The Western Force beat the Brumbies 31-21 in a pre-season hit out for both Super Rugby teams in Perth on Friday, but all eyes were on the returning David Pocock who came through unscathed scoring a try along the way.
Pocock was playing his first game with the Brumbies since injuring his knee and undergoing a second knee reconstruction in as many years that ended his 2014 season early.
The former Force captain returned to familiar territory for his first hit out at Perth's McGillivray Oval, but this time he was in Brumbies colours and played the first 60 minutes, scored a try and came through unscathed.
Pocock was locked in as the Wallabies No. 7 before his first knee injury soon after arriving in Canberra in 2013, and he showed enough to suggest he remains a strong chance for this year's World Cup based on his performance.
Pocock might have felt a bit rusty, but understandably so having barely played the last two years and he was glad to get a hit out under his belt.
"I was really excited to be back out there. Personally it's been a long time out and it's always good to get that first one out of the way," Pocock said.
"You don't expect to be back to your best in your first hit out. I was just happy to get through it and be back out there playing with the team."
However, the Force came out victorious with a five-try-to-three showing against a Brumbies team that beat them to a finals place last season.
The Force started on fire with first half tries to Luke Morahan, Chris Alcock and Marcel Brache to lead 17-0 before Pocock's converted try got the Brumbies on the board.
The Brumbies then loaded up in the second half bringing Nic White, Christian Lealiifano, Matt Toomua and Joe Tomane off the bench.
Lealiifano benefited from strong work from Pocock to score and when White converted the Brumbies were within three points, but the Force steadied with tries to Wilhelm Steenkamp and Mitchell Scott and recorded the trial match win.
The Brumbies will now face the Highlanders from Otago next Saturday night in Wagga Wagga ahead of their season opener against the Queensland Reds in Canberra on Friday February 13.
The Force will take on the Asia Pacific Dragons next Saturday night also at McGillivray Oval before their Super Rugby campaign for 2015 begins against the defending champion NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Sunday February 15.
Force coach Michael Foley, meanwhile, liked much of what he saw from his group.
"There were a couple of times we had chances to score and we didn't and I think over the next couple of weeks we'll get better at that, but other than that I thought it was a good first 40 and probably a nice last 20," Foley said.
"We lost our way a little bit in the third 20 but fought our way back in there."
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