The Brumbies season is aiming to get back on track when they take on the Bulls on Friday night.
While it’s not quite desperation stakes, the Brumbies need to start getting back to winning ways after three losses in the last four games to stay in touch of the conference lead and this week’s opposition won’t be easy.
The Brumbies dominated the territory and possession against the Highlanders last week but had little to show for it and raises a few concerns about the attack that looked good in the opening rounds and will need something special to get past a Bulls defence in the top 5 of the competition that has only conceded 18 tries so far.
That hasn’t been helped by the absence of Matt Toomua who is out due to a knee injury with Robbie Coleman to take his place in the 12 jersey. Coleman’s move to inside centre isn’t unfamiliar for him as he made his Super Rugby debut there and will see James Dargaville make the starting side on the left wing.
The forwards are going to be in for a busy night and front row is completely different to last week with Stephen Moore returning from a calf injury and Scott Sio and Ben Alexander are back alongside Rory Arnold in the pack.
The make up of the bench sees a 6/2 split which indicates the approach the Brumbies will be taking into the game.
The Bulls are coming off a big win over the Force in Perth and are on a seven match unbeaten streak with their last defeat way back in round one. Whilst they have had little success in Canberra, they have not lost by by more than six points in the last three visits.
As usual they have some big units in the forwards and a backline that is playing a non-traditional Bulls style of play with less kicking and more counter attacking and making use of their strong centre combination of Jan Serfontein and Jesse Kriel and their speed out wide.
The Bulls can always call on the goal kicking of Francois Brummer, who has stepped up in the absence of Handre Pollard, to keep the Brumbies discipline in check with an 82% success rate this season.
TIP: The Brumbies have a lot to play for and after a tumultuous period off the field will want to show their fans they have put that behind them. It will probably be another close one with the Brumbies home by 3.
Teams
[one_half last=”no”]
BRUMBIES
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore (c)
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rory Arnold
5. Sam Carter
6. Scott Fardy
7. David Pocock
8. Jarrad Butler
9. Tomás Cubelli
10. Christian Lealiifano (c)
11. James Dargaville
12. Robbie Coleman
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Nigel Ah Wong
15. Aidan Toua
Reserves:
16. Josh Mann-Rea
17. Allan Alaalatoa
18. Ruan Smith
19. Tom Staniforth
20. Blake Enever
21. Jordan Smiler
22. Joe Powell
23. Lausii Taliauli
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
BULLS
1 Trevor Nyakane
2 Adriaan Strauss
3 Marcel van der Merwe
4 RG Snyman
5 Marvin Orie
6 Lappies Labuschagne
7 Arno Botha
8 Hanro Liebenberg
9 Piet van Zyl
10 Francois Brummer
11 Bjorn Basson
12 Jan Serfontein
13 Jesse Kriel
14 Travis Ismaiel
15 SP Marais
Reserves:
16 Bandise Maku
17 Lizo Gqoboko
18 Werner Kruger
19 Jannes Kirsten
20 Roelof Smit
21 Rudy Paige
22 Tian Schoeman
23 Dan Kriel
[/one_half]
Stats by Opta Sports.
