Roar Guru
This game sees the Brumbies host the Bulls, playing in GIO Stadium, Canberra. Join The Roar from 7:45pm (AEST) for all the live scores and commentary on the action.
The Brumbies are desperate for a win. They are will be also keen for good news for their fans, their beleaguered management and board. Before the “Game of Jones” involving the courts, Australian Federal Police, radio interviews, and extraordinary board meetings, the Brumbies looked set to win their conference with a great margin.
Unfortunately for them, they have lost four of their last six matches. They were unable to field their star player, David Pocock, for most of this dry run. However, it did not seem to make much difference when he returned from a three-match ban, and lost to the Highlanders.
The Bulls have won all five of their last five games. They will feel confident, despite that fact those wins were against low-ranked teams: the Force, the Reds, the Kings, the Cheetahs, the Sunwolves.
If the Bulls do win today, they will overtake the Stormers and become the lead franchise for Africa 1. This would be ironic considering the Stormers smashed the Bulls 33–9 during Round 1 in Cape Town.
The Bulls have demonstrated fine form, with a spread of tries scored by a spread of players. Their set piece has been good, powered by powerful and tall locks in RG Snyman and Jason Jenkins. Their strong performances belies their tender age.
The Brumbies had some injury issues in the past, including Joe Tomane, Scott Sio, Ben Alexander and Stephen Moore. A new injury that rocks the Brumbies is Matt Toomua. The retired Ita Vaea’s punishing runs will be again sorely missed by the Brumbies
What the Brumbies have even missed a lot more, are tackles. A lot of them. What was once the best defending team in Super Rugby have become one of the worst. This is mainly due to the lack of mobility in defence. This mobility is really needed because the new ruck interpretations reward faster recycle, wider attack windows and punishes spoiling defenders.
The good news for the Brumbies is the return of their premier front row: Scott Sio, Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander.
But if the Bulls can play the same type of game they played against the struggling franchises in their last five rounds, the Brumbies will have a tough time to prevent a Bulls rampage. The Bulls set piece and breakdown is unlikely to fall prey to the Jake White apprentices.
The Brumbies need to put behind the off field issues. While this one is a coin flip due to all the dynamics, I think it about time the Brumbies shore up their form, play to their strengths and take advantage of the Bull’s travel stress and inexperienced players. They should score more tries than the Pretorians and re-focus on their defence.
Brumbies by a try.