The Brumbies consolidated their lead in the Australian Super Rugby conference on Saturday with a convincing 35-6 derby win over the Waratahs at Canberra Stadium.
Christian Lealiifano scored 18 points, including a try as the hosts led from start to finish, outscored the 'Tahs four tries to none.
The Brumbies led 21-6 at half time thanks to tries from skipper Ben Mowen and Lealiifano before Henry Speight and Robbie Coleman crossed in the closing stages to wrap up a relatively easy win and secure the bonus point.
The Brumbies are yet to concede a point in the second half this season and provisionally sit atop the overall standings.
The win was however soured by the loss of Wallaby openside flank David Pocock whose season looks to be over due to a serious knee injury.
Lealiifano kicked the hosts into a 9-0 lead inside 10 minutes as the Waratahs coughed up a series of penalties for ruck offences.
Brendan McKibbin finally got the Waratahs on the scoreboard in the 14th minute, but Mowen scored the opening try at the back of powerful maul from five metres out.
Lealifano put the Brumbies further ahead just after the half-hour mark when he raced onto a kick behind the defence from full-back Jesse Mogg to score in the corner.
The early loss of Tatafu Polota-Nau to a leg injury didn't help the Waratahs cause but they failed to really cash in when Brumbies lock Sam Carter was sent to the sin-bin for continued failure to roll away at rucks.
A second McKibbin penalty was all they could produce.
The second half was a low-scoring affair with Speight touching down in the 71st minute after Lealifano put replacement loose forward Fontunuupule Aueluab into space at speed.
Props Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander were sent to the sin-bin after Alexander stamped on his Wallaby team-mate, who was pinned for a professional foul
The Brumbies bagged the bonus point in the dying minutes when Mogg launched a counter-attack from his own 22 and replacement centre Robbie Coleman used his pace to win a footrace at the other end of the park.
The scorers:
For Brumbies:
Tries: Mowen, Lealiifano, Speight, Coleman
Cons: Lealiifano 2, Prior
Pens: Lealiifano 3
Yellow cards: Carter, Alexander
For Waratahs:
Pens: McKibbin 2
Yellow card: Robinson
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Clyde Rathbone, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (c), 7 David Pocock, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Fotu Auelua, 19 George Smith, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Joe Tomane.
Waratahs: 15 Ben Volavola, 14 Israel Folau, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Dave Dennis, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Greg Peterson, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Pat McCutcheon, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Lachie Turner.
Venue: Canberra Stadium
Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Television match official: Peter Marshall (Australia)
Comments
Ripzy007 says...
Brumbies dominated the Tahs in all facets of the game. Great to see George Smith back and seems he hasn't lost a bit of the scavenger he was/is...sad that Pocock is out of the season but great to have GS as the replacement and will give Faingaa another crack at S15..Is Tom Carter worth the spot in the starting team? he seems one dimensional in his play and is not up to S15 rugby IMHO.
Posted 19:58 10th March 2013
Wallaroo says...
Well, well thought we may crash and burn against the Brumbies but this badly no, never.The Brumbies either have the best raw talent or best coach or both in Australia.
Worst part is watching Tah discards rip the Tahs apart, it was gut wrenching and heartbreaking. I can't help but feel a sense of grief every time I see the Tahs take to the field, it's almost beyond a joke. This however was the worst I have felt in ages, half of the Brumbies players either tried out for, played for or wanted to and were never given the opportunity to play for the Tahs.
Cmon Tahs so much potential, so little potency.
BTW it certainly looks like the Brumbies are going to be the Australian conference leaders and at this point deservedly so, although the competition is still a long way from over.
Posted 11:26 10th March 2013
Trinats2 says...
eccles & Chicka
I was referring to the season, not the game. Tahs got a hiding, but could take them in the return game. Early days.
Posted 10:48 10th March 2013
georgesmith says...
G. Smith is the greatest. Him, L. Gill and M. Hooper all should be in the squad to play Lions. Maybe D. Dennis, the lazy, no-show Waratahs captain should be axed.
Posted 09:12 10th March 2013
Chicka says...
One thing to note is the form of Jesse Mogg ... how good is he? Dingo has been banging in about Folau going straight into the Wallabies but what has Folau done that ius even comparable to what Mogg has acheived this season? Trinats2 God bless your optimism but it was a total shutout. Tahs never in the hunt. The Oz conference is all stitched up now. Brumbs will get another bonus point when they play the Western (spent) Force. The only thing not clear cut is where they are going to play McCabe when he comes back!!!
Posted 21:53 09th March 2013
eccles says...
Oh dear, Trinats - four tries to blot and 29 points margin not "clear-cut" enough for you? I suppose there's one consolation for the dwindling band of 'Tahs supporters - even if we'd beaten them by 80 the New South Wallaby selectors would still probably have picked 12 'Tahs for the Lions Tests, perhaps as a reward for the 'Tahs stellar season last year.
Posted 16:23 09th March 2013
Trinats2 says...
clear-cut ?
Brumbies still have to play Reds (with Horwill and Genia back) in Briso and Tahs in Sydney. Planets were aligned for them tonight, ref didn't play one advantage for the Tahs in first half from all their penalties. Very stop start didn't suit the Tahs. Not saying they deserved to win or even come close, but come Sydney it will be a different game.
Posted 11:43 09th March 2013
ferdie says...
good stuff from Brumbies having kept Reds now Waratahs try-less, add in the Force and Rebels and the race for the Australian conference seems clear-cut; Brumbies at a canter!
Posted 10:52 09th March 2013
ruck_man7 says...
George smith had a great game.
Too bad pocock had to endure that nasty injury.
All the best mate to your recovery.
Posted 10:42 09th March 2013