The Brumbies have named an unchanged starting line-up for the ‘Clash of the Capitals’ game against the Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday night.
Both teams are having disappointing seasons with a grand total of two wins between them — both over the Chiefs in underwhelming fashion. And that’s not where the similarities end, with injuries to key players taking a toll on their performances. This week the visitors are without injured All Black pair Piri Weepu and Rodney So’oialo, and could also lose Cory Jane who is likely to stay at home for the birth of his third child.
Both teams are also suffering from coaching issues, with the well-documented sacking of Andy Friend still lingering over the Brumbies and Hurricanes head coach Mark Hammett fending off critics after failing to get his team up from a poor start to the year.
This will be the second time these teams have met in 2011 — a pre-season trial held in Canberra earlier this year delivered a nail-biting 21-all draw. The Brumbies could take heart from that display as their best team wasn’t on the field when the Hurricanes made their comeback in the last quarter. That result aside, the visitors hold an edge after winning the previous four meetings.
The Brumbies are persisting with their ‘tri-half’ system with three play-makers selected in the backline, a set-up that showed some promise in their last match and warrants further development. The re-selection of that game’s starting XV will only give the players some confidence, a quality that’s running low after five consecutive losses (just one shy of matching their record).
That said, weekly selection is a tough scenario for Tony Rea as he has many issues to consider, including his own situation in terms of putting on a good show before his interview for the 2012 head coaching position, and developing combinations that don’t include departing stars Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Looking to the bench, it’s expected that Pat McCabe will return to the match-day 22 with Francis Fainifo making way. McCabe is coming back from a hamstring injury and his strong running will be welcome.
The Hurricanes are heading into the first game of a three-match overseas tour and getting out of New Zealand might be the best (and only) way to help them get their season back on track. There’s a fair share of internationals within the squad so the crap results so far are hard to fathom. With the Ma’a Nonu – Conrad Smith midfield combo you could expect this team to dominate in that area, but for some reason they have failed to fire this year. Could it be the curse of the four-year cycle?
For this match, the props look like absolute monsters with Neemia Titalata (127kg) and John Schwalger (119kg) holding up the scrum, and the Canes would see this as an area where they hold the advantage. The battle with Wallabies Ben Alexander and Salesi Ma’afu could decide which side gains the upper hand throughout the match. No doubt referee Craig Joubert will be keeping an eye on this area with Alexander struggling of late — and Joubert has been known to crack down on vulnerable props, as ‘Le Fuse’ can attest.
The new halves pairing of Tyson Keats and Aaron Cruden will need to be at their best to provide go-forward ball to their superstar backline, which has struggled to get out of first gear so far this season. Nonu and Smith could only be a game away from reaching their full potential and Brumbies fans will hope this is not the game where they do. Winger Hosea Gear can also turn the game in a blink of an eye with his electric pace and create havoc if given the chance. The Brumbies backs will have to front up in defence to nullify his threat.
Key match-up: Ita Vaea v. Victor Vito: The battle of the hard ball-runners will be worth watching. Vaea has been revelation so far this season and one of the best performers for the Brumbies pack each week. Vito must look forward to playing the Brumbies in Canberra after scoring tries in his previous two visits, and his work in the back row with Jack Lam and Serge Lilo will certainly have the Brumbies on their toes.
Tip: In a match that only insomniacs in need of a cure and/or desperate fans will be watching, it will come down to which team has the greater hunger to put an end to their poor season. If the Brumbies forwards can get on top of their opposition, I think they could finally end their losing streak — but only just. Brumbies by 5.
Teams:
Brumbies: 15. Matt Toomua, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Andrew Smith, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Josh Valentine, 8. Ita Vaea, 7. Julian Salvi, 6. Peter Kimlin, 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. Ben Hand, 3. Salesi Ma’afu, 2. Huia Edmonds, 1. Ben Alexander. Reserves: 16. Anthony Hegarty, 17. Dan Palmer, 18. Colby Faingaa, 19. Michael Hooper, 20. Patrick Phibbs, 21. Tyrone Smith, 22. Pat McCabe.
Hurricanes: 15. Cory Jane/Andre Taylor, 14. Andre Taylor/Alapati Leiua, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11. Hosea Gear, 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Tyson Keats, 8. Victor Vito, 7. Serge Lilo, 6. Jack Lam, 5. Jason Eaton, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 3. Neemia Tialata, 2. Andrew Hore, 1. John Schwalger. Reserves: 16. Dane Coles, 17. Michael Bent, 18. James Broadhurst, 19. Faifili Levave, 20. Chris Eaton, 21. Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22. Charlie Ngatai.
Referee: Craig Joubert (SA)
Assistant referees: Stuart Dickinson (Aus), Andrew Lees (Aus)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Aus)
