It may only be round 3 but the Brumbies are staring at Friday night’s fixture with the Western Force as a ‘must win’ if they are to keep in touch with the current Australian Conference leaders.
Two close losses with a side with relative inexperience in key positions has put them behind where they expected to be at this point of the season and they come up against a side full of confidence after knocking off the Queensland Reds last week.
Add in a six-day turnaround and 48 hours less recovery than their opponents, this game proves quite a tricky one for the Brumbies.
The key message out of last weeks game is consistency and being able to close out the tight games after glimpses where they both dominated the play then were dominated themselves and unable to play their natural game.
The Brumbies are on a six match winning streak against the Force but this one could prove their toughest match against them as they try to avoid a hat trick of losses to start 2017.
Brumbies coach Steve Larkham has sprung a major surprise by dropping Scott Fardy for this important clash. Not just to the bench, but out of the match day squad altogether. Larkham says this is for ‘tactical reasons’ which may raise a few eyebrows to fans and other observers. Ben Hyne will take his place and will hoping to avoid the injury curse which ruined his Super Rugby debut in 2016 to just five minutes after suffering syndesmosis.
The other change sees Ben Alexander come in at loose head for Nic Mayhew, who drops to the bench.
Larkham has opted for a 6/2 bench split so Isaac Thompson drops out to make way for Blake Enever.
The Force have had to make changes themselves with a couple in the forward pack from last week. A calf injury has forced out Adam Coleman of his lock position for five weeks to see Ross Haylett-Petty move from the side of the scrum to take his place.
Coach Dave Wessels has also changed the starting props with Pek Cowan and Tetera Faulkner coming in and Richard Hardwick comes in at 8 as Brynard Stander moves to blindside.
Another subtle change in the backline sees Luke Morahan and in form winger Chance Peni swap wings probably to allow the more experienced Morahan to mark up on Henry Speight, who managed to cross the tryline last week.
The Force have shown the competition that they are willing to attack and their exciting backline has put some teams on notice as they develop their new structure under Wessels and his coaching team.
If the Force are to get the win this week there are a few areas across the field they will need to tighten up. They are second in penalties conceded and they will need to cut that out, especially in their own half to avoid watching the Brumbies kicking to touch and bringing out the rolling maul.
MATCHUPS
Midfield
The Force backline looked good last week against the Reds with a well worked move in the first minute showing fans that they too can get in on the action, not just their forwards. The Force combo of Billy Meakes and Curtis Rona are developing well after just two games and could prove a handful.
Tevita Kuridrani crossed for a try last week against the Sharks but was otherwise well contained by the Sharks and the Brumbies will need to get him involved earlier if they are to claim the win.
Former Force player Kyle Godwin has had a relatively quiet start to his Brumbies career but is no doubt ready for a big game against his former side.
Prediction
The Brumbies need a win to get their season back on track but will need a fast start and not leave it to the last 20 minutes of the match where their inexperienced has been shown and the Force have been strong so far this season.
This game will probably be a real grind but the Brumbies recent record against the Force should get them home in a tight one by 5.
TEAMS
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BRUMBIES
1 Ben Alexander
2 Josh Mann-Rea
3 Allan Alaalatoa
4 Rory Arnold
5 Sam Carter
6 Ben Hyne
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 Robbie Abel
17 Nic Mayhew
18 Leslie Leulua’iali’i- Makin
19 Blake Enever
20 Tom Staniforth
21 Lolo Fakaosilea
22 De Wet Roos
23 Andrew Smith
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Force
1 Pek Cowan
2 Heath Tessmann
3 Tetera Faulkner
4 Ross Haylett-Petty
5 Matt Philip
6 Brynard Stander
7 Kane Koteka
8 Richard Hardwick
9 Ryan Louwrens
10 Jono Lance
11 Luke Morahan
12 Billy Meakes
13 Curtis Rona
14 Chance Peni
15 Dane Haylett-Petty
RESERVES
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Ben Daley
18 Jermaine Ainsley
19 Onehunga Havili Kaufusi
20 Isi Naisarani
21 Michael Ruru
22 Ian Prior
23 Robbie Coleman
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