RECAP: The ACT Brumbies ran away with an opening round victory, securing the 56-24 win over the Western Force at HBF Park.
The Force started the stronger side with the opening two tries but the class of the visitors swung the game.
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Charlie Cale finished with a double alongside flyhalf Declan Meredith, both key figures in the runaway win.
The visitors scored three tries in the final 15 minutes as the scoreline blew out late.
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Brumbies 56-24: A chaotic finish as Ollie Sapsford puts the exclamation mark on the win.
Tane Edmed is the ring general, putting the kick in for Pritchard before finding his winger Toole, dragged down short as the other winger goes over.
Brumbies 49-24: Charlie Cale catches the Force napping for his second.
The Force infringes from the kick-off and the number eight does it all himself with the quick tap, proving unstoppable
Brumbies 42-24: Carlo Tizzano gives the fans something to celebrate with a late try.
The Force rumble from 20 metres out and the flanker is the man who dots it down
Brumbies 42-17: A tough way for Tevita Alatini's debut to end as he earns an early shower.
The prop clearly trips Ben Donaldson as the flyhalf kicks the ball away, leaving no real option.
Brumbies 42-17: Excellent work from Ben Donaldson hunts down centre Kadin Pritchard.
Pritchard finds himself in a foot race but good hustle from Donaldson stops him on the 22 and forces the ball loose.
Brumbies 42-17: The Force just can't make it work late in the game.
They're trying to come back in this contest but handling is hurting their case.
Brumbies 42-17: This time, Corey Toole won't be denied as the visitors run away with the game.
The Force try to throw it around, but the loose ball lands in the speedster's hands, and he won't be caught.
Brumbies 35-17: Corey Toole nearly creates something out of nothing but can't finish his handiwork.
Toole chips for himself and places it perfectly to hit the post and bounce back, only for the winger to fumble the pick up.
Brumbies 35-17: Silky stuff from the Brumbies down the short side sets up Declan Meredith for his second.
Ryan Lonergan unleashes Ollie Sapsford, drawing the fullback for his flyhalf.
Brumbies 28-17: The momentum has flipped in this game as the Force try and reel in the Brumbies.
The intensity around the breakdown is crazy, with the visitors getting a crucial penalty as the subs come on.
Brumbies 28-17: Franco Molina is bolting up into cult hero status as he finishes off a Ben Donaldson break.
Donaldson beats a couple of tackles and puts it on the foot for his lock, who does enough for the try.
Brumbies 28-10: Ryan Lonergan is the most unlikely of crash ball runners, but the half goes through untouched.
The Brumbies have several advantages and Charlie Cale finds his skipper for the try.
Brumbies 21-10: The Force are now the team holding on for dear life as the Brumbies threaten to blow this game open.
Cadeyrn Neville gets up confident after diving for the line but his efforts are short after the visitors march back inside the 22.
Brumbies 21-10: Rhys van Nek dives over and the Brumbies have come out firing the second half
The Brumbies turn down three and head for the line as they look to extend their lead, rewarded when the tight-head spins and finds the line.
Brumbies 14-10: The Force will get the chance to press on the half-time siren after a pilfer penalty.
But as soon as I type this, Charlie Cale steals the lineout and the visitors put it into touch.
Brumbies 14-10: Divad Palu shows some calm to watch the ball go over the sideline close to the line but geez that was close.
The Brumbies' chase is fierce but they all overrun it and the winger's patience is rewarded
Brumbies 14-10: Declan Meredith goes himself and dives over for the try,
The Brumbies get their chance to apply pressure after a strong scrum wins not only the tight-head, but the penalty, allowing the half to test the line and he finds a way over.
Force 10-7: Rory Scott comes up with the clutch steal as the Force pick up from where they left off.
He times it perfectly as the hosts looked at their most dangerous, but they don't put the kick for touch out and that's costly.
Force 10-7: A relieving penalty saves the Force as the Brumbies start to find their groove,
Kadin Pritchard collects the cross-field kick and puts his own in, but they are sloppy at ruck time and infringe despite their dominance.
The visitors do their own scrambling and get a fortunate result with their kick touched.
Force 10-7: Charlie Cale produces against the run of play and the Brumbies are over.
Quick ball after James Slipper and Rob Valetini's runs puts the number eight in space, burning the cover defence for the try.
Force 10-0: Referee Jordan Way has a chat to Brumbies skipper Ryan Lonergan after a number of penalties on their line.
The count is at 5-0 as we head into the water break, with Ben Donaldson resuming play with a penalty goal.
Force 7-0: The Brumbies are really under pressure as the Force keep hunting for more points.
The visitors have already been forced into an early change, with debutant Toby Macpherson on briefly for Lachie Shaw, who goes to the blood bin.
They again hang on after a loose pass hits Row C instead of Divad Palu.
Force 7-0: The Force are finding success going wide as they get two strong runs from their wingers.
Another penalty allows Ben Donaldson to kick inside ten metres for the driving maul, with Carlo Tizzano again held up over the line.
Force 7-0: The Brumbies almost respond as a nice kick from Declan Meredith almost finds Kadin Pritchard on the 22.
The hosts quickly break away, and they'll go on the attack on the halfway mark.
Force 7-0: Ekuasi opens the scoring for the Force after a powerful start.
The Brumbies defend the five metre maul, but are no match for the powerful back-rower in close.
The hosts keep their strong start going as the Brumbies give away the penalty for offside.
It allows Donaldson to put the ball inside five metres and they'll have penalty advantage, with Carlo Tizzano held up over the line by a great Rob Valetini tackle.
The Force are showing their hand early with a frenetic start to the game.
Ben Donaldson smartly takes the line from inside his 22 and then produces a cross-field kick, only for an error to give the visitors a chance to strike.
The Brumbies make metres but Nathan Hastie collects Corey Toole's soccer for a smart mark.
Both teams are out on the park and this game is underway as Declan Meredith launches it high into the sky!
Carlo Tizzano leads the Western Force out in his 50th game for his hometown club.
Meanwhile, nice tough from the Brumbies with the heritage jerseys.
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the Western Force-ACT Brumbies match at HBF Park.
It's been a scrappy round of Rugby, which concludes with two teams who enter the season with plenty of intrigue around their squads.
Conditions are boiling in the west, with extended water breaks and half-time expected throughout the game.
Keep an eye on Kadin Pritchard for the Brumbies on starting debut, while the inclusion of Franco Molina adds serious quality to the Force pack.
Tries: Ekuasi, Molina, Tizzano
Cons: Donaldson 3/3
Pens: Donaldson 1/1
Tries: Cale 2, Meredith 2, van Nek, Lonergan, Toole, Sapsford
Cons: Lonergan 4/5, Edmed 3/3
FORCE (1-15): Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jeremy Williams (c), Franco Molina, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Nathan Hastie, Ben Donaldson, Bayley Kuenzle, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Divad Palu, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Leonel Oviedo, Sef Fa'agase, Misinale Epenisa, Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Kurtley Beale
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Rhys van Nek, Lachie Shaw, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Kadin Pritchard, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead
Replacements: Liam Bowron, Blake Schoupp, Tevita Alatini, Toby Macpherson, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Hudson Creighton
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
The Force's clash with the Brumbies will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 7:00 pm with kickoff expected at 7:35 pm.
