Cubelli the spark as Brumbies run riot

The six tries to three win in Canberra on Friday saw the Brumbies cement their place at the top of the Australian Super Rugby conference.

The Reds raced out the blocks and held a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. By half-time the Brumbies had taken a 15-10 lead and going into the final quarter the lead was still just five points – 22-17.

Then the Cubelli show started and three unanswered tries later the show was over – before a late consolation try gave the Reds' scoreline some respectability.

Cubelli, who started off the bench due to his late arrival in Canberra following national duty with the Pumas, scored one try and set up another.

The lowly Reds had fought hard to match the Brumbies and were only trailing by five points at 17-22 midway through the second half.

But Cubelli's introduction after 60 minutes changed the game when he sliced through a gap from the base of a ruck to put Christian Lealiifano in, before scoring himself to put the game out of reach.

"It was obviously really pleasing the way we finished," Leali'ifano said.

"Tomas gave a little bit of spark for us – it's nice to have someone of that calibre on the bench.

"He really sparked the game up and gave the boys some energy."

The Reds had started the game well and went ahead 10-0 after just 10 minutes following a Henry Taefu penalty and a converted try by hooker Andrew Ready.

But the Brumbies fought their way back to level the scores in a poor quality first half, marred by a host of handling errors from both sides.

They then struck a telling blow right on halftime when Brumbies prop Ben Alexander was awarded a try despite appearing to lose control of the ball before the line.

The Reds were dealt another blow soon after the restart when a superb length-of-the-field try was disallowed after the television match official ruled that winger Eto Nabuli's boot had just brushed the sideline in the lead up.

A possible 17-15 lead then became a 22-10 deficit when Brumbies skipper Stephen Moore scored his second try of the match, and seventh of the season, minutes later.

The Reds got back to within five points thanks to a try to replacement flyhalf Duncan Paia'aua, but Cubelli's entry to the game changed the momentum and the Brumbies cruised to an easy victory.

"The effort was there, but that try just before halftime really hurt us," Queensland captain James Slipper said.

"I was proud of the boys. We fought well but our discipline and their set piece probably got over us."

Man of the match:  Samu Kerevi had the occasional strong run, but generally the Reds all faded after a decent first quarter.Christian Lealiifano was the best of the Brumbies who started the game, but Argentinean scrumhalf Tomás Cubelli came off the bench in the second half to spark a Brumbies team which at that stage had struggled to assert their authority. The Brumbies' No.9 is our man of the match.

The scorers:

For the Brumbies:

Tries: Moore 2, Alexander, Lealiifano, Cubelli, Taliauli

Cons: Lealiifano 5

Pen: Lealiifano

For the Reds:

Tries: Ready, Paia'aua, Tupou

Cons: Taefu 3

Pen: Taefu

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Christian Lealiifano (co-captain), 9 Joe Powell, 8 Ben Hyne, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (co-captain), 1 Scott Sio.

Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Lausii Taliauli.

Reds: 15 Jack Tuttle, 14 Chris Kuridrani, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Curtis Browning, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Lukhan Tui, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Andrew Ready, 1 James Slipper (captain).

Replacements: 16 Matt Mafi, 17 Sef Fa'agase, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Leroy Houston, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Duncan Paia'aua, 23 Campbell Magnay.

Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)

TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)