So it is finals time in Super Rugby and the Brumbies are the sole Australian representative and have a huge task ahead of them when they take on the Hurricanes on Friday night.
Most are expecting the Brumbies to offer little more than an opposed training run for the defending champions who lead most of the attacking stats but knockout rugby can bring on a whole different challenge and the Brumbies have sprung a surprise in the finals before – think Pretoria 2013.
With their spot in the finals assured, the Brumbies rested the majority of their starting side last week against the Chiefs in Hamilton and despite losing that one, they avoided a heavy defeat and have reverted to their strongest available side for this week. On the other hand, the Hurricanes managed to knock off the undefeated and highflying Crusaders.
If they are to pull off an upset the Brumbies will have to play a near flawless game to execute their game plan. The obvious plan would be to keep the ball away from the Hurricanes attacking threats at any cost, which is easier said than done when you consider they got carved up on kick returns in the last game and have one of the top try scorers in the competition playing in this match. Oh and they also have the Barrett brothers. And the Savea brothers. I might just stop there…
These two last met back in April over in Napier with the Hurricanes running away with it in the second half after the Brumbies lead at half time but there might have been a slight glimpse of how best to approach the Hurricanes. One area to focus on will be to defuse the cross-field kicks and defend like their lives depend on it, amongst others, if they are to stay in this one.
It might surprise some but the Brumbies do have the third best defensive record behind the Hurricanes and Lions. They will be relying on their ability to slow down the ruck ball with Scott Fardy and Chris Alcock doing their best to be ruck pests and stop the likes of TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett getting front foot ball and unleashing Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder outside them.
On to other matters, I’ve seen some special games for the Brumbies since they started way back in 1996 – the win against Transvaal in their first ever competitive match, 2 Super Rugby wins, the return to rugby by Julian Huxley in 2010 following a brain tumor – but Friday night might top those with the return to Super Rugby after nearly a year by the inspirational Christian Lealiifano after a battle with Leukaemia. His presence on the field will no doubt give them a spark whenever he takes to the field that Brumbies fans hope might end in a fairytale finish.
Prediction
Whilst it would be a major boil over for the Brumbies to get up here, I don’t think it will be the 50 point blowout that some (over the ditch) are predicting but the attacking threat of the Hurricanes is a scary proposition and they should get home by somewhere around the 12 point margin.
Teams
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BRUMBIES
1. Scott Sio
2. Josh Mann-Rea
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Rory Arnold
5. Sam Carter (c)
6. Scott Fardy
7. Chris Alcock
8. Jordan Smiler
9. Joe Powell
10. Wharenui Hawera
11. James Dargaville
12. Andrew Smith
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Henry Speight
15. Tom Banks
Reserves
16. Robbie Abel
17. Ben Alexander
18. Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin
19. Blake Enever
20. Jarrad Butler
21. Tomas Cubelli
22. Jordan Jackson-Hope
23. Christian Lealiifano
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Hurricanes
1. Ben May
2. Ricky Riccitelli
3. Jeff To’omaga-Allen
4. Mark Abbott
5. Sam Lousi
6. Vaea Fifita
7. Ardie Savea
8. Brad Shields
9. TJ Perenara (c)
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Julian Savea
12. Ngani Laumape
13. Jordie Barrett
14. Wes Goosen
15 Nehe Milner-Skudder
Reserves
16 Dane Coles
17 Chris Eves
18 Loni Uhila
19 Reed Prinsep
20 Callum Gibbins
21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
22 Otere Black
23 Cory Jane
[/one_half]
Let’s now go back in time to 1997 when these two sides last played a finals game in Canberra.
