Brumbies fullback Robbie Coleman scored the game's opening try
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Matches: Brumbies 47 - 3 Queensland Reds

The Brumbies have fired an early warning to their Super Rugby rivals with an impressive 44-point hammering of Queensland Reds in Canberra.

Stephen Larkham's side were slick in attack throughout the 80 minutes, punishing a disappointing Reds outfit for their discipline. "When you're constantly being marched down the field, it's hard to get into the game," Reds coach Richard Graham said.

It was an unhappy night for the Queensland's much-hyped code-hopper Karmichael Hunt who struggled at fly-half but it was James Horwill who finished with the bigger nightmare; a red card after two yellow-card infringements.

But it was all about the home side who flew out of the blocks with a try after just five minutes, their backline into action with Robbie Coleman finishing off a sweeping move via a final pass from Tevita Kuridrani. The lead was extended out to 10-0 with a penalty eight minutes later as the Brumbies looked to exert their authority on the match early on.

Their dominance was almost brought undone by rising Reds centre Samu Kerevi who looked to have scored when he charged through a yawning gap on 16 minutes. But referee Angus Gardner called for the TMO and wasted little time in awarding the Brumbies a penalty for obstruction.

The game showed little sign of slowing from its exhausting early pace; returning flanker David Pocock the next player to be denied five points. Having executed a fine rolling maul, the Brumbies were left to rue Pocock's handling as the stand-in skipper lost control of the ball as he peeled from the back of the maul. The hosts had to make do with a further three points; inside-centre Christian Leali'ifano kicking his second penalty of the night a couple of minutes later.

Leali'ifano added another penalty before Hunt, earning his first Super Rugby start at fly-half in the absence of Quade Cooper, got the Reds on the board with three points of his own. That was it for the Reds however as they were made to pay for poor discipline; 12 penalties in the first half alone - the last of which presented the Brumbies a final chance to extend their lead.

It was again a rolling maul that did the damage, only this time Pocock fed halfback Nic White who freed up the backs; Joe Tomane touching down in the corner to give the home side a commanding 21-3 half-time lead.

David Pocock made a successful return from injury © Getty Images

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Hunt missed the opportunity to reduce the gap five minutes into the second half as he sent a penalty wide of the sticks. And that misery was confounded a short while later when Gardner eventually lost patience with the Reds, and showed former skipper Horwill the first of his two yellow cards.

The game was put to bed moments later, despite there still being half-an-hour to run, as Matt Toomua touched down for the Brumbies in the left-hand corner. Leali'ifano added the extras to make it 28-3.

The home side were far from done though; a moment of individual brilliance from Nic White securing the four-try bonus point. Again it was the lineout drive that put the Brumbies on the front foot, the halfback then dropping a cheeky little kick into the in-goal which he regathered in some style.

Tevita Kuridrani would cap a fine individual performance of his own with a try 11 minutes of time; though again it was the fine work of the Brumbies' forwards who deserved the plaudits. There was time for one more try with replacement James Dargaville grabbing a five-pointer on debut to round out the 47-3 win.

Adding to the Brumbies' delight was the fact former Wallabies captain Pocock came through the match unscathed, a major relief considering his wretched run over the past two seasons.

"I loved it. It was a really good way to start the year," Pocock said. "It hasn't worried me (constant talk about his knee), I'm feeling good. But I'm looking forward to the day when people don't ask about it."