ACT Brumbies thrash NSW Waratahs to edge closer to Super Rugby AU final

Nic White celebrated his long-awaited Brumbies return in style with a 38-11 thrashing of the NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

The Brumbies make no secret of the fact the rolling maul is one of their most potent weapons - and while some view it as controversial, coach Dan McKellar is adamant it is part of what makes rugby rugby.

But the Super Rugby AU favourites are also sick of hearing it's all they've got up their sleeve and they have the numbers to prove it, scoring six tries against the Waratahs with none from a rolling maul. When their first attempt was repelled by the Waratahs' defence, the back line stood up.

Hooker Connal McInerney let the ball find its way to flyhalf Bayley Kuenzle, whose pinpoint cross field kick saw an unmarked Andy Muirhead score in the corner.

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It laid the platform for the club's sixth successive win over their bitter rivals and sent the Brumbies back to the top of the competition ladder with two rounds remaining, putting them in the box seat to secure a home final.

"As the Brumbies, you always pride yourself on the set piece," captain Allan Alaalatoa said.

"But for us, it's great we have variation. You've got to give it to the Tahs there, they defended that maul really well. It's good to have that option at the back.

"It was a great kick from BK to put Andy Muirhead over in the corner."

Kuenzle enjoyed his best outing of the season with his transition into the void left by Noah Lolesio made easier by inside centre Irae Simone's stunning run of form.

"I thought BK was excellent tonight, two kicks for tries," McKellar said.

"We identified some opportunities throughout the week and for him to execute them, he'll take a lot out of this game in terms of his own performance and confidence."

The best part? Wallabies scrumhalf White will be better for the run after his first match in Brumbies colours in five years - and a trio of internationals watched from afar.

Folau Fainga'a, Tevita Kuridrani and Joe Powell all missed the win over the Waratahs after McKellar made 16 changes in total in a vote of confidence to the depth of his wider playing squad.

Those on hand repaid the favour - man of the match Pete Samu and Tom Wright both scored doubles while Ryan Lonergan crossed in his second start - albeit from a seemingly offside kick chase - as the Brumbies began to fire on all cylinders.

The boot of NSW playmaker Will Harrison and a try to Jack Dempsey kept the visitors within one point at the break, but they had no answers for a Brumbies four-try onslaught in the second stanza. Even when the Waratahs peppered the line for a sustained period inside the final 14 minutes, the hosts kept turning up for each other.

"It was chalk and cheese to the one just before half-time, we thought that was a little bit soft. We addressed that at half-time, just having that pride in your defensive line," McKellar said.

"We've worked hard on it with Laurie [Fisher], our goal line D. You can talk about it, but players have got to front up and deliver physicality and desire to turn the ball over. They did that.

"We were under pressure conceding that try just before half-time, and I thought our second half was excellent. It wasn't perfect but we put them under pressure and managed to get in front, and forced them to play out of their end chasing the game."

The Brumbies had already struck first in controversial circumstances when Lonergan swooped on a Bayley Kuenzle kick despite appearing to launch his chase from an offside position.

Commentators were left speechless when the television match official ruled there was "no clear and obvious offside". But there could be no doubt about the rest.

It marked the club's 10th win in a calendar year for an Australia franchise record sixth time - a fitting milestone to bring up against a their bitter interstate rivals.

AT A GLANCE

Super Rugby AU round eight: ACT BRUMBIES 38 (Tom Wright 2, Pete Samu 2, Ryan Lonergan, Andy Muirhead tries; Lonergan 2, Bayley Kuenzle 2 conversions) bt NSW WARATAHS 11 (Jack Dempsey try; Will Harrison 2 penalties) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: Angus Gardner.