Brumbies rout rabble Rebels

The Brumbies moved back into play-off contention with an emphatic 37-10 win over the Rebels in Canberra on Saturday.

It is a result that will also ensure they keep the pressure on the Waratahs at the top of the Australian conference.

The Rebels were simply no match for the enthusiasm and accuracy of the Brumbies, who went back to their phase-play game with great success.

And the Rebels did not help their own cause win the high error count they produced.

After collecting the four-try bonus-point in the opening half-hour, and the game being over as a contest soon after the second-half restart, the Brumbies went into cruise mode.

The Brumbies made a strong start, Matt Toomua finding his way over in the right corner after some impressive work by the forwards in the build-up. Christian Lealiifano couldn't add the conversion, but the home team was up-and-running – 5-0.

The Rebels bounced straight back, putting the heat on at a scrum on the centre spot, winning a penalty and Jason Woodward slotting the three-pointer from 50 metres out to become the Melbourne outfit's leading points scorer of all time.

It was another period of phase-play that created the Brumbies' second try – Pat McCabe going over, although there could be some debate about a potential forward pass to Clyde Rathbone in the build-up. Lealiifano added the conversion – 12-3.

Toomua got his second a few minutes later, after Nic White sniped around a ruck and exposed the Rebels' defensive frailties. The conversion attempt was off-target – 17-3.

Still the Brumbies relied on their phase-play – with the forward again doing all the work and prop Scott Sio getting the reward with the bonus-point try just on the half-hour mark. Lealiifano conversion attempt was again wide – 22-3.

Two minutes short of the half-time hooter Lealiifano slotted a penalty and despite a late rally by the Rebels, held on to that 25-3 lead through to half-time.

And the Brumbies wasted no time after the break – the fifth try coming after another great Nic White snipe, who this time ran much further, and it resulted in Sam Carter stretching out for a win. Lealiifano added the extras – 32-3.

The match went into a lull till just about 10 minutes from the end, when Wallaby prop Ben Alexander was yellow carded for repeatedly collapsing the scrum under pressure.

After some strong forward rushes Scott Higginbotham found a way to get the ball over the line in a melee of bodies. The TMO took his good time to award the five-pointer. Woodward's conversion took the Rebels' points tally into double figures – 10-32.

The Brumbies finished the match on the front foot and again displayed their silky skills – Leon Power getting the sixth try. Lealiifano can't get the extras, but at 37-10 they had completed a solid and deserved win.

Man of the match: The Brumbies' forwards laid the platform for an impressive win, especially with their solid pick-'n-go game. However, the most impressive individual was Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White, who contributed o a number of the tries with his sniping breaks and he wins our award.

The scorers:

For the Brumbies:

Tries: Toomua 2, McCabe, Sio, Carter, Power

Cons: Lealiifano  2

Pen: Lealiifano

For the Rebels:

Try: Higginbotham

Con: Woodward

Pen: Woodward

Yellow card: Ben Alexander (Brumbies, 68 – repeated infringements, collapsed scrum)

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Pat McCabe, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Clyde Rathbone, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (captain), 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Fotu Auelua, 5 Scott Fardy, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio.

Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Leon Power, 20 Jordan Smiler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Jesse Mogg.

Rebels: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Male Sau, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Tom English, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Scott Higginbotham (captain), 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Colby Fainga'a, 5 Luke Jones, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Toby Smith.

Replacement: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Hugh Pyle, 20 Jordy Reid, 21 Josh Holmes, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Tom Kingston.

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Will Houston (Australia)

TMO: Peter Marshall (Australia)