Force vs Brumbies takes: Wallabies bolter watch, Charlie Cale delivers

The ACT Brumbies have started their 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a 56-24 win over the Western Force in Perth, with backrower Charlie Cale and fly-half Declan Meredith both crossing for doubles at HBF Park.

Vaiolini Ekuasi crashed over for the first Force try of the season, as the hosts ran out to a 10-nil advantage during the first 20 minutes. But the match’s momentum swung quite drastically before the break, with the Brumbies taking a four-point lead into the sheds.

Rhys Van Nek and Ryan Lonergan both scored tries early in the second term, as the Brumbies continued to pile on the points. There were five different try-scorers for the visitors, who now turn their focus to a Trans-Tasman derby against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Here are some takeaways.

Charlie Cale will make a Wallabies return in 2026

Brumbies backrower Charlie Cale was one of the big winners from the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific pre-season, delivering a statement performance by scoring a first-half hat-trick in a 98-point thriller against the Waratahs in Canberra.

Max Jorgensen and Pete Samu produced highlight-worthy plays during the incredibly high-scoring contest, as the Tahs held on for a two-point win on the road. It set the tone for the season ahead, with all three of those players mentioned suiting up in the opening round.

But let’s talk about Cale.

The No. 8 has carried that pre-season form into the round-robin, flying down the left sideline to score a try during the first-half. Force captain Jeremy Williams was one of the players coming across in defence, but Cale had far too much pace and power that close to the line.

Cale played a couple of Tests for the Wallabies in 2024 but has since endured a horror run of injuries, which included just four Super Rugby appearances last season. The 25-year-old last played for the Brumbies on March 14 against the Fijian Drua, before making a memorable return to Super Rugby.

Rory Scott was a clear winner in the tackles completed charts, but Cale was second 22 stops in defence. The loose forward was influential in attack as well, delivering a try assist for captain Ryan Longergan in the second-half.

The icing on the cake was Cale completing a double with the second-last try of the match. It was a heads-up play from Cale, who took a quick tap on the 22 metre line, before pinning the ears back with the try line in sight.

It truly seems inevitable that Cale will play for the Wallabies in 2026.

Tizzano, Ekuasi and Molina central to Force pack’s promising start

Carlo Tizzano averaged one try per match in Super Rugby Pacific last season, finishing the round-robin with more five-pointers than anyone else. Brumbies duo Billy Pollard and Corey Toole were equal-second, while Leroy Carter and Will Jordan were among those in shared fourth.

Tizzano started at openside flanker against the Brumbies, joining Vaiolini Ekuasi and Nick Champion de Crespigny in a loose forwards trio. In the second row, captain Jeremy Williams packed down alongside Los Pumas lock Franco Molina.

Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Harry Johnson-Holmes all made their mark up front as well, although the Brumbies set-piece was fairly strong. While it wasn’t to be for the Force, despite a red-hot start at HBF Park, the efforts of the forwards can’t go unnoticed.

Tizzano was held up over the try line twice in the first term, before the backrower finally got on the scoresheet with an effort deep in the second half. Molina scored one of the early try-of-the-season contenders after a kick-ahead from Ben Donaldson.

Ekuasi was equal-first for total carries with 16 and had a team-high 21 stops in defence. Molina, Robertson, Johnson-Holmes and Tizzano also stood out with their efforts in defence, while Will Harris came off the bench and won one turnover as well.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Force.

This forward pack will be very exciting to watch this season.

Wallabies bolter watch: Declan Meredith

First it was Tim Ryan, and now it’s Declan Meredith.

Two very different positions, with the winger known as ‘The Junkyard Dog’ showcasing rapid pace in the Reds’ defeat to the Waratahs on Friday. These Australian derbies are a very real opportunity for players to push their case for higher honours, as Meredith did with the Brumbies.

Coach Stephen Larkham selected Meredith in the run-on side at fly-half, while Wallabies No. 10 contender Tane Edmed was chosen on the bench. With Noah Lolesio leaving the club after last season, there are big shoes to fill at the Brums this season.

But Meredith was brilliant against the Force.

Meredith wasn’t afraid to take the line on, and the fly-half reaped the benefits of that bravery with a try during the first-half. The playmaker even bumped off Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa en route to the try line.

In the second term, Meredith ran in for his second of the match. But generally speaking, Meredith looked fairly composed and calm as the Brumbies starting fly-half, before being replaced for Edmed in the 60^th minute.

Momentum swings as Brumbies take their chances

It was a dream start to the season for the Force, with backrower Vaiolini Ekuasi crashing over for a try in just the sixth minute. With Ben Donaldson adding the conversion and a penalty goal, the hosts raced out to a 10-0 lead midway through the half.

But then, the Brumbies took control.

Charlie Cale struck first as the Brums scored 28 unanswered points, during what ended up being a 42-7 run leading into the final 10 minutes of the match. Declan Meredith and Cale both scored doubles, Rhys Van Nek and Corey Toole crossed for one each, during a dominant display.

As Force captain Jeremy Willaims explained post-game on the Stan Sport broadcast: “We just were really sloppy around our breakdown and our discipline and gave them opportunities and they capitalised on it.”

The Force had 59 per cent territory and a majority of possession during the first term, but still went into the sheds down by four points. While both the possession and territory battles were fairly even by full-time, the scoreboard told the story of a big Brumbies win.

While the Force played with confidence and momentum early on, the Brumbies were incredibly clinical with their opportunities to score.