Brumbies vs Force opened at GIO Stadium in Canberra with the ACT side trying to stop a three-game losing streak and the Western Force arriving with three wins from their last four. Round thirteen of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season began under clear conditions, with Nic Berry handling the whistle and Declan Meredith getting the match underway.
Canberra Pressure On Brumbies
The Brumbies came in off a narrow defeat to the Queensland Reds and named an unchanged starting side, with Hudson Creighton and Ollie Sapsford among the starters. That selection kept the home side stable after a run of three straight losses, a stretch that has put immediate pressure on their response in Canberra.
The Force brought a different line-up dynamic. Violini Ekuasi withdrew for personal reasons, Franco Molina moved into the starting side at lock, Jeremy Williams shifted into the loose forwards, and Lopeti Faifua went onto the bench. The changes left the visitors adjusting personnel without changing the form line that had produced three wins in their last four matches.
Swain And Pietsch Milestones
Darcy Swain reached his 100th Super Rugby game as he faced his former club, adding another layer to a match already shaped by form and selection changes. Dylan Pietsch also marked a milestone, bringing up his 50th Super Rugby appearance after re-signing.
Before kickoff, the sides observed a moment's silence for Wests Lions player Lua Soana'i. It was a brief pause in a match built around urgency for the Brumbies and momentum for the Force, with both teams arriving in very different places but needing the same thing from round thirteen: a result that would sharpen the rest of their 2026 campaign.
Berry Starts In Clear Weather
Clear skies and no wind set the conditions in Canberra, though the weather was expected to be cold. That left the rugby to decide the tone of the night, with Berry’s opening whistle starting a contest that carried more weight for the Brumbies because of the slump they were trying to halt.
