Super Rugby: Force held to nil by polished Brumbies

The Western Force delivered arguably their most spirited performance since their return, not that the scoreboard gave any evidence of that.

Brumbies players celebrate during their win over the Force. Picture: Getty Images

The Western Force delivered arguably their most spirited performance since their return for this Super Rugby AU season, not that the scoreboard gave any evidence of that as they were “nilled’ by a polished and efficient Brumbies side at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.

It was only the second time in their 14-year history that the Force were held scoreless but unlike the 53-0 drubbing inflicted on them by the Crusaders in Christchurch in 2007, there were only lessons to be learned from a crafty Brumbies outfit, but no shame or humiliation.

The Brumbies moved to the top of the competition table, overtaking the Queensland Reds, and deservedly so, given that this 24-0 victory was their 15th win in their past 17 matches. And once again coach Dan McKellar was able to entrust his bench to seamlessly carry on the work that had been done so efficiently by the starters.

Tevin Ferris of Western Force is tackled during the round 4 Super Rugby AU match between the Western Force and the Brumbies at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Getty Images

The starters were nothing if not eager, scoring their first try in under 90 seconds and their second after just five minutes, with winger Tom Wright prominent in both. Indeed, he scored the first, as number eight Pete Samu broke loose on the blind side of a scrum on his own 22 and looked infield to see his teammates queuing up to support him. First halfback Joe Powell, then flanker Rob Valetini, then outside centre Tevita Kuridrani before Wright turned on the speed to score out wide.

The second try was testimony to how well the Brumbies are mimicking the counterattacking rugby so often seen on the other side of the Tasman, as five-eighth Bayley Kuenzle and Irae Simone deftly moved turnover ball out to an unmarked Wright.

For a brief moment, it seemed he would go all the way for his second try in almost as many minutes but the cover forced him to pass to Powell who this time put Simone away for a dazzling touchdown. Kuenzle, in his first start for the Brumbies, landed the difficult conversion from the touchline and the Brumbies had jumped out to a 12-0 lead.

In a way, the handful of Force supporters who had made their way to this league heartland ground must have been perversely satisfied. The Perth club had jumped out to 14-0 leads against both the Waratahs and the Queensland Reds in their earlier matches in this competition, only to be run down. Now, with that scenario having been turned entirely on its head, there was scope for the Force itself to make a stunning comeback.

They oh-so-nearly did. Certainly they had the chance to open their account almost directly in front of the posts in the 19th minute but instead of Jono Lance stepping up to take the three, the ball was kicked to the corner and they tried their chances at a driving maul. Sadly, after setting up well, they began to splinter and the Brumbies escaped.

Rob Valetini. Picture: Getty Images

Eight minutes later they were back again, and this time they drove the ball over the line. But in the tangle of bodies, there was no way that referee Damon Murphy could award the try. Nor, on referral, could TMO George Ayoub. Again the Brumbies wiped their brows.

And while both sides constructed half-chances in the remaining 10 minutes of the half, the Canberra side would have been generally happy to go to the interval 12-0 ahead.

If the Force were to seriously entertain any thoughts of victory, they really needed to be the first side to score in the second stanza but, as he was becoming accustomed to doing, Wright quickly brought them undone.

Trace the moment backwards, however, and it was almost the breakthrough the Force were looking for as they pressured rare sloppy play from the Brumbies backs, pushing them further and further backwards until Simone was just one good tackle from becoming entirely isolated.

Instead, he wriggled free and let fly with the kick of the night, a soaring 50-22 kick which provided the Brumbies for the platform for their third try. Again the ball was worked wide to Wright who stutter-stepped into the clear before delivering a pass to flanker Will Miller. He was ankle-tapped just short of the line but managed to crawl his way forward to plant the ball over the line.

Force coach Tim Sampson responded by tossing his star recruit, World Cup-winning All Black winger Richard Kahui into the fray and he did not disappoint but by now the Brumbies’ superior depth was beginning to take its toll.

James Slipper, on at tighthead for captain Allan Alaalatoa, was threatening to demolish the Force scrum until he had to go off with an ankle injury, while replacement hooker Connal McInerney was also injecting himself where he was needed most.

The Brumbies scrum was strong at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Getty Images

At one point the Brumbies pounded the Force line for 24 phases and ended up achieving a net loss of some 20m, so stoic was the WA team’s defence. In the end, however, the Brumbies went back to basics, propelling McInerney over for a driving maul try in the 66th minute, and then effectively made certain they held their own line intact.

This was by far the most convincing win by any team in this series but somehow it didn’t seem it. The Force back-row of number eight Brynard Stander and flankers Tevin Ferris and Henry Stowers played impressively, both as a unit and individual, while veteran tighthead Kieran Longbottom and captain Jeremy Thrush both put in epic 65 minutes shifts. In the end, possession and territory favoured the Brumbies 55-45 and they had the polish to exploit the four linebreaks they made.

Wright was exceptional for the victors, so too Samu, and Valetini is beginning to develop into a more-than-useful blindside flanker now that he has decided to considerably lift his workload. As for Kuenzle, he can look back on a solid and even creative starting debut, highlighted by two soaring conversions from out wide.