Super Rugby 2015: ACT Brumbies complete clinical 29-0 thumping of Queensland Reds

THE ACT Brumbies have stamped their authority on the Super Rugby competition with a 29-0 thumping of the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 14: James Slipper of the Reds looks dejected during the round five Super Rugby match between the Reds and the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium on March 14, 2015 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

WORRIED Reds flanker Liam Gill will likely face the judiciary over a bizarre version of wrestling’s powerbomb body-slam to add further pain to last night’s 29-0 fall to the ACT Brumbies.

Having seven top-line stars ripped from the Reds ranks was brutally exposed as the Reds were kept scoreless for the first time since a 36-0 pumping from the Brumbies in Canberra in 2006.

If he’d been The Undertaker from pro wrestling, Gill would have been cheered but instead he was ejected for 10 minutes with a yellow card for his treatment of Brumbies halfback Nic White on the edge of a ruck.

RE-LIVE THE ACTION INCLUDING STATS AND VIDEO IN MATCH CENTRE

Stephen Moore of the Brumbies scores a try.

At that 46-minute mark, the gritty Reds were still in the contest at 10-0 down because effort, if not precision, dripped from everything they tried at Suncorp Stadium after two shockers in their previous four games.

Gill lifted, tumbled White over his shoulders and back-slammed him at a ruck in the shadow of his goalposts to clear him while the Reds were in desperate defence.

The only spin-off was offering an opening which Brumbies prop Ben Alexander seized with a quick pick-and-drive charge over the line for his second try to settle the result at 17-0.

The only thing that will temper the lifting and dangerous tackle charge awaiting Gill is the fact White’s boots touched the ground first, not his back.

Nick Frisby of the Reds looks to pass.

Gill was still a pensive spectator on the sidelines when a seven-man Reds pack resisted gamely in a series of scrums on their own line before bullocking Brumbies No.8 Ita Vaea crashed over.

There was fight aplenty but little precision to the intent shown by the Reds and skipper James Slipper who led for 58 gutsy minutes before his sore neck told. The Brumbies dealt out a five tries-to-nil lesson in organisation, methodical passing and support.

The Reds must stomach a combined 76-3 margin against the Brumbies this season and they have come away without a try to show for that 160 minutes of rugby. You won’t ever score tries ignoring overlaps and muffing 5m attacking lineouts against the bruising Brumbies defence marshalled by defensive coach peter Ryan, the former Brisbane Bronco.

Instead of the ineffectual, high-grab tackles attempted in Canberra last month when thumped 47-3 you had Slipper, Gill, torpedo centre Anthony Faingaa and co delivering low or hammering body shots until the Brumbies pierced them.

Henry Speight of the Brumbies attempts to break away from the defence of Will Genia of the Reds.

Senior forward James Horwill led from the front and halfback Will Genia organised but the gulf was vast in terms of the smoothness to the attack of the rival sides.

After all the early pressure the Reds applied, the table-topping Brumbies replied how all good sides do with a run of slick phases which hooker Stephen Moore finished with a try for 5-0.

Alexander and Moore were excellent, Vaea was a steamroller when he smashed winger Campbell Magnay and in his running and Matt Toomua was the backline general the Reds missed. The six Wallabies in the Brumbies backline played like it with centre Tevita Kuridrani enjoying the night even more duelling against Reds cousin and winger Chris in several heavy tackles.

The Brumbies went to 10-0 with a Vaea charge in the lead-up.

Ita Vaea of the Brumbies scores a try.

BRUMBIES 29 (Ben Alexander 2, Christian Leali’ifano, Stephen Moore, Ita Vaea tries Leali’ifano 2 cons) bt QUEENSLAND REDS 0 at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Andrew Lees.

REDS (1-15): James Slipper, Saia Fainga’a, Sam Talakai, Marco Kotze, James Horwill, Adam Thomson, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Nick Frisby, Campbell Magnay, Anthony Fainga’a, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Chris Kuridrani, Ben Tapuai

Reserves: James Hanson, Ben Daley, Sef Faagase, Dave McDuling, Curtis Browning, Scott Gale, Sam Johnson, Tom Banks

BRUMBIES (1-15): Scott Sio, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Rory Arnold, Sam Carte, Scott Fardy, Jarrad Butler, Ita Vaea, Nic White, Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane, Christian Lealiifano, Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Robbie Coleman

Reserves: Josh Mann-Rea, Ruan Smith, JP Smith, Jordan Smiler, Blake Enever, Michael Dowsett, Lausii Taliauli, James Dargaville

Originally published as Super Rugby 2015: ACT Brumbies complete clinical 29-0 thumping of Queensland Reds