Brisbane, Australia---The ACT Brumbies thumped the Queensland Reds 29-0 to consolidate their lead at the top of the Super 15 Australian Conference in Brisbane on Saturday.
It was the second time in two months the Brumbies have kept the Reds try-less, with the overall tally now 76-3 in the Brumbies favour this season.
The beleaguered Reds showed plenty of heart but were blown away by the well-drilled Brumbies, who scored five tries, including a double to Wallabies front-rower Ben Alexander.
The win sets up the Brumbies for a tantalising derby next week with the reigning champions NSW Waratahs in Sydney.
"You've got to beat the teams from your conference to get through to the finals and we certainly put in enough to keep our rhythm together tonight against the Reds," Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham said.
"We always enjoy winning up here. I'm particularly pleased with the bonus point and with keeping the Reds scoreless. That's no tries for the Reds against us in 160 minutes of rugby in 2015."
To compound the Reds' woes, flanker Liam Gill could face suspension for a throw tackle on Brumbies scrum-half Nic White in the second half.
The Reds were itching to redress their 47-3 round one humiliation by the Brumbies.
And while their intent was obvious, there was not enough polish to trouble the Canberra-based outfit.
Once again the Reds committed too many errors, allowing the Brumbies to take a decisive grasp on possession and territory.
The Brumbies claimed the lead through skipper Stephen Moore, who barreled over after 20 minutes.
That lead was doubled by Alexander's first try seven minutes later and it could have been much worse for the Reds had Christian Leali'ifano not missed his three first-half attempts at goal.
Any chance of a Queensland comeback evaporated not long after the resumption of play with another Alexander try and Gill's spell in the sin bin.
An opportunistic Alexander leaped over the mess of bodies left behind by Gill's dangerous throw on White to touch down and complete his brace.
Ita Vaea soon added another and Leali'ifano's 73rd-minute effort killed off the Reds when he pounced on a dropped ball and sprinted away to score under the bar.
Under-pressure Reds coach Richard Graham rued his side's sloppy execution.
"We simplified the way that we wanted to play and I thought that the physicality and some of our other work was very good," Graham said.
"But there were a couple of really good opportunities in both halves we didn't capitalise on."
AFP
