The ACT Brumbies take on the Highlanders on Saturday night in a rematch of last years Qualifying final with the home side out to get one back over the side they lost to in two close games in 2016.
The Brumbies are leading the Australian conference and this match has added importance with the team urging fans to show up in numbers as the ongoing speculation regarding the future participation of an Australian team continues.
It might rain on Saturday but so what? I’ve seen the Brumbies play the Highlanders in the wet before and they scored 70 points against them including this gem of a try from Mitch Hardy.
With the first bye after this match, the Brumbies have a great chance to setup their season and put a bit of space between them and the rest of the chasing conference pack.
The Highlanders may be sitting at the bottom of the New Zealand conference but all their games so far have been derby matches across the ditch. They have one win, against the Blues in the wet in Auckland, and should have beaten the Crusaders before one of their trademark comebacks.
The visitors did win the last meeting of the sides in Canberra in horrendous conditions last year so they know what it takes to win at a venue where they have not had a great deal of success over the years.
The Smith trio will be crucial to them playing their style and the experience and involvement of Aaron and Ben will be vital for them to get their season back on track.
The Brumbies have made five changes from the side that defeated the Waratahs last week with the majority of those in the forwards.
There are two changes in the front row after hooker Josh Mann-Rea was been ruled out following a knee injury that should see him miss one to two months. Robbie Abel will start the match and Saia Fainga’a is in line to play his first Super Rugby game in Brumbies colours in 2017 following some time off.
Nic Mayhew resumes his place at loosehead prop and swaps is becn position with Ben Alexander.
In other front row news, Scott Sio has been named on the bench and will also be playing his first game in 2017 following a layoff with a hamstring injury.
Rory Arnold and Blake Enever will be swapping positions with Arnold given a bit of a rest and Enever rewarded after a good display against the Waratahs.
Chris Alcock is back into the starting side after a week off from concussion and last weeks openside, Lolo Fakaosilea, drops back to the bench.
The only other change is in the backline with James Dargaville back on the left wing at the expense of Nigel Ah Wong, who drops out of the 23 altogether.
The Brumbies have gone with a 6/2 bench split with the conditions expected to be dominated by the forwards.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown has made three changes to the side that went down to Wellington with changes on both wings with the return of Patrick Osborne and a first start for Patelesio Tomkinson. The other change is Alex Ainley coming into the second row.
Matchups
Tevita Kuridrani vs Malakai Fekitoa
Kuridrani has been playing well of late and has two tries so far this season, including one last week, that have been scored in similar fashion from close to the line.
Fekitoa has had a mixed start to the season and copped a head knock last week but he will need to lift his game to what he can produce as an All Black in a side that has had its fair share of injuries already in 2017.
Scott Fardy vs Elliot Dixon
Fardy was back to his best last week, despite an enforced ten minute rest, in his usual manner of disrupting the opposition ruck and winning crucial penalties
Dixon plays well in the loose and the way the Highlanders play, this game could suit him .
Prediction
It’s probably going to be a wet one and I think the Brumbies showed that they can score tries in the wet and not just from rolling mauls. It will be a close one, as the most recent fixtures between the two sides have been. Brumbies by 7.
TEAMS
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BRUMBIES
1. Nic Mayhew
2. Robbie Abel
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Blake Enever
5. Sam Carter
6. Scott Fardy
7. Chris Alcock
8. Jordan Smiler
9. Joe Powell
10. Wharenui Hawera
11. James Dargaville
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Henry Speight
15. Aidan Toua
RESERVES
16. Saia Fainga’a
17. Scott Sio
18. Ben Alexander
19. Rory Arnold
20. Tom Staniforth
21. Lolo Fakaosilea
22. De Wet Roos
23. Jordan Jackson-Hope
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HIGHLANDERS
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown
2. Liam Coltman
3. Siate Tokolahi
4. Alex Ainley
5. Tom Franklin
6. Elliot Dixon
7. Dillon Hunt
8. Luke Whitelock
9. Aaron Smith
10. Fletcher Smith
11. Patrick Osborne
12. Richard Buckman
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Patelesio Tomkinson
15. Ben Smith
RESERVES
16. Greg Pleasants-Tate
17. Aki Seiuli
18. Siosuia Halanukonuka
19. Joe Wheeler
20. Gareth Evans
21. Kayne Hammington
22. Marty Banks
23. Matt Faddes
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