Cape Town - The Brumbies sounded a warning to their Super Rugby rivals by thrashing the Hurricanes 52-10 in Canberra on Friday.
The men from Canberra, who led 24-3 at the break, ran in seven tries for a comprehensive bonus-point win against last year's runners up.
The margin of the scoreline will surprise many, given the fact that the Hurricanes thumped the Crusaders 74-7 in a warm-up match earlier this month.
But the men from Wellington were no match for the Brumbies, who dominated at scrum time and constantly had their opponents on the back foot.
In next weekend's action, the Brumbies host the Waratahs in what is sure to be a mouth-watering Australian derby, while the 'Canes travel to Dunedin to face the Highlanders, the team which beat them in last year's final in Wellington.
Both teams will be eager for a victory, as the Highlanders also lost their first game - going down 33-31 to the Blues in Auckland on Friday.
Scorers:
Brumbies
Tries: Tevita Kuridrani, Tomas Cubelli, David Pocock, Scott Fardy, Stephen Moore, Josh Mann-Rea, Sam Carter
Conversions: Christian Lealiifano (6)
Penalty: Lealiifano
Hurricanes
Try: Ngani Lauampe
Conversion: Beauden Barrett
Penalties: Barrett
Teams:
Brumbies
15 Aidan Toua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Allan Alaalatoa
Substitutes: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Nigel Ah Wong
Hurricanes
15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Blade Thomson, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reggie Goodes
Substitutes: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Otere Black, 23 Willis Halaholo