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Brumbies outclass Force to return to the top of the Super Rugby AU ladder

By AAP
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

The undefeated Brumbies have returned to the top of the Super Rugby AU ladder with a 24-0 bonus-point win over the Western Force in Sydney. After opening with two long-range tries in the opening five minutes, the Brumbies never looked back as they completed a clean sweep of victories over their four Australian rivals in 2020.

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Unbeaten in the new domestic competition, the Brumbies leapfrogged Queensland on the ladder after the Reds had a round four bye. As they were in gallant defeats to the Reds and NSW Waratahs, the Force were plucky in the Leichhardt Oval on a wet night.

But the Brumbies were simply too slick in the backs and too powerful in the forwards, with dynamic No8 Pete Samu, half-back Joe Powell and inside centre Irae Simone the stand-outs.

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The ACT outfit made a lightning start, with winger Tom Wright finishing off a dazzling 75-metre try after just 80 seconds. The Brumbies’ second five-pointer, an 88-metre effort completed by Simone, was even better.

Up 12-0 after six minutes, it looked like being a one-sided contest. But, despite being kept scoreless for the first time in Super Rugby since 2007, the spirited Force kept the Brumbies at bay until flanker Will Miller crossed out wide three minutes after half-time to all but seal the victory.

It would not be a Brumbies game without a driving maul try from the ACT side so, fittingly, replacement hooker Connal McInerney bagged one in the 66th minute.

Australia’s Super Rugby conference winners the past two years, the Brumbies have not lost a derby since March last year and now face the Reds back in Canberra next Saturday night. The Reds had a bye weekend, the Rebels defeating the Waratahs in the round’s other match on Friday.

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BRUMBIES 24 (McInerney, Miller, Simone, Wright tries; Kuenzle 2 cons)

FORCE 0

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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