Brumbies v. Crusaders - 2011R04

[Brumby Jack]

Brumbies team announced:

1. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore
3. Dan Palmer
4. Ben Hand
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Mitchell Chapman
7. Colby Fainga'a
8. Ita Vaea
9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Giteau ©
11. Francis Fainifo
12. Robbie Coleman
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Henry Speight
15. Pat McCabe
Reserves
16. Huia Edmonds
17. Salesi Ma'afu
18. Peter Kimlin
19. Julian Salvi
20. Patrick Phibbs
21. Matt To'omua
22. Christian Lealiifano

No real surprises here. Salvi has been off his game this season and Colby Fainga'a has done quite well, especially against the Rebels.
Having Chapman back will help the lineout which struggled against Queensland last week.

Still, no chance against a hot Crusaders team...
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn
3. Ben Franks
4. Chris Jack
5. Sam Whitelock
6. George Whitelock
7. Matt Todd
8. Kieran Read (Capt)
9. Andy Ellis
10. Daniel Carter
11. Adam Whitelock
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Sean Maitland
15. Israel Dagg
Reserves:
16. Quentin MacDonald
17. Owen Franks
18. Brad Thorn
19. Jonathan Poff
20. Willi Heinz
21. Matt Berquist
22. Tom Marshall

 

[Slim 293]

Much better pack from the Brumbies...

Same problem at number 10...

 

[Bullrush]

Much better pack from the Brumbies...

Same problem at number 10...

The front row battle should be interesting but overall I think the Brumbies pack will get rolled.

 

[louie]

Same problem at number 10...

not if you ask bernie.

Larkham anoints Gits as Brumbies' potential saviour
March 10, 2011 - 10:23AM

Calling the shots . . . Matt Giteau of the Brumbies. Photo: Getty Images
Matt Giteau is still the right man to fill the Brumbies' No10 jersey and is capable of getting the team's season back on track, ACT attack coach Stephen Larkham says.

The Brumbies' misfiring attack will be given another chance to prove it can be a destructive Super Rugby force in their match against the Canterbury Crusaders in Nelson tomorrow night.

But the Brumbies will reassess their back line combinations after the clash with the Crusaders if it fails to live up to its potential. The Brumbies will go into the round-four match relatively unchanged despite losing their past two games.

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Mitchell Chapman returns to the No.6 jersey while Colby Fainga'a has usurped Julian Salvi as the team's openside flanker.

There are no other changes to the team which lost to the Queensland Reds last weekend.

Giteau will take charge at flyhalf again. The 28-year-old's form has been solid in the opening three rounds, but the Brumbies' attack has not been able to capitalise on a mountain of opportunities.

Former champion ACT and Wallabies pivot Larkham said Giteau deserved the No10 jumper with young guns Matt To'omua and Christian Lealiifano biding their time on the bench.

"I think [Giteau] is going well there, the team certainly responds well to him when he's at flyhalf," Larkham said.

"He gets a lot of touches on the ball which is what we want and one of our priorities is to get the ball into our playmaker's hands as much as possible."

The Brumbies flew to New Zealand yesterday and will train today.

They have won just one of their first three matches, despite having ample attacking opportunities and possession to beat both the Melbourne Rebels and the Reds.

Despite scoring four tries-to-one in their loss to the Reds, just one back Pat McCabe managed to get across the line for a five-pointer.

Larkham said the Brumbies were still working on their "base game plan" and admitted it had limited the team's attacking options.

Larkham implored the Brumbies' forward pack to be clinical at the set piece to give the backs space to move against a dangerous Crusaders side boasting Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams, Robbie Fruean and Israel Dagg.

"I think we're not far off where we want to be. We're constantly trying to fix little things and improve our structures," Larkham said.

"Our set piece was disrupted last weekend, the delivery to the backs was a little bit off where it needed to be so that's something we have to change this week."

Likely Brumbies team: 1. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Dan Palmer, 4. Ben Hand, 5. Mark Chisholm, 6. Mitchell Chapman, 7. Colby Fainga'a, 8. Ita Vaea, 9. Josh Valentine, 10. Matt Giteau, 11. Francis Fainifo, 12. Robbie Coleman, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Pat McCabe. Reserves: Huia Edmonds, Salesi Ma'afu, Peter Kimlin, Julian Salvi, Patrick Phibbs, Christian Lealiifano, Matt To'omua.

Canberra Times

 

[daz]

If the Ponies get rolled tomorrow, as I fully expect they will be, should we expect the fan base to start questioning the board and players? Fan-power v player-power, if you like.

