Brumbies v QR Reds Canberra Stadium 7:40pm - 1/5/2010
32	Round 12	12

The Brumbies chose their match against the QR Reds to hit their straps for the first time in 2010, running away with a 32-12 bonus point victory that maintained their 15-year unbeaten run against Queensland in Canberra.

The Reds were on the back foot from the outset as the Brumbies swarmed all over them in defence and disrupted the breakdowns.

The Reds suffered an early setback when lock Adam Byrnes limped off with a knee injury three minutes before the Brumbies crossed for the first of their four tries.

They had their forward depth tested further when fellow lock Rob Simmons came off with a facial fracture at the 24 minute mark, after the Brumbies had claimed their second try to lead 14-0.

The Reds rallied to put pressure on the Brumbies and win four penalties in kicking range either side of halftime - all converted by Quade Cooper - to trail by just two points, 14-12.

However two more tries by the Brumbies, including a second by prop Ben Alexander, secured the win and kept them in the hunt for the semi-finals.

The Reds remain in fourth place followed by the Waratahs and Hurricanes, with the Brumbies a further point behind.

The Reds lineout and scrum were both put under pressure by the Brumbies and the lineout problems were made worse by their losing both locks a quarter of a way into the game.

"That caused a lot of problems for us, we were basically playing with five backrowers," said Head Coach Ewen McKenzie.

Scott Higginbotham and Leroy Houston were partnered in the second row and with eight minutes to go the Reds even had inside back Ben Tapuai playing at flanker after losing Daniel Braid.

"I thought the guys really put their hands up: we had to manufacture a lot of stuff on the run," McKenzie said.

"We didn't get there in the end but, that said, I thought we didn't tackle as well as we have in the past. We got a bit high and they got too much momentum with their ball carries, so that was disappointing.

"You've got to give them (Brumbies) credit. They dusted themselves off (after last week's loss to the Waratahs) and got out there and put on a pretty effective display."

The Reds will now have some dusting off of their own to do before taking on the fast-finishing Hurricanes in Wellington next Friday, with four of their locks - James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Van Humphries and Adam Byrnes - now either sidelined or in doubt for the next game.

Recent emergency signing Radike Samo could find himself in the firing line sooner rather than later, while McKenzie decides what options are available to him.

"We've got a six day turnaround to find a few players or find solutions in a few key areas...so it's a good challenge for us."

Brumbies 32 (Ben Alexander 2, Mark Chisholm, Josh Valentine tries Matt Giteau 3 cons 2 pens) bt QR Reds 12 (Quade Cooper 4 pens)