The ACT Brumbies showed they are still a force to be reckoned with in the Super 12, running in nine tries to four to thrash the Bulls 64-26 and secure a bonus point at Canberra Stadium.

The Brumbies recaptured the backline class which made them the champions and Super 12 trendsetters in 2001, shaking off the errors which dogged their opening rounds.

The new backline combination of Test five-eight Steve Larkham and the Wallabies baby-faced assassin Matt Giteau had too much class for the hapless tourists, who looked shell-shocked as the Brumbies raced home in front of more than 20,000 fans.

"I think the passing game between Matt and Steve together gave us a lot of that width," coach David Nucifora said of his star backs.

"Both of them have got an excellent long passing game and that got us around the outside a number of times."

Both sides looked to push the ball wide from the outset, the Bulls in particular looking to unleash their quicksilver outside backs.

But it was a style of game practiced only rarely by the South Africans, a fact rammed home by the Brumbies who at their best are the midfield maestros of the Super 12.

The Bulls were not helped by ill-discipline, with No.8 Pedrie Wannenburg and flanker Piet Krause both sin-binned by Kiwi referee Steve Walsh in the second half.

Krause vented his frustration with a late hit on Larkham which left the Wallaby pivot motionless for some minutes.

The infractions cost the Bulls dearly, with the Brumbies skipper George Gregan crossing twice in his 101st match for ACT in their absence.

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