The Brumbies have been given an early season reality check, as Stephen Larkham’s men were thumped by the Chiefs 46-12 at AAMI Park on Sunday.
After last week’s convincing win over the Rebels, there were high hopes the Brumbies could follow the lead of the Waratahs by knocking over another New Zealand side.
It didn’t take long for that idea to blow up in smoke.
As the Brumbies looked like they arrived hoping for a Sunday afternoon cruise around Melbourne, the Chiefs turned up and put the heat on Larkham’s men from the outset.
The Chiefs led 25-7 at half-time and then scored another three tries in the second half.
Damian McKenzie starred behind a dominant forward pack. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
The only positive of the dire afternoon was another impressive display from speedster Corey Toole, who scored a stunning double.
But other than that, it was an ugly performance where the Brumbies lost the physical battle at the breakdown and contact zone in the worst performance ever under Larkham.
It was also a reminder of life after Laurie Fisher, with the Brumbies’ failings an area that the man known as ‘Lord’ usually had them always up for.
“Disappointing performance from us,” Wallaby James Slipper said. “If you don’t win the collision, and you turn the ball over as much as we did to a quality team, you’re going to find out – and we found out today.”
Making matters worse, Wallaby Cadeyrn Neville, who was introduced off the bench, was forced off late after copping a huge hit from Jarad Proffit to the jaw that led to the Chiefs replacement prop earning an upgraded red card.
Brumbies skipper Ryan Lonergan bemoaned his side’s inability to get into the contest, as they missed 32 tackles, conceded 10 linebreaks and lost three lineouts.
“We missed the jump from the start today,” Lonergan said.
“They had the tempo all over us. They continued with it all the game and we could never scramble any momentum back. We couldn’t build pressure.
“They seemed to be able to maintain their ball really well with quick ruck speed and we were the complete opposite.
“It’s definitely a reality check.”
The Brumbies’ woes started from the outset as Nick Frost spilt the opening kick off.
While the Brumbies stole the lineout, their ill-discipline and the missed tackles started soon after.
It led to Damian McKenzie banging over an early three-pointer, before Etene Nanai-Seturo spotted props Sefo Kautai and Slipper and burned them both as the winger put his halfback Xavier Roe away for the opening try in the eighth minute.
The Brumbies responded quickly through Toole, as the Australian sevens winger put in in a chip and chase and got the perfect bounce to score.
But the Brumbies continued to fall off tackles and the Chiefs made them pay, as Nanai-Seturo and McKenzie scored two slick tries.
While the Brumbies were the first to score after half-time when Toole crossed in the 58th minute, the Chiefs then made the Australians pay for some more horrible defence as replacements Josh Ioane and Cortez Ratima scored three tries in 12 minutes to blow open the scoreboard.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Roar is "free", therefore we are the product.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Guess. If you read your post previous to my reply then that’s the pot calling the kettle black. I was simply replying in kind :laughing:. I don’t hate the Tahs and have posted numerous times they and Reds should really be flying the flag for AUS Rugby. In the cold light of day sadly the Tahs have grossly underperformed (particularly given relative resources) have taken the most loans/grants/money from RA and cost a bundle to run. Plus they freakin handed in their keys and essentially quit! Too big to fail mentality jeopardising all to fail.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Huh that's your thing to whinge about axing the tahs because you hate them
Guess
Roar Rookie
Because it's a new game Aussies play: to axe the worst team of the week
Messy Jog
Roar Rookie
Sapsford was decent v Rebels but he had an absolute stinker this week. He's not a big body and also not a slick creator.
Messy Jog
Roar Rookie
I mean he literally is nicknamed after a dead guy so he's now renowned for him high energy interviews and rev ups! But yeah he did sound despondent at that time. With good reason but agree it wasn't encouraging.
Messy Jog
Roar Rookie
They're just the side that consistently beats the other Aussie teams and finishes above them on the ladder. But who needs objective measures like that when you have opinions and feelings that tell you they're inferior to the lower places teams that they beat repeatedly.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Wow..... I just noticed how dirty the Aus players are from being dragged along the ground by the kiwi teams...
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Its the slowest and most bombarded site I use, sadly. I would love to know why its so bad.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
The Brumbies players are still looking for their heads. They were puyshed back so easily their heads ended up in an uncomfortable position somewhere unpleasant. They just got hammered from the kickoff.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Whatever possession the Brums had was often kicked away.
MrEflord
Roar Rookie
I was shocked at how off the pace the Brums were. Chiefs very good. What I did notice over the weekend is that the kiwi teams are very dirty around the ruck. They hold players in that aren’t part of the ruck but stop them from joining the defensive line. Or blow player well past the ruck. And neck rolls… Crusades and chiefs did it yet the ref didn’t pull any of this up at all.
cs
Roar Guru
Sure is an intriguing competition between the 10s, not to forget NL and young Lynagh. Every team has a dog in the race. There's also a ghost at the Tahs, reputed by the few who who've seen him to be the most talented of all, the injury prone Harrison. Who will get first shot? He who has the best run between now and Wales?
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
FWIW I just found out how to get it working for those using adblockers. Whitelist cdn.fuseplatform.net and the jump to comment will work whilst still avoiding all the pesky ads. The only downside is you get a pesky little 'close' button at the bottom, but can be safely ignored. I never want to see that Westpac add with the extremely unattractive woman in it again. Who on Earth likes this ad?
piru
Roar Rookie
Looks like I'm getting the worst of both worlds
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
In my case it definitely is. Ad blocker on and it doesn't work. Off and it works.
piru
Roar Rookie
I don't think that's because of the ad blocker, I have that issue anyway
Tez
Roar Rookie
How does a lineout that boasts Frost, Neville, Cale etc lose throws?
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
32 missed tackles. Boys vs men.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
AdBlock Browser. Used for 1 year, and only for Roar as too many ads.