Brumbies run over the Reds by 44 points
Maybe the only top team of the 2014 season to score a convincing win, the Brumbies, impressed against the Reds with the largest win of the round.
Stephen Larkham’s first year as solitary steerer of the Brumbies’ helm started in style, with a convincing win, with six tries from six different players: a very solid overall performance from all his team.
Despite an injury it was a positive comeback of unlucky captain David Pocock, and for Stephen Moore. It was good news also for Michael Cheika and the Wallabies.
Particularly impressive was the game of scrumhalf Nic White, who will play his last season in Australia before joining former team mate Ben Mowen and coach Jake White at Montpellier in France after the World Cup.
Another positive note for the Brumbies came from a return to his 2013 kicking form of Christian Leali’ifano, who slotted four conversions and three penalty goals.
The Queensland Reds entered the first round with a lot of open questions and unfortunately for them they were answered in a decisive way by a stronger, faster, cleverer and most of all: a more disciplined Brumbies outfit.
The lack of discipline must be alarming for the Reds, who conceded 17 penalties against eight from the Brumbies and they ended the game with their former skipper, Big Kev James Horwill, being red-carded after earning an earlier yellow.
Incidentally, the Brumbies were the only home team to win in Round 1.
