Rugby: Force awaken to muzzle Sunwolves in Tokyo

Marcel Brache (right) of the Western Force jumps to score a try against the Sunwolves during the Round 11 Super Rugby match in Tokyo, on May 7, 2016. PHOTO: EPA

TOKYO (AFP) - Marcel Brache scored an explosive early hat-trick as the Western Force thrashed the Sunwolves 40-22 in Tokyo on Saturday in a battle between two Super Rugby strugglers.

The Sunwolves, who posted a historic first victory in the southern hemisphere's premier provincial competition against Argentina's Jaguares in their last outing, burst from the blocks with a try from Akihito Yamada in the opening moments.

But from the restart a sharp interception from Brache left him an easy run-in, before a spectacular try after a slick move and another bulldozing finish gave the winger his hat-trick inside 20 minutes.

The Force, who had won just one of their previous nine matches, never looked back and further tries from Brynard Stander, Ben McCalman and Angus Cottrell secured a second win of the season for the Perth-based visitors.

The Sunwolves have endured a torrid first season in Super Rugby, hitting rock bottom in last month's 92-17 humiliation by South Africa's Cheetahs before ending their own seven-match losing skid against the Jaguares.

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