Pocock hat-trick seals deal
The Brumbies secured their place in Super Rugby's play-offs when they beat a pitiful Western Force team 33-20 in Perth on Friday.
The victory, which included a David Pocock hat-trick, saw the Brumbies move to second place on the standings – with just one round remaining for the Canberra-based team.
The Canberra-based side went into the penultimate round in sixth spot on the ladder, and on equal points with defending champions the Waratahs in the Australian conference.
Leading 21-6 at half-time, the Brumbies moved into a commanding 33-6 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining.
However, they took their collective feet off the accelerator and allowed the Force two late tries and a measure of respectability to the scoreline.
A loss could have been fatal for the Brumbies, who had their 2013 campaign derailed by a shock defeat at the hands of the Force in the final round.
However, there were no such problems for the visitors this time around, as they controlled the match from the outset and dismantled the bottom team in the competition.
It has been a shocking season for the Force, and the Brumbies piled on the misery by running in the only three tries in a lopsided first half.
The Force barely touched the ball early in the match, and enjoyed an early escape when Joe Tomane was narrowly denied the game's opening try by the outstretched hand of Luke Morahan in the third minute, but it mattered little.
Former Force star David Pocock scored two tries in the first half, both from driving mauls, and added a third in the second half.
Christian Lealiifano also scored a try in the opening half, as well as producing four conversions.
Up 21-6 at the break, the Brumbies secured the bonus point they wanted when Allan Alaalatoa dived over under the posts for his team's fourth try, and his first in Super Rugby, in the 59th minute.
Brumbies skippers Stephen Moore was pleased his team rose to the challenge.
"We knew we needed the five points and very happy to get that," he said.
"Bit disappointed by the two late tries, but we will work on that during the week."
Force skipper Matt Hodgson conceded his side was on the back foot from the outset.
"The first 20-25 minutes we let them get too much momentum and they capitalised on every chance," he said.
Man of the match: Nobody in the Western Force team moved beyond the level of mediocrity and are not worthy of a mention. Henry Speight is always good value, Christian Lealiifano fives direction, Nic White's biggest value is the irritation he brings to opposing teams, Ita Vaea was powerful and Scott Fardy produced a high workrate. However, our award goes to Brumbies flank David Pocock – not just for his hat-trick, but his all-round game, including the poaching at the breakdown.
The scorers:
For the Western Force:
Tries: Faulkner, Morahan
Cons: Holmes 2
Pens: Holmes 2
Brumbies:
Tries: Pocock 3, Lealiifano, Alaalatoa
Cons: Lealiifano 4
Yellow card: Steve Mafi (Western Force, 29 – repeated infringements, collapsing the maul)
Teams:
Western Force: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Guy Millar, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pekahou Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 19 Steve Mafi, 20 Kane Koteka, 21 Ryan Louwrens, 22 Luke Burton, 23 Patrick Dellit.
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Nigel Ah Wong, 23 James Dargaville.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Damien Mitchelmore, Graham Cooper
TMO: Peter Marshall
