Wounded Brumbies off to a flyer

SUPER 12 champions ACT Brumbies came back well to defeat New Zealand rivals Canterbury Crusaders at home on the opening weekend of the competition.

The Australians recovered from the blow of losing Wallaby backs Stirling Mortlock and Clyde Rathbone early in the first half to win the match and claim a scoring bonus point.

The Brumbies join the New South Wales Warathas on maximum points.

Springbok wing Breyton Paulse scored two tries as Western Stormers beat fellow South Africans Coastal Sharks 26-12 in Cape Town.

Other winners were Wellington Hurricanes with 24-10 over the Queensland Reds and the Golden Cats beating fellow South Africans Northern Bulls 23-17.