Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Brumbies outclass Force to return to the top of the Super Rugby AU ladder

(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

The undefeated Brumbies have returned to the top of the Super Rugby AU ladder with a 24-0 bonus-point win over the Western Force in Sydney. After opening with two long-range tries in the opening five minutes, the Brumbies never looked back as they completed a clean sweep of victories over their four Australian rivals in 2020.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unbeaten in the new domestic competition, the Brumbies leapfrogged Queensland on the ladder after the Reds had a round four bye. As they were in gallant defeats to the Reds and NSW Waratahs, the Force were plucky in the Leichhardt Oval on a wet night.

But the Brumbies were simply too slick in the backs and too powerful in the forwards, with dynamic No8 Pete Samu, half-back Joe Powell and inside centre Irae Simone the stand-outs.

Video Spacer

RugbyPass brings you the latest edition of The Aussie Rugby Show featuring Drew Mitchell

Video Spacer

RugbyPass brings you the latest edition of The Aussie Rugby Show featuring Drew Mitchell

The ACT outfit made a lightning start, with winger Tom Wright finishing off a dazzling 75-metre try after just 80 seconds. The Brumbies’ second five-pointer, an 88-metre effort completed by Simone, was even better.

Up 12-0 after six minutes, it looked like being a one-sided contest. But, despite being kept scoreless for the first time in Super Rugby since 2007, the spirited Force kept the Brumbies at bay until flanker Will Miller crossed out wide three minutes after half-time to all but seal the victory.

It would not be a Brumbies game without a driving maul try from the ACT side so, fittingly, replacement hooker Connal McInerney bagged one in the 66th minute.

Australia’s Super Rugby conference winners the past two years, the Brumbies have not lost a derby since March last year and now face the Reds back in Canberra next Saturday night. The Reds had a bye weekend, the Rebels defeating the Waratahs in the round’s other match on Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

BRUMBIES 24 (McInerney, Miller, Simone, Wright tries; Kuenzle 2 cons)

FORCE 0

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

M
MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

67 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Steve Hansen endures worst start to a season despite All Blacks SOS Steve Hansen endures worst start to a season despite All Blacks SOS
Search