Brumbies beat Force 56-24 in Perth opener

Western Force 24-56 Brumbies, Perth

The Brumbies produced a powerful second-half performance to defeat the Western Force 56-24 in a high-temperature Super Rugby Pacific season opener in Perth.

Played in heat above 35 degrees, the match required heat-stress breaks and ultimately favoured the visitors, who overturned an early deficit and ran in a series of unanswered tries.

Force start fast but Brumbies respond

The Western Force dominated territory early and opened the scoring when flanker Vaiolini Ekuasi crossed from close range in the 6th minute. A Ben Donaldson penalty soon extended the home side’s lead to 10-0 after the first water break.

The Brumbies needed more than twenty minutes to enter the Force 22, but once they did they struck quickly. Charlie Cale scored their opening try before fly-half Declan Meredith beat multiple defenders to add another. The visitors turned the match around to take a 14-10 halftime advantage.

Visitors take control after the break

The Brumbies seized control immediately after the restart when Rhys Van Nek powered over following which Lonergan followed the suit. The 52nd minute saw Beale and Donaldson combine to send Franco Molina over the line in the 52nd minute.

Moments later Cale created space for Meredith to grab his second try, extending the lead.

Second try from Cale, along with a sharp finish by Corey Toole and a late score from Ollie Sapsford after the siren, sealed a convincing bonus-point win for the Brumbies in the opening round.

Team line up:

Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Divad Palu, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Bayley Kuenzle, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 5 Franco Molina, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson,

Reserves: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Will Harris, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale

Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Corey Toole, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pillord, 1 James Slipper.

Reserves: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Tevita Alatini, 19 Toby Macpherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton