by Paul Cook - The Brumbies have shown that they are the team to beat in this year’s Australian conference with a comprehensive 35-6 victory over the Waratahs at Canberra Stadium last night – but it came with a heavy price. Star recruit David Pocock left the field in the opening quarter with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which looks set to sideline the Wallaby flanker for six months. Not only a bitter blow for the Brumbies then, but also for a watching Robbie Deans as he firms up his options for the British & Irish Lions in June. The match itself was perhaps best encapsulated by the closing plays of each half. With the siren having gone after the first 40 minutes, the Waratahs – outclassed, outthought and outfought in the opening stanza – were gifted their best attacking position thus far. 15