The Brumbies and Waratahs will meet in Canberra on Friday night and it will be a must win game for both sides who are desperate to finish on top of the Australian conference.
Wallabies spots are on the line all across the park in what is set to be a great match. Ben Alexander and Sam Carter return to the Brumbies starting team whilst the Waratahs have named an unchanged side.
The Brumbies hinted earlier in the week they will use their strong rolling maul against the Waratahs where they scored three tries from against the Highlands last weekend. The Waratahs have responded by saying they will be up for the challenge.
Key Stats
- The Waratahs have won the last three meetings between these sides, each by margins greater than two converted tries.
- The Brumbies have won their last three home games against the Waratahs and have lost just twice to NSW at home since in the history of Super Rugby.
- The last time the Waratahs won in Canberra was back in 2011.
- The Brumbies have won 12 of their last 13 home games.
- The Waratahs have won six of their last seven away games.
- NSW are yet to win three straight games in 2015.
Key Match-Ups
David Pocock v Michael Hooper
The Match-up everyone has been talking about. The battle which could determine who will wear the Wallabies number 7 jersey. As NSW assistant coach Daryl Gibson alluded to during the week, each player has different qualities which they can bring to the field and both players are in great form at the moment. If it was up to me I would start both players but if I had to pick one it would be David Pocock due to his physical presence and his work over the ball. These tough decisions are only a good thing for Wallabies coach Michael Cheika but perhaps the decision will be clearer after the match on the weekend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q-X3xR94GE
Rob Horne v Henry Speight
Another battle for a Wallaby position will be the wingers. Currently James O’Connor, Peter Betham, Nick Cummins, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane, Rob Horne and Chris Feauai-Sautia are all capped Wallabies hoping to make one of the two wing positions available. Both Horne and Speight finished nice tries last weekend and they will both be hoping to get one up on each other.
Prediction
The Brumbies at home will be tough to beat. Their challenge will be to score enough points against the attacking Waratahs.
Brumbies by 5.
Teams
Brumbies v Waratahs
 |  | 
|
| JP Smith | 1 | Benn Robinson |
| Stephen Moore (C) | 2 | Tatafu Polota-Nau |
| Ben Alexander | 3 | Sekope Kepu |
| Jordan Smiler | 4 | Will Skelton |
| Sam Carter | 5 | David Dennis (c) |
| Scott Fardy | 6 | Jacques Potgieter |
| David Pocock | 7 | Michael Hooper (vc) |
| Ita Vaea | 8 | Wycliff Palu |
| Michael Dowsett | 9 | Nick Phipps |
| Christian Lealiifano | 10 | Bernard Foley |
| Joe Tomane | 11 | Rob Horne |
| Robbie Coleman | 12 | Kurtley Beale |
| Tevita Kuridrani | 13 | Adam Ashley-Cooper (vc) |
| Henry Speight | 14 | Peter Betham |
| Jesse Mogg | 15 | Israel Folau |
| Reserves | ||
| Josh Mann-Rea | 16 | Tolu Latu |
| Allan Alaalatoa | 17 | Jeremy Tilse |
| Ruan Smith | 18 | Paddy Ryan |
| Blake Enever | 19 | Mitchell Chapman |
| Jarrad Butler | 20 | Stephen Hoiles |
| Joe Powell | 21 | Pat McCutcheon |
| James Dargaville | 22 | Brendan McKibbin |
| Nigel Ah Wong | 23 | Matt Carraro/Taquele Naiyaravor |
| Location: | GIO Stadium, Canberra | |
| Kickoff: | Fri 1 May 19:40 | |
| Referee: | Glen Jackson | |
| Assistant Ref 1: | Matt O'Brien | |
| Assistant Ref 2: | Frederico Anselmi | |
| TMO : | George Ayoub |
Full teams here
