Western Force were left licking their wounds after Saturday’s Valentine's Day clash ended in a 56-24 defeat to the ACT Brumbies in hot conditions at HBF Park.
The Force will need to re-group quickly before facing the Blues in the historic first-ever game at Arena Joondalup’s HIF Health Insurance Oval next Saturday from 4:35pm WST.
The home side ran in three tries from flanker Vaiolini Ekuasi, second-rower Franco Molina and flanker Carlo Tizzano on his 50th Super game.
But at the other end the Brumbies crossed eight times and Ryan Lonergan and Tane Edmed were perfect with the boot kicking five and three conversions respectively.
Earlier, the Force had started strong, racing to a 10-0 lead after 21 minutes after Vaiolini Ekuasi's try and Ben Donaldson's penalty immediately after the first drinks break in the hot weather.
The hot conditions meant water breaks and a longer, 20-minute half-time break.
Despite the heat the Force showed an early willingness to run the ball and use width, with no sign of wanting to ease themselves into a game where fatigue would play a huge role.
They put plenty of pressure on the Brumbies and got off to a great start on seven minutes.
Tizzano was held up but there was no stopping Ekuasi who fought his way over as the forward pack went about its work.
Ben Donaldson added the extras.
They were lively with hard inside shoulder running keeping the Brumbies defence on its toes on both sides of the ruck and making metres when they attacked the wide channels
The Force spent most of the first 20 minutes camped in the Brumbies half and were awarded a penalty before the water break that Donaldson converted on the restart.
The Brumbies seemed to benefit more from the break and hit back with a slick move that saw No.8 Charlie Cale, loitering out wide, stroll over. Lonergan added the extras.
It saw a shift in the Brumbies style and they began moving the ball wide at every opportunity, playing their way into the game.
The Force suffered a blow when No.8 Nick Champion De Crespigny limped off seven minutes before the break, replaced by Will Harris.
Soon after, Brumbies fly-half Declan Meredith found a gap close to the ruck to score, Lonergan converted, giving the Brumbies a 14-10 half-time lead.
The Brumbies took control after the break.
Within minutes of the re-start prop Rhys van Nek forced his way over. Lonergan converted and they went further ahead when Lonergan sliced through a big hole after the forwards had laid siege to the line. He converted his own try.
The Force hit back when a slick move found Donaldson out wide. He put in a clever grubber kick, collected by a galloping Molina who went under the posts on debut. Donaldson added the extras.
But it was not enough to send the pendulum back the Force way and Meredith streaked home wide out left. Lonergan converted.
On the other side Corey Toole then ran for 60 minutes without a finger laid on him to touch down. Edmed converted.
Brumbies reserve Tevita Alatini was yellow carded for the final five minutes and the Force took advantage with a rolling maul try for Tizzano. Donaldson converted.
But still the Brumbies were not finished. Cale grabbed a second, strolling through some poor tackles before Ollie Sapsford went over. Edmed converted both.
Western Force 24
Tries: Ekuasi (7'), Molina (52'), Tizzano (77')
Conversions: Donaldson 3/3
Penalties: Donaldson 1/1
ACT Brumbies 56
Tries: Cale (22), Meredith (34'), van Nek (42'), Lonergan (48'), Meredith (58'), Toole (67'), Cale (78'), Sapsford (81')
Conversions: Lonergan 5/5, Edmed 3/3
Penalties: Nil
Crowd: 5255 @ HBF Park
