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Brumbies thump Force for Super Rugby win

By AAP
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Brumbies have bounced back in style with a thumping 42-14 victory over the Western Force in their Super Rugby AU clash in Canberra.

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Stinging after suffering their first loss of the season against Queensland in their last home game, the Brumbies were almost unstoppable in the Friday night match at GIO Stadium, scoring six tries.

They set up the win with a dominant first half, rushing to a 28-0 halftime lead with centre Len Ikitau collecting two of their four first-half tries.

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With 67 per cent of possession and a stunning 85 per cent of territory in the opening 40 minutes, the Brumbies starved the visitors of ball.

The Force did themselves no favours with a 9-0 first-half penalty count, while they had to replace injured five-eighth Jake McIntyre in the eighth minute, with veteran Jono Lance entering the fray in his place.

Despite the scoreline the Perth team deserved praise for their defensive efforts in the first half given their lack of ball.

They twice stopped likely Folau Fainga’a tries, although the Brumbies hooker looked to have got the ball across the line on the second effort despite the TMO ruling no try.

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Their defensive wall cracked however when ex-Brumbies centre Tevita Kuridrani was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, which came after a spate of penalties.

Ikitau reaped the reward of some slick passing to score both his tries while their opponents were a man down.

The margin could have been greater but for diminutive Force fullback Jack McGregor pulling off a flying tackle that knocked No.8 Pete Samu into touch over the tryline, saving what had looked a certain five-pointer.

The Force regrouped to post their first points in the second half, with Kuridrani offloading to fellow centre Henry Taefu to score in the 53rd minute.

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That seemed to spark the Canberra players and reserve rake Lachlan Lonergan burrowed across four minutes later.

The teams went toe to toe as th ey emptied their bench, and the Force collected a sec ond through Ian Prior, taking advantage of a yellow card to prop Harry Lloyd after repeated Brumbies infringements.

But the home side had the final say with winger Andy Muirhead crossing for his second try to cap the win.

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Bull Shark 48 minutes 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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