THE BRUMBIES humiliated the Waratahs, who have now set new records for their heaviest defeats against Australian opposition in back-to-back weeks.
After losing 41-7 to the Reds last week, the ‘Tahs were crushed 61-10 by the Brumbies who crossed for nine tries.
It was a defeat which led head coach Rob Penney to say he would ‘not stand in the way' if the Waratahs wanted him gone at the franchise, which has failed to reach the Super Rugby play-offs in four of the last five seasons.
Some amateur hour defence from the Waratahs was their undoing as they missed 20 out of the 88 tackles they attempted to open the door for the defending champions to run riot.
Winger Mack Hansen was the star of the evening, scoring a fine hattrick in the Brumbies' biggest win against Australian opponents.
The final score hadn't appeared likely when the Brumbies led 26-10 at halftime thanks to individual tries from Rob Valetini, Hansen, Noah Lolesio, and Connal McInerney on the brink of half-time.
Harry Johnson-Holmes' try had given the ‘Tahs a glimmer, but in the second period Nic White, Ryan Lonergan and Hansen's hat-trick sealing brace of tries piled on the misery.
“There are not enough words to express the disappointment,” Penney said. “I've got a shattered group. The Brumbies have taught us a first-class lesson, we just weren't in the contest. We got a really good shellacking tonight. The boys are devastated. They don't want events like tonight to happen.
“I love these boys and I'm doing my best. If other people think I'm not the right person, I'm not going to stand in the way. What's right for the group is the important thing.”
The Reds were left to breathe a huge sigh of relief as a missed penalty from Matt Toomua allowed them to keep pace with title rivals Brumbies, and beat the Melbourne Rebels 23-21.
It was a dour contest which had the referee dish out a total of 32 penalties, with all 21 points scored by the Rebels coming from the boots of Toomua and Reece Hodge.
Hooker Alex Mafi was the source of the Reds' two tries – his second putting his ahead once James O'Connor had converted with four minutes remaining – to edge them over the line after replacement tighthead Feao Fotuaika was red-carded with 20 minutes to go for making contact with the head of Richard Hardwick at a ruck.
The sending off allowed the Rebels to control more territory and force the Reds into an error and when Hunter Paisami caught Frank Lomani high, Brumbies ace Toomua got a shot at goal but his effort faded to the left of the posts.
Reds captain O'Connor said: “We were down to 14 men, we stuck tight, changed our play up and it came down to the wire.
“I feel for Matty because he was kicking really well tonight.”