 

[Hawko]

Brumbies team announced:

1. Ben Alexander 2. Stephen Moore 3. Dan Palmer
4. Ben Hand 5. Mark Chisholm
6. Mitchell Chapman 7. Colby Fainga'a 8. Ita Vaea
9. Josh Valentine 10. Matt Giteau ©
11. Francis Fainifo 12. Robbie Coleman 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper 14. Henry Speight
15. Pat McCabe
Reserves
16. Huia Edmonds 17. Salesi Ma'afu 18. Peter Kimlin 19. Julian Salvi
20. Patrick Phibbs 21. Matt To'omua 22. Christian Lealiifano

Still, no chance against a hot Crusaders team...
1. Wyatt Crockett 2. Corey Flynn 3. Ben Franks
4. Chris Jack 5. Sam Whitelock
6. George Whitelock 7. Matt Todd 8. Kieran Read (Capt)
9. Andy Ellis 10. Daniel Carter
11. Adam Whitelock 12. Sonny Bill Williams 13. Robbie Fruean 14. Sean Maitland
15. Israel Dagg
Reserves:
16. Quentin MacDonald 17. Owen Franks 18. Brad Thorn 19. Jonathan Poff
20. Willi Heinz 21. Matt Berquist 22. Tom Marshall

With Alexander at LHP they will struggle. Its two very good front rowers against three very good front rowers and there is only one way that will end.

Kimlin's lucky he's on the bench this week. Next week he'll get a start as "Saviour of the Pack"

Backrow does look to be an improvement but Colby vs Todd is a mismatch.

Persisting with Valentine/Phibbs is not going to help although Ellis is probably the worst Crusader in the 15.

Giteau at 10. Wonder whether he will swan dive over the sideline this week.

Everyone says Coleman can tackle big men and put them down. This week we shall see.

Look at what the Crusaders are doing to rotate their pack. This week Owen Franks and Thorne gets a rest and they don't lose much at all. Wish I could see Hickey rotating/resting players like this.

 

[DPK]

Look at what the Crusaders are doing to rotate their pack. This week Owen Franks and Thorne gets a rest and they don't lose much at all. Wish I could see Hickey rotating/resting players like this.

The beauty of, not to mention comfort that comes with depth.

 

[cyclopath]

not if you ask bernie.

He gets a lot of touches on the ball which is what we want and one of our priorities is to get the ball into our playmaker's hands as much as possible."

Hehehe, The Playmaker!!

 

[qwerty51]

I thought Chapman got 2 weeks?

Crusaders by 39.

 

[Brumby Jack]

I thought Chapman got 2 weeks?

Crusaders by 39.

Apparently it was worthy of 2 weeks but because of previous good behavior only got the 1.
If they appealed and lost, which was likely, the full 2 weeks would have stood.

 

[Ali's Choice]

I think this match will be much closer than some people are saying, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Brumbies manage an upset win.

Firstly, the Crusaders preparation is still not great. Their training ground is unavailable, as is their home ground AMI stadium. Players like SBW are still staying with friends, unable to return to their earthquake damaged homes. This change to routine is bound to have a negative impact on the players' performances.

Secondly, after last weeks emotional build up culminating in the Tahs match, I expect the Crusaders to be somewhat flat. I expect the players to be emotionally drained, and this may also have a negative impact on performance. Excessive emotion can have the temporary effect of lifting players, but in the longerterm it can also leave them feeling drained. I fear this may happen to the Crusaders this week.

Thirdly, lets not forget that this is a very high quality Brumbies team. There's 13 test capped Wallabies in this Brumbies squad, and that staggeringly high number clearly illustrates the depth that the boys from the ACT have in their team. Genuinely world class players such as Matt Giteaum, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) combine with a solid core of excellent established players, and rising stars such as Coleman, McCabe, Faigaa and Fainifo.

Lastly, historically clashes between these two teams have been very close, with wins evely shared. The head to head between the two teams is something like 10-8 to the Crusaders. The Brumbies have no fear of the Crusaders, and are one of the few teams in SANZAR that have consistently troubled the team from CHCH. Whilst the Brumbies recent record in NZ is not good, this match is not being played at fortress AMI, and the Brumbies continue to do very well against the Saders in Australia.

 

[OzSash]

Brumbies to get schmucked for mine ...

Crusaders are a class outfit from front to back while Brumbies "real madrid" are suffering from insane internal strife. Can't see them overcoming these issues quite yet.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Brumbies on the board thanks to the ref not being able to tell the difference between an arm and a head. Great start.

 

[Nusadan]

Lovely live streaming of the match here....

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Giteau sent to the bin, Christmas has come early for me. Great work from Fruean. Carter knocks over the penalty kick with ease and its Crusaders 9 Brumbies 10.

 

[louie]

Gits off. Bit harsh. You do see that a lot.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Brilliant try from the Saders! Carter converts. Crusaders 16 Brumbies 10.

 

[louie]

Big mistake by valentine leads to try. He sucks

 

[Shiggins]

Terrible call on gits. This shit has too stop. Looked like a knock on from Robbie too


Go the force!!!!

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Looking at the close up replay Giteau certainly did not deserve to get sent off for that. Add the knock on that led to a Brumbies try plus the obstruction call against the Crusaders and this game isnt off to a good start for the officials. Come on the Saders.