Sean Maloney: Brumby Jack’s Troubling Night Revisited as Rampaging Props Dominate the Super Rugby Spotlight

We’re only midway through the Super Rugby Pacific season, yet it’s already impossible not to call it the most thrilling and unpredictable one to date.

The results have turned into something of a lottery, with props scoring from as far out as 50 metres, and Aussie derbies that once drew critique for being a ‘grind’ now presenting as captivating, high-quality entertainment. It’s been utterly chaotic.

Alongside the SRP excitement, the weekend featured action at the Hong Kong Sevens, the Super Rugby Women’s competition has concluded its regular season, and a surprise cameo from a rugby media legend added to the drama.

RUNAWAY ROBERTSON

For many rugby enthusiasts, few sights are more exhilarating than a prop running at pace.

Though rare, these moments instantly earn their place in the annals of the game.

Matt Dunning, the former Wallabies prop renowned for his massive frame, electrified the Sydney Football Stadium with several remarkable long-distance runs.

Greg Holmes famously stormed to the try line from 60 metres out during a Test against Ireland.

Now, these legends have gained company in the form of Western Force prop Tom Robertson.

This 115 kg dynamo, complete with cauliflower ears and remarkable scrummaging prowess, took off from halfway at Suncorp Stadium following a pop pass from Nick Champion de Crespigny, proving impossible to stop… until he was.

‘Throbber’ was halted a mere five metres from the line, yet the momentum carried him all the way to the try line, with two defenders clinging to him.

“Honestly, I was just lucky it was so wet,” he modestly remarked at Brisbane Airport before their return flight on Sunday.

His coach Simon Cron perfectly captured the magic of the moment during the broadcast on Nine and Stan Sport.

“Wasn’t that good to watch? He’s an exceptional ball carrier, our big Throbber. What a beautiful man.”

Indeed, Cronny.

TIZZANO GOES TOP

Carlo Tizzano’s remarkable season with the Force continued on Saturday as he made history for the club.

His two-try effort, marking his third double in the year, propelled him to the title of the Force’s leading single-season try-scorer, a remarkable feat in the club’s 20-year history.

Tizzano surpassed the classy Scott Staniforth, who held the record with nine tries back in 2009.

The tenacious backrower, known for his scrappy style and love for hand-to-hand combat, must have caught the eye of Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who was in attendance for the derby at Suncorp.

DEMOLITION DERBIES

For an extended period over the last 15 years of Super Rugby, Aussie fans had bemoaned that the New Zealand derbies were simply more entertaining.

You’ve likely heard the comments: “It’s like watching a different sport… those 5.30pm games are incredible. The Aussie sides just cancel each other out and it’s hard to watch.”

No longer!

The Reds versus Force encounter was a mix of brilliance and brutality amidst atrocious conditions.

The earlier encounter this season was decided in the 84th minute.

Last week, the Brumbies and Waratahs put on a show in Sydney.

Back in round two, the Force triumphed over the Brumbies in Canberra for the first time in over 5000 days.

To sum it up, Aussie derbies are back in vogue.

Mark April 12 on your calendars; the clash between the Reds and the Brumbies in Brisbane is not to be missed.

POWER OF PELLEGRINI AND PASIFIKA

Moana Pasifika pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent rugby history, putting the Crusaders to the sword in Christchurch on Saturday.

They notched the highest points ever scored against the Crusaders at their home ground, winning comfortably 45-29.

For context, analytics had predicted a home team victory by 22 points.

Central to this emotional win was a flyhalf with strong ties to Sydney, now one of Pasifika’s key players.

Pat Pellegrini, a junior from the West Harbour Pirates, also shone with Randwick in the Shute Shield.

He has represented NSW at both schoolboys and under-20s levels.

Now a Tonga international, the 26-year-old made his debut in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, earning three caps.

Pellegrini scored a sensational try and was named man of the match in Christchurch.

Moana Pasifika faces the Waratahs next, where Pellegrini will meet several familiar opponents in Auckland.

BRUMBIES BOUNCE BACK

The Brumbies faced a significant test from the Highlanders in Canberra but managed to secure the win just in time before their bye week.

This victory, against a strong Highlanders side, keeps them firmly in the top four and in contention for the finals.

A familiar figure in the capital, former Brumbies media manager Elliot Woods, caught up with the Stan crew after the game on Friday to reminisce about some of the amusing off-field antics he had experienced.

Most famously, he recalled the “Brumby Jack incident” of 2014, when he allowed Clyde Rathbone’s brother, Dayne, to wear the mascot suit for the night.

Dayne had always dreamed of being a mascot at a game, so ‘Woodsy’ took it upon himself to back him up with the decision-makers.

Regrettably, things went awry at halftime when Dayne, loaded with Powerade and short of breath inside the costume, attempted too many cartwheels.

This led to him crawling on all fours and projectile vomiting in front of bewildered fans.

“While you might find that amusing, I had to explain myself to the board,” he recounted to me later.

There are plenty more hilarious tales, such as when one of Woods’ friends gained access to coach Jake White’s Twitter account on Woods’ phone, and commenced live-tweeting during the match.

Miraculously, he survived that debacle too, though hearing him recount it may have evoked a hint of PTSD.

As former Brumbies halfback Nic White remarked to me on Sunday: “Woodsy is one of the greats.”

HECTIC IN HONG KONG

You’d be hard-pressed to find more rugby legends gathered in one spot than those present at Kai Tak Stadium for the Hong Kong Sevens.

The line-up was impressive: Brian O’Driscoll, Bryan Habana, Drew Mitchell, Waisale Serevi, Matt Giteau, Sean Fitzpatrick, Rob Kearney, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Alicia Lucas, Simon Shaw, Scott Hastings, Andy Goode, and Jim Hamilton—just to name a few.

On the pitch, the Aussie teams excelled.

With an average age of just 21, the women’s team pushed New Zealand to the brink in the final, losing by only a converted try.

Maddi Levi was outstanding once again, breaking the tournament record for tries scored in Hong Kong.

The men also performed admirably, overcoming South Africa and Fiji to secure a bronze medal, with 19-year-old Sid Harvey scoring the decisive try in their final match.

It was an unforgettable weekend at the revamped stadium, now located on the mainland.

SUPER RUGBY WOMEN’S SEMIS SORTED

We’re all set for the SRW playoffs following the end of the regular season.

NSW narrowly defeated a strong Brumbies side, while Queensland put on an impressive display against the Force to finalise the semi-final matchups.

The Waratahs will take on the Force at Leichhardt Oval, and the Reds will face the Drua in Brisbane.

After an unexpected loss in round one, the Waratahs have regained their title favouritism, but the Reds look dangerously potent, led by Eva Karpani.

The Wallaroos prop bagged three tries over the weekend and appears to have gotten even quicker.

You won’t want to miss the full highlights reel of Karpani’s performance as she was simply brilliant.

Join us on Monday night for Between Two Posts with Morgan Turinui and Matt Burke, and then tune in again on Tuesday for BTP Extra with the weekend’s hero, Robertson.