CANBERRA, Australia: Auckland flyhalf Isa Nacewa scored a try and kicked two conversions and a penalty to lead the Blues to a 17-15 win over the ACT Brumbies in a Super 14 rugby match Saturday.
The Brumbies led 9-7 at halftime on Julien Huxley's three penalties in five attempts, including one from 48 meters. Nacewa scored the only try of the first half in the eighth minute.
The match was played in steady rain and lightning throughout the first half. The conditions made handling difficult for both sides, with Brumbies flyhalf Stephen Larkham, playing his first match for more than three months, particularly struggling with his timing.
The Brumbies found themselves with a penalty from just the second ruck of the match but Huxley was unable to open the scoring with his shot from 22 meters.
He opened the home side's scoring three minutes later with a penalty goal from 40 out and hit another in the sixth minute to give the Brumbies a 6-0 lead.
Wallaby winger Mark Gerrard — in a surprise return to the bench from a knee injury suffered in last week's win over the Waikato Chiefs — replaced Peter Playford, who left the field with a face injury after only six minutes.
The Blues grabbed their try when All Black inside center Luke McAlister ran through the Queensland defense and sent Nacewa over, the conversion giving the New Zealand side a 7-6 lead.
Huxley landed his long-range penalty from near the center of the ground in the 19th minute to give the Brumbies a lead they carried to halftime.
Auckland 17 (Isa Nacewa, Saimone Taumoepeau tries, Nacewa 2 conversions, penalty) ACT 15 (Julian Huxley 5 penalties).
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