Western Force can end their 2013 Super Rugby season on a high when they host the finals-bound Brumbies in Perth tonight. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 9.45pm AEST.
Following a three-weak hiatus for the international break, the Australian Conference re-commences their Super Rugby campaign with the final round of the regular season.
For the Brumbies, who lead the Australian Conference by five points, this weekend represents an opportunity to re-tune before the Super Rugby finals, which begin next weekend.
While they hold only a five-point break over the second-placed Reds, a substantially superior points differential will ensure they finish first.
But Jake White will still be reminding his side of the need to get four points, because if the Bulls or Crusaders slip up, the Brumbies can sneak into the top two on the Super Rugby ladder and earn a first-round bye in the finals.
Despite only concluding their three-Test series against the Lions last week, seven Wallabies have been named in the side by White, along with Scott Sio and Peter Kimlin.
After suffering concussion in the Wallabies’ loss last Saturday night, George Smith has been named to play via the replacements bench.
The Force have made a number of changes with Wallabies Ben McCalman, Hugh McMeniamin and Nick Cummins all returning, while James Hilterbrand makes his starting debut.
Thanks to the Force’s last-minute win against the Highlanders, the Force will finish last in the Australian Conference but they can avoid the wooden spoon on the overall log with a win tonight, which would move them clear of the Kings.
To do so, they’ll need to overcome a poor recent record against the Brumbies.
The Canberra-based outfit have won three of their pat four matches against the Force, with the other a 13-13 draw back in 2011, with the most recent meeting of the two sides producing a 41-7 win for the Brumbies.
Can the Force finish 2013 with a win, or will the Brumbies continue their march towards the finals? Find out as we cover the action from 9.45pm AEST.