Another Force-Brumbies game, another thriller.
The game had it all: several breath-taking tries, big hits and even a red card. In the end, the Brumbies once again found a way to win, securing the 39-38 victory at HBF Park.
So what did we learn from the wild encounter?
1.Beautiful Chaos
The best way to describe the game that had everything.
This was two teams trying to one-up each other in attack, committed to giving the fans at HBF Park their money’s worth.
There were 77 points in the first 60 minutes as both teams threw the ball around trying to find a winner.
In the end, the Brumbies once again found a way to win late, a trait developed and refined under Dan McKellar to an artform, securing the hard-fought win.
2. The Red card
The big talking point from this game will be the red card to Tom Banks.
By the letter of the law, it’s the correct call. Whilst fans might not like it, when you come in full pace and don’t show any effort to lower your body height or try and go low, this is the risk you run.
The issue that a lot of fans don’t understand is how Banks is red carded for that when Levi Aumua pulls off a similar tackle for Moana Pasifika earlier in the night and is yellow carded. For what it’s worth, it would come as no surprise to see that decision ruled as incorrect and upgraded to a red-card threshold offence later in the week.
Banks will likely miss time regardless of what the Judiciary has to say, clutching his cheek after the brutal contact.
3. Seizing the moment
With Banks off the field, the Western Force produced some of their finest passages of play of the year, showing why they were rated so highly heading into 2022.
Manasa Mataele was integral to this, sparking the attack with a number of key plays as he firms as the best signing of 2022.
His pace to get through the defence set up Kyle Godwin whilst his intercept fooled even the cameras as he raced away.
They would score 28 points in the 20-minute period, setting up the grandstand finish.
When the Brumbies returned to 15, Mataele took it upon himself to keep them in the contest, bumping off Irae Simone to score under the points.
Whilst they couldn’t finish it off, the improved attacking performance will please Tim Sampson as they prepare for the bye.
4. Muirhead magic
With all the talk about the Wallabies squad, Andy Muirhead was the forgotten man of the forgotten men. Not any more.
This was Muirhead’s best game for the Brumbies, setting the tempo early as he burst through the line, drawing the fullback for Ryan Lonergan to score inside three minutes.
He would add two tries in the first half as he tormented the hosts with ball in hand.
Some excellent work off the ball earned the turnover that set up Nick Frost’s try, eventually rewarded with his hat-trick six minutes later.
He didn't get his chance to debut last year with the Wallabies, however, more performances like this will put him in the perfect position for a call up.
5. Try of the Year?
The Brumbies saw the Drua light up the Rebels late and went: hold my beer.
The highlight of their first-half blitz came in the 18th minute as they looked to attack from their own line, finding space via Len Ikitau.
Ikitau found Banks in support to cap off the incredible try and start, showing their development over the past 12 months.
