The Brumbies lost 157 Test caps in the off-season, without making any major signings, but they didn’t miss a beat in a Super Rugby trial against the Melbourne Rebels.

Wallabies quintet David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight, Rory Arnold and Sam Carter all departed but the baby Brumbies thrashed the Rebels 45-14 in Albury on Thursday night.

The Brumbies looked sharp and conditioned for January and despite the exodus, they could still start favourites to clinch consecutive Australian conference titles.

Rebels flyhalf Matt Toomua wants to make the vacant Wallabies No. 10 jersey his own this year and looked polished, laying down a marker of 2020.

The Wallabies’ post World Cup departures included No.10s Lealiifano and Bernard Foley, which has left the national playmaking role up for grabs.

The match also unveiled of the Lealiifano’s replacement with Brumbies’ young gun Noah Lolesio looking comfortable pulling the strings.

Rolling subs meant more than 50 players were involved and both teams avoided major injuries ahead of their season openers next week.

Defence dominated a grinding first half before the contest opened up in the second as the Brumbies ran in five tries, including a double to winger Andy Muirhead.

Brumbies halfback Joe Powell is playing for his future with the arrival of Wallaby Nic White in Canberra next season, and he was solid.

Rebels centre Billy Meakes is determined to make his long-awaited Test debut this year and was courageous in defence, while first choice Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete finished a sensational team try.

A yellow card to Rebels reserve hooker Fereti Saaga opened the floodgates for the Brumbies and the Rebels men will need better discipline when the teams meet in round two.