Cipriani the hero for Rebels
Danny Cipriani kicked a last-minute penalty to shock the Brumbies and give Melbourne Rebels their first ever Super Rugby win.
Last Updated: 25/02/11 1:33pm
Danny Cipriani kicked a last-minute penalty to shock the Brumbies 25-24 and give Melbourne Rebels their first ever Super Rugby victory.
The English fly-half nailed the all-important attempt from 37 metres out to send AAMI Park into raptures as the hosts erased the memory of their 43-0 opening-day defeat by the Waratahs.
Cipriani was influential throughout and also provided the kick that ended the contest for good when he cleared a last-ditch attack from the Brumbies.
He scored 20 points in total, kicking six penalties and converting his side's first try in the competition, which was scored by veteran centre Stirling Mortlock.
Cipriani, who is being investigated by the Rebels for an alleged incident in a nightclub, got the franchise's first Super Rugby points on the board to a huge roar on 15 minutes.
It made the score 3-3 after Matt Giteau had earlier given the visitors the lead, and the Australia international regained the lead for his side in the 22nd minute.
Cipriani brought the scores level again shortly afterwards and on the half-hour mark he made it 9-6 to hand the Rebels the lead.
Try
But the Brumbies soon hit back as Giteau slotted over another penalty before full-back Pat McCabe was at the end of an overlap to score the first try of the contest.
The Rebels trailed 16-9 but were able to bring themselves back into the game with two penalties in quick succession shortly after the break.
Both sides then threatened to score tries but were denied by crucial turnovers when camped on the opposition line.
And Giteau gave the Brumbies a four-point cushion after a smart drop-goal with 25 minutes left on the clock.
But home hopes were revived when Cooper Vuna broke down the touchline, drew three defenders and off-loaded to Mortlock, who dived over for the score.
The Brumbies replied almost immediately, however, as Giteau combined with Adam Ashley-Cooper after the restart to play in Henry Speight at the corner.
But Giteau was off-target with the conversion and when the Rebels were awarded a penalty in the dying stages, Cipriani stepped up to give them the narrowest of wins.
