Brumbies Win 50-24 Over Crusaders in Slipper's 200th Game

The ACT Brumbies secured a commanding 50-24 victory over the defending champion Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch on Sunday, ending a 26-year drought at the venue and marking prop James Slipper's milestone 200th Super Rugby appearance with a try. The win, in the second round of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, propelled the Brumbies to the top of the standings with two bonus-point triumphs.

Slipper, 36, became the first Australian to reach 200 Super Rugby games, trailing only former All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett's record of 202. Debuting for the Queensland Reds in 2010, he has played 104 matches for the Reds and 96 for the Brumbies since joining in 2019. On Sunday, he scored his 11th career try in the 30th minute, capitalizing on a break by fullback Andy Muirhead to touch down in the corner. Replaced after 53 minutes, Slipper's effort contributed to the Brumbies' eight tries to the Crusaders' four.

The match showcased the Brumbies' balanced attack, with their forwards laying a solid foundation through scrum dominance and pick-and-drives, while the backs exploited gaps in fine conditions. Muirhead opened the scoring with a try in the 20th minute, filling in effectively...