The Brumbies have put the Hurricanes to the sword in Canberra with a 52-10 demolition of last years finalists.
The home side scored seven tries in total to secure a bonus point with tries spread right across the team. There was the usual rolling maul efforts mixed in with some new tricks.
The Match
The Brumbies took their time to get into the game following a knock on right of the kick off.
The Hurricanes attempted to use their new midfield combo with a number of crash balls from new inside centre Ngani Laumape but the Brumbies defence held them out and all the Hurricanes could settle for was a penalty goal to Beauden Barrett.
The Brumbies replied with their own penalty goal to Christian Lealiifano after ten minutes then it was all Brumbies for the the rest of the half from that point.
Tevita Kuridrani got a helping hand from David Pocock to score the opening try from close range as the Brumbies picked up the pace of the game.
Despite some issues with the tackle for the Brumbies, they were able to keep the Hurricanes at bay with a strong scrummaging display. A stroke of luck from what appeared to be a nothing kick from Henry Speight saw the Brumbies with a five metre scrum and it was new Argentinian recruit Tomas Cubelli who scooted over.
There had been talk of a new Brumbies attacking pattern and they used a very sneaky play where it looked like a rolling maul was on the cards, a flick pass to Moore who then gave the last pass to David Pocock. Lealiifano’s kicking was on point as he landed his third conversion of the half to give the Brumbies a 24-3 lead at the break.
Somehow, the pace was kept up early in the second half with even those waiting in the lines for pies and beers struggling to keep up.
The Brumbies pulled out their main weapon rolling maul that seemed to go for well over 30 metres and Scott Fardy got the party started at his bar The Dock with a try that looked like it could have been a bit lucky to be awarded.
The home side did make the mistake of kicking to open space and Nehe Milner-Skudder made them pay, finding a gap and eventually Ngani Laumape went over in the corner.
This match was Stephen Moore’s 150th Super Rugby game and he came to the party off the back of, you guessed it, a rolling maul after spurning a shot at penalty goal.
But there was more to come as the Brumbies ran wild in the second half as they emptied the bench.
Tries to ‘Jugiong’ Josh Mann-Rea and a contender for try of the year to Sam Carter, set up by Mann-Rea, came while Matt Toomua was having a ten minute rest for repeated infringements.
The Hurricanes had one last chance to score after David Pocock was eventually sent to the sin bin but could not get anything going as the Brumbies maul defence was up to the task and the Brumbies won 52-10.
The result sets up a huge clash next week when the Brumbies host the Waratahs on Friday night.
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The Game Changer
After 16 minutes it was all Brumbies. The Hurricanes had very little from that point on.
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The G&GR MOTM
Plenty to choose from but the nod goes to Stephen Moore in his 150th Super Rugby game.
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Wallaby Watch
Impossible to pin point a single standout in such a dominant display but Michael Cheika has been given plenty to think about after this match.
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The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]BRUMBIES 52
Tries: Kuridrani, Cubelli, Pocock, Fardy, Moore, Mann-Rea, Carter
Conversions: Lealiifano 7
Penalties: Leallifano
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[one_half last=”yes”]HURRICANES 10
Tries: Laumape
Conversions: Barrett
Penalties: Barrett
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Cards
64 mins – Toomua (Brumbies) – Yellow
77 mins – Pocock (Brumbies – Yellow
