Brumbies defeat Highlanders to enhance Super 12 position

CANBERRA – Australian international Joe Roff scored 20 points as the ACT Brumbies rebounded from a week of internal ructions with a 50-18 win over Otago to move 11 points clear atop the Super 12 rugby standings at the start of round eight.

Defending champions Auckland got their campaign back on track with a 56-19 win over the Bulls and its heavyweight pack of South African internationals. Carlos Spencer orchestrated the win as the Blues moved from 10th place to seventh with their third triumph of the season.At Canberra, Wallaby winger Roff scored a try and kicked six conversions and a penalty goal as the Brumbies moved to 30 points from six wins.The Brumbies were coming off three days of high drama, with David Nucifora informed mid week that his tenure as coach would end after this season and Australian skipper George Gregan later relegated to the bench.Gregan, who missed two training sessions at the start of the week, joined the game after half-time and sparked a resurgence as the Brumbies increased their lead from 29-13 to 43-13.Auckland gave new momentum to its defence by scoring nine tries against three in a comprehensive win over the Bulls that moved them up to 17 competition points.Centre Sam Tuitupou and winger Joe Rokocoko scored two tries apiece, while flyhalf Spencer scored one and engineered several more.Auckland took 12 minutes to post its first points and 15 minutes to score its first try but turned a close match into a rout when it scored seven tries in the second and third quarters.The Bulls scored three tries and were unlucky not to take at least a four-try bonus point from the match.They were denied a first half try by the video referee and they pressured the Auckland goal line, fruitlessly, for much of the last 10 minutes.”I think we were in with a chance in the last 10 minutes, we really wanted to get a bonus point but their defence was great and we couldn’t score,” said Bulls captain Victor Matfield.Super 12 results collated: * At Johannesburg Golden Cats (SA) 23 Waikato Chiefs (NZL) 21 * At Durban Coastal Sharks (SA) 29 Canterbury Crusaders (NZL) 25 * At Brisbane Queensland Reds (AUS) 20 Western Stormers (SA) 21 Friday * At Canberra ACT Brumbies (AUS) 50 Otago Highlanders (NZL) 18 * At Albany Auckland Blues (NZL, holders) 56 Northern Bulls (SA) 19 * Byes: New South Wales Waratahs (AUS) and Wellington Hurricanes (NZL).- Nampa-AP-AFPCarlos Spencer orchestrated the win as the Blues moved from 10th place to seventh with their third triumph of the season.At Canberra, Wallaby winger Roff scored a try and kicked six conversions and a penalty goal as the Brumbies moved to 30 points from six wins.The Brumbies were coming off three days of high drama, with David Nucifora informed mid week that his tenure as coach would end after this season and Australian skipper George Gregan later relegated to the bench.Gregan, who missed two training sessions at the start of the week, joined the game after half-time and sparked a resurgence as the Brumbies increased their lead from 29-13 to 43-13.Auckland gave new momentum to its defence by scoring nine tries against three in a comprehensive win over the Bulls that moved them up to 17 competition points.Centre Sam Tuitupou and winger Joe Rokocoko scored two tries apiece, while flyhalf Spencer scored one and engineered several more.Auckland took 12 minutes to post its first points and 15 minutes to score its first try but turned a close match into a rout when it scored seven tries in the second and third quarters.The Bulls scored three tries and were unlucky not to take at least a four-try bonus point from the match.They were denied a first half try by the video referee and they pressured the Auckland goal line, fruitlessly, for much of the last 10 minutes.”I think we were in with a chance in the last 10 minutes, we really wanted to get a bonus point but their defence was great and we couldn’t score,” said Bulls captain Victor Matfield.Super 12 results collated: * At Johannesburg Golden Cats (SA) 23 Waikato Chiefs (NZL) 21 * At Durban Coastal Sharks (SA) 29 Canterbury Crusaders (NZL) 25 * At Brisbane Queensland Reds (AUS) 20 Western Stormers (SA) 21 Friday * At Canberra ACT Brumbies (AUS) 50 Otago Highlanders (NZL) 18 * At Albany Auckland Blues (NZL, holders) 56 Northern Bulls (SA) 19 * Byes: New South Wales Waratahs (AUS) and Wellington Hurricanes (NZL).- Nampa-AP-AFP