Brumbies (ACT)

Emirates Western Force

Listen to Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher after the match

Listen to Force coach John Mitchell after the match

Western Force coach John Mitchell described the Brumbies as "the benchmark in Australian rugby" midweek, and in its opening game his team failed to measure up, the ACT side 25-10 winners over the rookie side at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.

The Force forwards ruled the tight and were not overshadowed in the loose apart from a rampaging man of the match George Smith, but the Wallaby-stacked Brumbies back line gave a masterclass in combination, positioning and defence to the  hesitant and error-prone Force backs.

Both teams made errors and conceded turnovers but an unnacceptable number of missed first-up tackles frequenlty had the Force scrambling backwards.

The Force opened  the game strongly and spun the ball wide at every opportunity against a very flat Brumbies defence. The Brumbies tried to keep the ball - and the Force pack - moving wide and fast with quick throw-ins.

Referee Stuart Dickinson stamped his authority on the game early, coming down hard on both sides for not releasing in the ruck.

Junior Plesasa brought the crowd to its feet with a 30m run after a Brumbies error at the base of a maul but he was brought down over the 22. The Force replied with an error of its own that put the Brumbies on attack on the line.

But Mitchell's faith in his big pack was repaid when the Brumbies conceded a penalty after three scrum collpases.

The Brumbies drew first blood when lock Mark Chisholm slapped the ball forward out of halfback Matt Henjak's hands, managed to regather it, and showed commendable speed to out-sprint the wrong-footed defence 20 m to the goal line. Mortlock narrowly missed the conversion but the Brumbies led 5-0 after 18 minutes.

Force captain Nathan Sharpe remonstrated with referee Dickinson when the Force was penalised for killing the ball, but it didn't stop Mortlock from kicking a 40m penalty from the centre of the field.

Flyhalf Scott Daruda pegged back the lead with an identical kick from the other end when the Brumbies failed to retire ten metres from a tap penalty, and the Force trailed 8-3 nine minutes before the break.

The Force opened the second half as they did the first and seven minutes in, gained revenge with an inspirational try. From a ruck in the 22, the ball went blind and four players handled with superb support to put No.8 Scott Fava over,  Daruda converted from out wide and the Force hit the front 10-8.

Replacement flanker Josh Graham was stretchered from the ground  after an unlucky tackle but it didn't halt the Force's growing control of territory. The control didn't last, repeated stoppages threatened the game's flow and the Brumbies stormed back.

A Brumbies turnover in the 62nd minute cost the Force as the ball went wide and eventually found Joel Wilson on the wing for a soft try. Mortlock converted from the sideline and the Brumbies reclaimed the lead 15-10.

A spilled mark put the Brumbies in ideal attacking position and the Brumbies worked a set move that skated Matt Gitaeu in untouched through a gaping hole in the midfield 21 minutes into te half. Mortlock converted from a handy position to go ahead 22-10.

The Force did not for possession but failed to penetrate or combine effectively.

Brumbies reserve centre Patrick Phibbs was unlucky not to score from a kick through but the ball was knocked ahead, and Mortlock made metres with every touch.

Mortlock took the ACT side further ahead with a penalty for spoiling a free kick, going ahead 25-10 with 11 minutes to play.

The Force finished the match on attack but could not penetrate a well marshalled Brumbies defence.