The Brumbies have sent a strong message to the rest of the competition with a dominant 61-10 victory over the NSW Waratahs at GIO Stadium last night.
In their opening home game of the season, the Brumbies ran in nine tries to record their highest total against their traditional rivals.
The 51 point victory is also the highest winning margin between the two sides.
A hat-trick from local product Mack Hansen mixed with some brute force from the fierce Brumbies maul delighted the crowd.
The inexperienced Waratahs side actually started the better and got first points on the board through a penalty goal.
However, the Brumbies responded quickly with tries to Rob Valenti and Hansen opening up a lead for the home side.
The Brumbies were on a roll and it was Noah Lolesio who scored next, burrowing over at the back of a maul.
Connal McInerney was next to capitlise on a strong Brumbies maul, diving through a field of bodies to score on the stroke of half time.
26-10 at the break probably didn’t reflect the Waratahs competitiveness, but the floodgates would open in earnest after the interval.
Nic White got the party going, the halfback scampering over untouched inside a minute after the resumption of play.
Next came Hansen’s second, the winger dotting down off a perfect pass from Irae Simone.
It was back to the rolling juggernaut next, ACT junior Lachlan Lonergan driving the Brumbies over the line for his first try at the professional level.
Hansen’s third put the Brumbies in touching distance of history.
It was Tom Banks who would get the record-breaking score, bringing the tally to 61, the most points and biggest winning margin for the Brumbies against the Waratahs.
The Brumbies are now two wins from two matches to start the season. Their next game is against the Melbourne Rebels at GIO Stadium on Saturday 6 March.
Plus500 Brumbies 61 (T: M. Hansen 3, R. Valetini, N. Lolesio, M. McInerney, N. White, L. Lonergan, T. Banks,; C: Lolesio 5, R. Lonergan 3)
NSW Waratahs 10 (T: H. Johnson-Holmes; C: W. Harrison; P: Harrison)
For more sport:
