Five-try Brumbies: Skipper Ben Mowen scores for the hosts
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The Brumbies bounced back with maximum points from last week's loss to go top of the Aussie conference after demolishing the Rebels 37-6 in Canberra on Saturday.
A first-half blitz by the Brumbies laid the platform for a crucial bonus-point victory with the game pretty much over at half-time thanks to the home side's 30-6 lead.
The win is a big boost for Jake White's troops ahead of their two-week tour of South Africa, while another Rebels loss will undoubtedly ask questions of the Melbourne side, who have conceded their fifth defeat of the season and also their eighth straight defeat while on the road.
The Brumbies dominated territory and possession from the outset and were rewarded with two Christian Lealiifano penalties in the opening 10 minutes.
The visitors hardly touched the ball in the early stages but they struck back after 15 minutes with a massive 53 metre penalty from former England fly-half Danny Cipriani.
But the Brumbies responded immediately when inside centre Pat McCabe brushed aside fellow Wallaby James O'Connor to score under the posts.
O'Connor replied with a penalty, only for the Brumbies to seize control with tries for flanker Michael Hooper and lock Scott Fardy, both coming from sloppy defending around the edge of the rucks.
Things went from bad to worse for the Rebels when skipper Gareth Delve was shown a yellow card for persistent offences.
During his 10 minutes off the field the Brumbies scored a fourth try when skipper Ben Mowen steamed onto an inside ball from McCabe to touch down beside the posts.
The Rebels were far more committed in the second half and tried hard to break down the Brumbies defence, but a series of unforced errors continually handed the advantage back to the home side.
The Brumbies absorbed everything the Rebels threw at them, then had the final say when Fardy crashed over for his second try.
The scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: McCabe, Hooper, Fardy 2, Mowen
Cons: Lealiifano 2
Pens: Lealiifano 2
For Rebels:
Pens: Cipriani, O'Connor
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Joe Tomane, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Fotu Auelua, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Ben Mowen (capt), 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ruaidri Murphy.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Peter Kimlin, 19 Ita Vaea, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Andrew Smith.
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachlan Mitchell, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 James O'Connor, 11 Mark Gerrard, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve (c), 7 Jarrod Saffy, 6 Luke Jones, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Al Campbell, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Eddie Aholelei, 18 Michael Lipman, 19 Tim Davidson, 20 Richard Kingi, 21 Julian Huxley, 22 Lloyd Johansson.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Comments
Ramage says...
No I havent forgotten the Lions no doubt when they play the Bloos and Rabbles we will find out. The Bloos at Auckland and the Rabbles in Johannesburg.
Posted 02:37 16th April 2012
hayj05 says...
Ramage - The Blues have won 3 titles, which is 2nd equal with the Bulls & the only reason a South African team is losing it's spot is because another South African team was promised a spot, not exactly dropping a team. BTW aren't the Lions in last place lol. Turns out none of your comment made sense.
Posted 05:55 15th April 2012
SACanuck says...
Hey Jake slow down, dont build the Brumbies up to quick, should take another season or two. Well played Brumbies. Good to see them doing well again
Posted 19:14 14th April 2012
jonesy2 says...
the rebels are basically like the force were when they had giteau, mitchell, oconnor and staniforth, have all the superstars you want but youre only as strong as your weakest link.
Posted 15:23 14th April 2012
bloemboy says...
After watching that, seems the EP Kings will actually be competitive next year, at least against the Aussie sides. Was that just to help the Brumbies get 5 points or what? Mustve been the worst match of the tournament so far (and thats saying something having seen the Reds and Blues play)
Posted 15:12 14th April 2012
Ramage says...
After watching the woeful Rabbles it just goes to show how badly the Blues are playing to be defeated by them. To think that a South African team is to be put out of the South African conference at the end of this season and the Blues and Rabbles will keep their places. Perhaps the blues should change the spelling of their name to the Bloos that well known cleaner.
Posted 14:27 14th April 2012
melkdave says...
Only watched the 1st half the Rebels where just totally woeful today ,and the game was over after 40 mins A very good penalty by Cips at 54 mtrs was the Rebels only highlight imo.Alot of work still needed by the Rebels to be competative in the S15 2-3 years work by the looks of it
Posted 14:04 14th April 2012
isthatrightref says...
Brumbies go from 3rd to 7th & back, Reds go from 8th to 3rd to 10th without getting their boots dirty & could wind up 11th if Cheetahs get up over Chiefs - who said the conference system is flawed?
Posted 12:48 14th April 2012