David Pocock played 60 minutes, scored a try and set up another in his return from a second knee reconstruction, but he wasn't satisfied as the Brumbies lost a trial against the Western Force three weeks out from the Super Rugby season.
The Force beat the Brumbies 31-21 at Perth's McGillivray Oval on Friday night, scoring five tries to three along the way, but the visitors were vastly improved in the second half once stars Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane, Nic White and Christian Lealiifano hit the field.
Pocock scored the Brumbies' first try shortly before halftime after a powerful rolling maul and following the Force scoring the game's first 17 points.
In the second half, Pocock was instrumental in setting up a try for Lealiifano before the Force steadied with two more tries to clinch the game.
Former Wallabies skipper Pocock was playing his first match since undergoing a second knee reconstruction in the past two years since leaving the Force for the Brumbies.
He has been limited to just five Super Rugby games in the past couple of years due to his knee issues and hasn't played for the Wallabies since undergoing a reconstruction in March.
"I spent plenty of hours on this field. It was good to make my comeback here. It has been a long 11 months so to come back to where it all started for me with Super Rugby and play a game here was great," Pocock said.
"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. 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."
Pocock might have been happy to get through the game, but wasn't happy with the result and is looking forward to an improved showing from the Brumbies next weekend against the Highlanders in Wagga before the season opener against the Queensland Reds.
"There's plenty in there to work on. We will go back to Canberra and work hard to get ready for the Highlanders and then we have a 14-day lead in to the Reds," Pocock said.
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