Brumbies beat Force in Canberra

The Brumbies have won their last 12 Super Rugby games on the bounce against the Western Force, just the third time any team has won against another as many times in succession. No team, however, has ever won 13 straight games against another franchise in Super Rugby history.

Only once in Super Rugby history have the Western Force opened a campaign with a win; they defeated the NSW Waratahs (25-13) in Round 1 of Super Rugby 2015; however, of their 14 defeats in such fixtures, only three have come by margins of 10 points or more.

• Dan McKeller’s charges will be looking to avoid back-to-back home defeats in Super Rugby for the first time since May 2018, following their 33-12 loss to the Highlanders in their most recent such fixture (Round 5, Super Rugby Trans-Tasman 2021).
• The Western Force (323) and the Brumbies (378) gained the fewest metres per game of any teams in Super Rugby competitions in 2021.
• Only the Crusaders (139) made more tackles per game than the Force (129) and Brumbies (124) in Super Rugby competitions in 2021.
• Tim Sampson’s side conceded 12 turnovers per game in Super Rugby competitions in 2021, the fewest of any team; the Brumbies (12.4) were ranked third in this category (Highlanders – 12.1 per game).
• The ACT franchise retained possession on 39 kicks in play in Super Rugby competitions in 2021, the joint-most by any team (also Hurricanes) and 17 more than the Force (22).
• The Perth-based team stole 15 lineouts in Super Rugby competitions in 2021, the second-most by any team (Blues – 21) and two more than the Brumbies (13).

Players to watch

• Fergus Lee-Warner made 143 carries in Super Rugby competitions in 2021, the most by any forward and the second-most by any player overall (Tom Banks – 153).
• Tom Banks gained 1,337 metres in Super Rugby competitions in 2021, the most by any player and one of only two to make 1,000+ (Will Jordan – 1,158)

Match detail

We are waiting for the kick-off.

In the meantime, why not have a look at the match preview.

1.00: PEEEP! We are underway at a sunny GIO Stadium, Canberra.

3.00: A couple of reset scrums ends with the Force winning a penalty for James Slipper hinging.

5.00: Izack Rodda knocks-on near the try line after another lineout move involving Bayley Kuenzle over the top.

6.00: Brumbies win a scrum penalty, and clear.

9.00: A slow start to this game as the players look a bit tired already; it’s being played at the pace of a preseason match, and not very good.

12.00: Lots of handling errors from both teams. The conditions are dry, but the ball cannot be held.

14.00: Fergus Lee-Warner steals a Brumbies’ lineout, and the visitors go through the phases and into the opposition’s 22 before winning a penalty.

15.00: PENALTY! Ian Prior opens the scoring. 0-3

19.00: TRY! Andy Muirhead finishes of a slick move by the Brumbies. Noah Lolesio’s deft run and dummy sucked in the opposition’s backs before sending the winger away near the corner. 5-3

20.00: CONVERSION! Lolesio adds the extras. 7-3

23.00: Another attacking scrum for the Force is again reset. The front rows are struggling to stay up, very untidy and dull.

25.00: Nic White and Ian Prior with some handbags after another messy scrum. Western Force get another penalty, and kick to the corner. Tim Anstee is held up after the lineout; goal-line drop-out to the Brumbies.

27.00: Nic White involved in more ‘afters’ before Folau Fainga’a is caught offside.

28.00: PENALTY! Prior makes it a one-point game. 7-6

31.00: The opening half-hour has been all Force (77% possession, 67% territory).

34.00: Lots of stoppages today, the game is dijointed and cumbersome.

36.00: Brumbies finally get a lineout right, but the Force win the ball back after a loose pass; however, the ball goes into touch for another home throw.

38.00: More time wasted on reset scrums. Snoozevilles. Brumbies win a scrum penalty outside the Force’s 22.

40.00: PENALTY! Lolesio extends his side’s lead. 10-6

42.00: Andy Muirhead knovks on before the hooter, the Force get time for an attacking scrum, and wins a penalty.

43.00: PENALTY! Prior makes no mistake. 10-9

The halftime score was Brumbies 10 Western Force 9

41.00: PEEEP! We are back underway down under.

43.00: TRY! Toni Pulu puts the visitors ahead. 10-14

45.00: CONVERSION! Prior adds the extras.

47.00: TRY! Folau Fainga’a flops over for his 30th Super Rugby try after a powerful driving maul. 15-16

48.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 17-16

51.00: The game is beggining to open up after a poor first 40 minutes.

56.00: The game has settld down, but the momentum is definitely with the home team.

57.00: Muirhead is taken out, but the Brumbies win a penalty, and kick to the corner.

58.00: TRY! Rory Scott crashes over after another unstoppable driving maul. 22-16

59.00: MISS! Lolesio pulls his kick wide. 22-16

65.00: NO TRY! Scott is stopped before the try line, the ball is recycled but lost forward; however, the hosts have the penalty. 22-16

68.00: this game is still in the ballance.

71.00: More trouble in the scrums even with all the changes.

73.00: Force botch a linout inside the Brumbies’ 22.

76.00: TRY! Jake McIntyre scores next to the posts. 22-21

77.00: CONVERSION! Jake McIntyre adds the extras. 22-23

80.00: TRY! Stunning! Lachlan Lonergan scores after some sublime hands by Pete Samu and Tom Wright down the touchline. 27-23

81.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 29-23

82.00: Brumbies reclaim possession, and clear to touch – game over!

FULL TIME

To refresh this page, click HERE. Live In-Play Betting.

The final score is Brumbies 29 (10) Force 23 (9)

Scorers

Brumbies
Tries – Muirhead, Fainga’a, Scott, L. Lonergan
Pen – Lolesio
Con – Lolesio (3)
Drop –
Cards –

Western Force
Tries – Pulu, McIntyre
Pen – Prior (3)
Con – Prior, McIntyre
Drop –
Cards –

Match Officials
Referee: Jordan way
Assistant Ref 1: Damon Murphy
Assistant Ref 2: Reuben Keane
TMO: James Leckie

Teams

Brumbies

15 Tom Banks, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Andy Muirhead, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper

Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Ed Kennedy, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Ollie Sapsford, 23 Jesse Mogg

Western Force

15 Jake Strachan, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Reesjan Pasitoa, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Tim Anstee, 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Brynard Stander, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u (captain), 1 Tom Robertson

Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Harrison Lloyd, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Ollie Callan, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Jake McIntyre, 23 Richard Kahui