Plus500 Brumbies go top of the ladder after Force win

The Plus500 Brumbies have continued their unbeaten start to Vodafone Super Rugby AU with a comprehensive 24-0 victory over the Western Force at Leichhardt Oval.

Four tries unanswered tries sent the Brumbies four competition points clear at the top of the ladder, the side keeping the Force scoreless with some tireless defence while showing significant improvement in the tighter exchanges. 
 
The Force have made a habit of starting fast since returning to Super Rugby, but it was the Brumbies who got out of the gates quickest, Tom Wright getting the scoring going just two minutes into the match.  
 
Breaking from a dominant scrum, Pete Samu skipped over a tackler, popped to Joe Powell and the halfback moved it on to Valetini. The bruiser then gave the ball to Wright who was too fast for the covering Force defence.  
 
Moments later, the Brumbies went the length of the field again, this time Irae Simone benefitting from a brilliant break by Samu and Wright.  
 
12-0, the Force didn’t lose their shape and began to get a foothold in the game. Time and again they battered the Brumbies line, but the visitors could not be breached. 
 
At the stroke of halftime, the Brumbies had a chance to add a third score, but Wright just couldn’t hang on as he crossed the line, so it stayed as is at the break.  
 
However, the Brumbies wouldn’t be denied after the interval. With an overlap on the left flank, Wright dragged in a couple defenders and put Will Miller into space. The flanker rounded the fullback and finished brilliantly, Kuenzle’s classy conversion making it 19-0.  
 
A hard-fought game, where the Force certainly impressed in the physical exchanges, ultimately the Brumbies quality shone through.

A well worked maul saw replacement hooker Connal McInerney cross the white line to extend the lead in the 66th minute, effectively sealing the contest.

Towards the closing minutes, the Force launched a couple more desperate attacks, looking to break their duck but the Brumbies held firm, not allowing their clean record to be tarnished.  
 
The final score, 24-0 in favour of the Brumbies, the side now sit top of the ladder, with a perfect three wins from three, including two bonus points.  
 
Dan McKellar’s charges now look forward to returning home to take on the Queensland Reds next Saturday night in Canberra at GIO Stadium  

Plus500 Brumbies 24: (Tries: Wright, Simone, Miller and McInerney; Conversions: Bayley Kuenzle 2) def Western Force 0

The Plus500 Brumbies will take on the Queensland Reds in Round Five of Vodafone Super Rugby AU at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Saturday night at 7:15pm.