Brumbies feel Giteau's Force
Matt Giteau starred as Western Force defeated the Brumbies 25-16 at Bruce stadium on Saturday.
Last Updated: 28/02/09 12:05pm
Matt Giteau starred as Western Force defeated the side he has signed for next year, the Brumbies, 25-16 at Bruce stadium on Saturday.
Cameron Shepherd ran in a hat-trick of tries for the Force, capitalising on his playmaker's enterprise in ruthless fashion as the men from Perth finally lived up to their potential.
The Force produced their best half of rugby of the season by some distance in the first stanza, yet trailed 9-8 at the break.
It was the failure to turn a 60-40 possession and territory advantage into an equally significant lead that could have cost them. They suffered no such problem in the second-half, though, even if the stats were a little more even.
The Brumbies scrapped for everything at the breakdown with gusto, turning stacks of ball over in defence early on. Their problems came at the line-out, where Nathan Sharpe and Tom Hockings were air traffic controllers, and at fly-half where Christian Lealiifano was given a lesson by the man who will end up his mentor next season. Eventually, even the breakdown ball dried up and the Brumbies were left with nothing.
Quality
Anybody doubting that Giteau would be able to produce the goods was given a good hard hand-off as he dictated superbly with the boot and the hand, bouncing balls into touch with barely any space to aim at to win his side their field position.
His passing was also the key for all the Force's tries, the first a precision pass hung in front of Ryan Cross for the centre to drift on to, the second a super pair of quick precise hands for Shepherd to steam home just after the break, the third a deftly-timed pop for the onrushing Junior Pelesasa, the fourth a cheeky offload to Ben Castle.
By contrast, Lealiifano was often too close to the pocket and direct with his passing to his centres. There was little variety. The running threat of Stirling Mortlock was staunched and Lealiifano's alternative strategy was hard to see, as was any discernible targeting to his kicking. It was a steep learning curve for the Brumbies pivot that ended up marked out of the game by the concentrated Force defence.
Mark Gerrard gave his side the lead early on from the tee after an offside, but with Giteau's boot keeping the home side penned in their own half, it was the Force who should have led. Shepherd had a good chance after ten minutes from Giteau's boot, Richard Brown could not quite capitalise on a charge-down off Gerrard's kick.
Turning point
The best chance of all fell to Pelesasa, after Shepherd and Ryan Cross had launched a super counter-attack, but the centre just could not grab the pass under pressure.
Instead, it was the Brumbies who scored next, with Gerrard landing a second penalty given for an offside, on a rare foray into Force territory.
When the Force did score a try, it was magnificent. A terrific flat hanging pass from Giteau for Cross to drift on to and beat his man outside, followed by a well-timed pass to put Shepherd into the space at the corner. A textbook try, one of those rare scores direct from the first phase.
Gerrard extended the lead to 9-5 with a penalty for a high tackle, but Giteau made it 9-8 on the stroke of half-time when a Brumby strayed offside.
The Force opened the second-half in super fashion. The ruckers tightened up their act while maintaining their defence and Giteau struck immediately, well-timed hands sending Shepherd over in the same left corner.
Pelesasa's break through four tackles on 50 minutes gave Brown the Force's third - a try awarded by the TMO much to the incredulity of the Brumbies who thought Brown had been held up.
Another rare foray into Force territory gave the Brumbies precious points as the scrum screwed out a penalty try from their tiring opposition but two minutes later Shepherd put the result beyond doubt, scampering down the left once more.
