THE SUPER DRAIN

A trip to Perth, a game in Wellington, plenty of injuries and intense battle against the NSW Waratahs and Cape Town Stormers – a brutal month to start the Super Rugby season was bound to take its toll on the Brumbies eventually. WIth David Pocock, Fotu Auelua, Scott Sio and Henry Speight out of action, the Brumbies are backing squad depth to get them through the first stretch of the competition before they get a bye in April. They've used 31 players in six games and continue to push through the exhaustion barrier to get crucial wins at the start of the year. The Brumbies also boast one of the best road records in the competition. But it looked as if their energy levels hit empty in the first half against the Rebels. The legs were heavy and the lungs were busting. But they pushed through to hold on to a slender lead before calling on reinforcements at half-time. "The Brumbies are just off five or 10 per cent, they are in a bit of a lull," Fox Sports commentator Rod Kafer said.

FIRST HALF SLOG

The Brumbies tore the Rebels apart after just three minutes, fullback Jesse Mogg cruising through a massive gap to score the first try of the game. It appeared as if it would ignite the Brumbies' attack as they chase crucial bonus-point victories. But despite getting more than 20 minutes of attacking rugby camped inside the Rebels' 22 metres, the game turned into a war of attrition rather than a free-flowing contest. Both defences refused to budge, the attackers made mistakes with the try-line beckoning and a draining month of rugby took its toll on the Brumbies. The first half finished at 10-3 to the Brumbies, but both teams had plenty of chances to land more blows on the scoreboard. The Rebels were defiant, despite most thinking they would crumble when Mogg scored the opener.

TOOMUA'S BRILLIANCE NOT ENOUGH

Matt Toomua set up two brilliant tries to try to save the Brumbies, but it wasn't enough in the end. Toomua put on a superb cut out pass to Jesse Mogg in the first half for the opener and chipped over for Robbie Coleman's try in the dying minutes. But while Toomua is staking his claim for the Wallabies' chief playmaker role, the Brumbies didn't have enough go-forward to get over the line. The coaches face a headache to find fresh legs in an injury-depleted squad. They have already used 31 players in the first six weeks of the competition and have six players on the injury list. Christian Lealiifano made his comeback from an ankle surgery after five months on the sideline. But the Wallabies centre saw limited ball in his 30 minutes and when he did get his hands on it, he had no room to move. While the forward pack is depleted by injuries, Stephen Larkham must decide whether to put Lealiifano in or rotate his tired players to rejuvenate energy levels.

WHITE'S PERFECT BOOT

Nic White can lay claim to having one of the best all-round kicking games in Super Rugby. Playing at the same venue where close mate Alex McKinnon broke his neck just five days earlier, White gave the Brumbies plenty of chances to score in the first half with some superb touch finders. His booming right foot gave the Brumbies attacking field position and numerous attacking lineouts which should have resulted in five-pointers. Instead, the Brumbies went unrewarded and were forced into an arm wrestle. With Christian Lealiifano out of action for the first five games of the season, Wallabies No.9 White has stepped up to take on the goal-kicking duties as well as his in-play efforts. His kicking game continues to rise to new levels and his passing game is outstanding. It's that part of his game which gives him an edge over Queensland's Will Genia, regarded by many as one of the best halfbacks in world rugby. if White can add a dangerous running game, he will be one of the best in Super Rugby.

THE REBELS RISING

Ill discipline at the breakdown cost the Brumbies a man in the sin bin as Jaco Peyper continued to pin them for poor decisions at the ruck. It led to a Rebels onslaught, inspired by fullback Jason Woodward. Woodward booted six penalties, two conversions and scored a crucial try to put the Rebels in front deep in the second half. When Mitch Inman ran through broken defence, the Rebels were on the verge of a major upset at their home ground. They put on 10 points while Scott Fardy was put in the sin bin and it put them on the back foot. Their tired legs struggled to get back into the match, and the Rebels could sniff blood. Few expected the Brumbies to be troubled by the Rebels. The Rebels had won just one of their five games to start the season, compared the Brumbies' four consecutive victories.