Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher has been given a Super 14 send-off he will want to forget, seeing his side surrender a 22-point lead to eventually lose 29-22 to a fast-finishing Western Force at Subiaco Oval.

In a first half which affirmed Fisher's hopes of bright Brumbies future without him, the visitors had a bonus point before the Force had their first point, with four tries to Francis Fainifo, Mark Gerrard and Adam Ashley-Cooper in the first 25 minutes.

But after teenager James O'Connor's first try in Super 14 just before half time, the Force produced one of the more remarkable comebacks of the season, swallowing up the lead with tries to Josh Tatupu, Matt Giteau and Chris O'Young.

Giteau's penalty stretched the lead out to seven and, after it had looked a certainty they would be beaten by all three Australian sides, the Force finish the year as the second best Australian side - sending Fisher into the job market with his 20th loss as a head coach.

The injuries which plagued the Force's season hit them again on the last day of the season, with Drew Mitchell's ankle injury ruling him out not only of this game, but almost certainly the early Tests against Ireland and France.

Brumbies skipper Stirling Mortlock showed no sympathy, smashing into O'Connor with his first carry and celebrating moments later as Christian Leiliifano's chip bounced up perfectly for Fainifo to amble over inside two minutes.

With the Force defence in disarray, the next Brumbies possession was again too easily capitalised on four minutes later, with George Smith's pass avoiding the Force defenders and finding Gerrard unopposed.

On 19 minutes, Mortlock's quick hands out of the tackle fed Fainifo for his second and, with Brumbies hands slick and Force fans sick, the bonus point was wrapped up five minutes later, static Force defence exploited by another Smith pass to Ashley-Cooper.

Only Mortlock's three missed conversions spared the Force complete embarrassment, before the 22-point lead was cut by O'Connor's dancing feet on 33 minutes.

It seemed the teenager's first Super 14 try could only be a consolation - until giving the Sevens specialist more room at first receiver sparked the Force's own double whammy within ten minutes of the second half starting.

First O'Connor's loop opened up space for Giteau and Haig Sare to send Tatupu galloping over.

Then Giteau reminded the Brumbies what they were missing, with a brilliant step to send him cantering over.

Mark Chisholm's running riposte was brutally ended by a Cameron Shepherd tackle, and when Gerrard's up-and-down night took a dreadful turn with a goalline fumble, Force's patience paid off when O'Young burrowed over to snatch the lead.

With both sides scoring four tries, Giteau's penalty was a moment of sanity in an increasingly crazy night, leaving the Force with their first ever win over the Brumbies and one spot ahead of them on the Super 14 ladder.

Mortlock summed up the night neatly.

"It was a tale of two halves mate, and you cannot explain it. We went out with real intent to execute and we certainly did that in the first half," Mortlock said.

"The Force guys sneaked one before half time, got back in the game ... and they were too good in the end."

And Force skipper Nathan Sharpe despite the dreadful start, his side still believed they were a chance.

"29 unanswered points against the Brumbies is no mean feat at all - this team can attack when it wants to," Sharpe said.

"It is a credit to the boys to come out after half time and switch that around, there a lot of young guys so to be able to make a transition like that within a game is a bloody big effort."

Mortlock summed up the night neatly.

"It was a tale of two halves mate, and you cannot explain it. We went out with real intent to execute and we certainly did that in the first half," Mortlock said.

"The Force guys sneaked one before half time, got back in the game ... and they were too good in the end."

And Force skipper Nathan Sharpe despite the dreadful start, his side still believed they were a chance.

"29 unanswered points against the Brumbies is no mean feat at all - this team can attack when it wants to," Sharpe said.

"It is a credit to the boys to come out after half time and switch that around, there a lot of young guys so to be able to make a transition like that within a game is a bloody big effort."

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