Expert
The Brumbies get the chance to reaffirm their spot at the top of the Australian Conference when they host the Rebels in Canberra tonight. Join us from 7.30pm AEST as we keep score, provide insightful commentary and leave ample room for banter.
Every in-conference match has importance from here on in. The Brumbies will want to keep pace with the Waratahs, who won in Perth last night, and the Rebels are trying to make their own push for a wild-card place.
The Brumbies went down to a more-experienced Reds team last week and will be desperate to get back on track.
The Rebels took on a disappointing Blues team to register a morale boosting win at home.
The Rebels have improved their defence and will obviously rely on Beale,O’Connor and Cipriani for strike power.
The Brumbies are playing with structure but need to throw the ball wide as they did in the first five matches of the competition and test the Rebels defence, and scrumhalf Nic White is a good surprise attack weapon.
Providing he does plenty of running and not kicking, the Brumbies will have some options around the scrum and breakdown area.
It is hoped that both teams open up and not resort to aimless kicking for ‘field position’.
Unless both of these teams can show something different in attack then they are not going to surprise any other franchises in Super Rugby, as neither possesses the forward power or depth to outmuscle any of the teams above them on the ladder.
The Brumbies Wallaby front row duo of Ben Alexander and Stephen Moore have been in outstanding form leading their young Brumbies from up front and lanky winger Jesse Mogg has been a revelation on the wing.
Don’t forget to log from kick-off at 7.35pm AEST on for all the action, commentary and scores you can handle!