Brumbies kingpin Stirling Mortlock rates unbeaten arch-rivals NSW a better team than the 2008 Waratahs which Rocky Elsom and Dan Vickerman helped to the Super 14 final.

Wallabies skipper Mortlock delivered the surprise compliment as NSW warmed up for Friday night’s local derby in Canberra with their fourth straight win – a bruising 15-11 victory over Queensland.

Although their were massive pre-season question marks following the departure of Test stars Elsom and Vickerman, the Waratahs forwards have become the form pack of the competition.

While he acknowledged the Brumbies’ motivation would be as high as ever, Mortlock knows his team has a major battle to continue their dominance over NSW at Canberra Stadium.

The 76-Test centre isn’t about to join the chorus of critics bagging his pragmatic, conservative rivals as boring.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for what they have done as a team,” said Mortlock. “It seems they have even more confidence and belief in their system and their play.

“Last year they made the final and fell one short (to the Crusaders) but it looks as though they’re even better this year.

“They have a great set-piece, their defensive system is excellent and their attack is getting better and better.”

Mortlock praised the likes of Ben Mowen and Will Caldwell for standing up to ensure a seamless transition after Elsom and Vickerman headed to the United Kingdom.

The Waratahs, joint competition leaders with the Bulls on 18 points, have only one win from six visits to the national capital.

Their only triumph was a grinding 10-6 win in 2005 on the way to their maiden final appearance, and NSW coach Chris Hickey – a Brumbies assistant in their early days – knows how tough it is to win in Canberra.

NSW may have to do it without No.8 battering ram Wycliff Palu who has a cracked finger and will visit a hand specialist on Tuesday.

With Scott Fava also injured, new recruit Luke Doherty is in line for his first start, either at No.8 or six, as in-form flanker Ben Mowen has played the bulk of his rugby at the back of the scrum.

Mortlock said the seventh-placed Brumbies’ naturally high enthusiasm for the local derby had been “exacerbated” by their upset last-start loss to the Western Force before this weekend’s bye.

The sixth-placed Force failed to follow up their round three success, falling 31-13 to the fired-up Chiefs in Hamilton, and now have hooker Tai McIsaac (head knock) in slight doubt for their clash with the struggling Crusaders in Christchurch.

The defending champions suffered the ignominy of losing 6-0 in the lowest-scoring Super rugby match ever against their South Island rivals the Highlanders in Dunedin, and losing skipper Richie McCaw (knee) in the process.

Queensland have their own worries with lineout general Van Humphries and prop Greg Holmes both carrying shoulder injuries after their close defeat in Sydney.

Rookie loose-head Ben Daley faces a daunting call-up against the Sharks’ all-Springbok front-row as the Reds prepare to host the unbeaten third-placed Durban team who pipped the Blues 35-31 in Auckland.

The Hurricanes jumped into fourth with a mistake-riddled 29-12 win over the last-placed Cheetahs, who remain the only team yet to taste victory.

The Bulls kept their unbeaten record intact but were far from convincing in holding off a surging Stormers 14-10 in Pretoria.

© AAP 2012

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