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Brumbies set to get their campaign back on track

David Pocock's Brumbies were thrashed by the Crusaders. (AAP Image/Theron Kirkman)
Expert
23rd April, 2015
14
1046 Reads

Despite back to back losses to the Blues and Melbourne Rebels, the Brumbies should edge out the Highlanders when they meet them tonight in Canberra.

Under the agreement between the Super Rugby franchises and the New Zealand Rugby Union, each franchise is required to rest their All Blacks for two matches.

Consequently, the Highlanders have decided to rest their three All Blacks backs: Ben Smith, Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa.

This is a major factor that should help get the Brumbies over the line in what should be a close encounter.

While resting these key players will disrupt and weaken the Highlanders backline, the Brumbies have also had to reshuffle their own backline with injuries in recent weeks to key halves Nic White and Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani and Joe Tomane.

Kuridrani and Tomane return to give a much needed boost to the Brumbies’ team, and should cause plenty of headaches for the Otago defence. The Highlanders have a tendency to leak points and they will need to improve this aspect of their game if they are to come away from Australia’s capital with a win.

One area the Brumbies will seek to exploit is the Highlanders new midfield back pairing of Shaun Treeby at 12 and Richard Buckman at 13.

While most of the Brumbies’ tries have come off their set piece in 2015, the Highlanders can expect the Brumbies will throw the ball around and come at them in the outside backs given the weapons at their disposal in Kuridrani, and wingers Henry Speight and Tomane.

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Jesse Mogg returns to fullback and this should enable the Brumbies to use his left foot kick to get them field position from which to launch their rolling mauls. This will minimise the opportunities of the Highlanders’ goal kicking ace No. 10 Lima Sopoaga who has a strike rate of 84 per cent.

Mogg can also be brilliant and unpredictable in attack which could be very dangerous – particularly if he links with the powerful Kuridrani.

However, one aspect of Mogg’s game that could be exploited by the Highlander’s is his defence, which has been questionable in the past. He may also be challenged under the high ball as the Highlanders seek to exploit a perceived weakness in that area of his game.

If Mogg is given just a little bit of time and space, he can cause plenty of headaches for the defence with his unique running style.

The versatile former Queanbeyan junior Robbie Coleman should handle the reshuffle to inside centre without too much trouble, and Christian Lealiifano is a class act albeit in the unaccustomed No. 10 role.

Tomane and Speight are great finishers, but may be cancelled out by the equally impressive Highlander wingers Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne.

The battle in the forwards should be intriguing with significant changes to the Brumbies tight five. The front row pairing of brothers JP and Ruan Smith will be keen to make an impression, as will the new lock combination of Blake Enever and Jordan Smiler, given the leave of absence afforded Tom Carter who is attending the funeral of a close friend.

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Traditionally the Highlanders tight-five have been very hard workers – this is the nature of the south islanders – and this current crop of players are no exception.

The Brumbies’ forwards from front row to back row will have to ensure their work rate is at its optimum as the Highlanders will contest the rucks fiercely.

The back row battle should be intense with the highly rated David Pocock, Scott Fardy and Ita Vaea up against Elliot Dixon at 6, James Lentjes at 7 and captain Nasi Manu.

The Highlanders back row have an extremely high work rate as evidenced by the fact that they have the secured the most turnovers in Super Rugby in 2015 of any team.

The hometown advantage of the Brumbies is another factor not to underestimated, particularly in such an emotion charged Anzac weekend.

Another major feature of the Brumbies team in 2015 has been their defensive record, which is the best in the competition.

Finally, the simple fact that the Brumbies have lost three of their last four matches will not be sitting well with them, particularly given the rather inept rulings of the referees in relation to the Brumbies’ rolling maul in their last two outings.

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The referee will be under significant pressure to get things right and the Highlanders may well find themselves on the receiving end of his whistle when they attempt to stop the maul, which has been such an effective weapon for the Brumbies.

Brumbies to win in a hard-fought battle.

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