A 67-point shellacking wasn’t the result Em McDonald and Jacky Lyden’s ACT outfit were looking for in their first Super W trial on Saturday, but the Waratahs’ performance certainly gives the Brumbies an indication of the level they’ll need to reach before the season proper.
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Led by a typically-powerful performance from Panuara’s Grace Hamilton, a gutsy effort from last year’s grand final hero Ash Hewson and a three-try showing from Crystal Maguire NSW ultimately prevailed 74-7 at Bowral’s Eridge Oval, running rampant from go to woah.
The victory proves Hamilton’s Waratahs are in good shape to defend last year’s inaugural title but as the competition’s benchmark the result wasn’t entirely unexpected, especially considering the new-look, developing nature of the Brumbies squad.
With that in mind, McDonald said her side is focused on the lessons the Waratahs delivered rather the result itself, saying “as a team we know what we have to work on” ahead of their competition-opener on February 23.
They’ll get an excellent indication of how much they have improved come round one as well, Monday morning’s release of the 2019 draw revealed the Brumbies will face the defending premiers first-up.
They’ll host Hamilton’s Waratahs in an opening-round double header at Canberra’s GIO Stadium, the clash will be followed by the Brumbies’ Super Rugby encounter with the Chiefs.
That's the first of the five-team competition’s five regular-season rounds, while it was also revealed this year’s second edition will include a preliminary final.
The second-finishers will face the third-finishers, with the winner to go on and play the minor premiership-winning side in the decider. Last year the grand finalists were simply the first two teams past the post.
The Brumbies will face Melbourne in round two before a third round bye and then play Queensland and Western Australia in the final two rounds before the finals.
The Brumbies are also scheduled to face the Rebels in another trial.
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
