the line in the 35th minute. The Highlanders were trailing 7-3 at halftime but applied significant pressure in the second half.
They took the lead when Nareki kicked and caught his chip in the 63rd minute. However, the Brumbies capitalized on the yellow card to Henry Bell, with Luke Reimer scoring a crucial try in the 74th minute to seal the victory.
