Rugby: Brumbies open with a win over Force

Brumbies' Stirling Mortlock. Photo / Getty Images

Brumbies veteran Stirling Mortlock became the first player in Super rugby to reach the 1000-point barrier in his side's 24-15 opening round win over the Western Force in Perth.

Mortlock booted three conversions and a penalty for the Brumbies as they overcame the golden boot of James O'Connor and a dogged but injury-prone Force, who weren't able to win their first game at new home ground ME Bank Stadium.

O'Connor nailed his first five penalties to keep the Force within touch after the Brumbies made a bright start to the contest with two first-half tries to Stephen Moore and Josh Valentine.

But with the Force trailing 17-15 in the 70th minute, the 19-year-old Connor couldn't live up to his earlier efforts, missing his first penalty of the night from 36 metres out on a slight angle.

It was a reprieve the Brumbies made the most of, swinging the ball to the other end of the ground where substitute hooker Huia Edmonds touched down near the corner after shaking off O'Connor's desperate tackle just three metres from the line.

Mortlock nailed the conversion to make it 24-15 in the 72nd minute and the former Wallabies skipper produced a try-saving but possibly slightly high tackle minutes later after the Force made a promising break to ensure his team held on to victory.

The Western Force's injury curse struck hard before kick-off, with five-eighth Mark Bartholomeusz, penciled in for the injured Andre Pretorius, ruled out with a neck complaint and winger Cameron Shepherd straining his quad during the warm-up.

But the Brumbies were also dealt a blow when Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom failed a late fitness test on his hamstring.

O'Connor's hot boot kept the Force in touch during the first half as the Brumbies flexed their attacking muscle early.

Brumbies prop Ben Alexander made a surprise break in the 11th minute after a neat pass from Mortlock opened up the Force defence and it was ex-Force playmaker Valentine that crossed with ease.

O'Connor nailed a penalty in the 18th minute to make it 7-3 but the Force defence were again left wanting two minutes later when Adam Ashley-Cooper sprinted through a massive gap to set up hooker Moore for the Brumbies' second try of the night.

However, the brilliance of O'Connor in open play and his deadly accuracy with the boot kept the scores tight, nailing three more penalties for the half to reduce the deficit to two by the break.

Mortlock and O'Connor traded penalties early in the second half as the home side's defence started to dominate but the Force missed two chances to go ahead, a 53-metre penalty attempt from Brett Sheehan and O'Connor's late miss.

All of the Force's points came through O'Connor's boot but the Perth-based franchise will be desperately hoping Bartholomeusz's neck injury isn't serious after his replacement, Sam Harris, had a shocker.

The Force will also be sweating on the fitness of Wallabies No.8 Richard Brown, who injured his right shoulder during a crunching tackle in the second half.

- AAP