The Brumbies are determined to muscle up against a huge Highlanders pack in Dunedin on Friday as they begin a campaign to return to the Super rugby finals for the first time in five years.
The Canberra-based franchise start with a full strength side containing 10 Wallabies, including their prize recruit, Test hooker Stephen Moore.
New skipper Stephen Hoiles was respectful of a Highlanders side boasting few instantly recognisable names apart from All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan.
The Highlanders will have a weight advantage in the engine room, with their starting props scaling a combined 20-plus kilos more than their Brumbies counterparts.
“They are a big forward pack, their forwards like to take control of the game and every time they get close to their try line, you often see their forwards bunch up and do the tough stuff really well,” Hoiles said.
“They’ve got a really good number nine (Cowan), who if you don’t have your eye on him, he can turn you inside out pretty quickly, and a really good running ten (Daniel Bowden).
“Probably people back home don’t know much about these guys, but we do. We certainly respect them.
” We know the biggest challenge will be for our forwards to muscle up against these big blokes.”
Weight apart, the Brumbies will also be conceding height in the back row, with none of the starting trio topping 190cms, while the Highlanders will field players who are 192 and 196 cms.
New coach Andy Friend opted for mobility ahead of height, with openside specialists George Smith and Julian Salvi as the starting flankers and Hoiles at No.8.
Under former coach Laurie Fisher, the Brumbies missed out on the finals in each of the last four years since winning their second Super title.
A sense of renewed rugby optimism is sweeping through the nations capital, with Friend set to ease the reins on the Brumbies and favouring an adaptable style.
“I dont want to be critical of the past, but we’ve basically just loosened up all our structures and we’re going in with a lot less in our minds,” Hoiles said.
“We’ve spoken about being an adaptable side.
“Depending on basically what the defence gives us off our set plays is what our attack will be and we’re going to be a side that if we need to kick it or they’ve got good defence, we’ll kick it and back our defensive system.”
Hoiles said the Brumbies had the potential to return to the finals this year, but they didn’t want to get ahead of themselves.
“I think weve just got to learn to be a side that can put that out of our mind and do the old boring cliche, one week at a time, because we haven’t done that previously,” Hoiles said.
Highlanders: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Jason Shoemark, Johnny Leota/Jayden Hayward, Fetu’u Vainikolo, Daniel Bowden, Jimmy Cowan (captain), Steven Setephano, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bekhuis, Clint Newland, David Hall, Jamie Mackintosh. Res: Jason Rutledge, Chris King, George Naoupu, Tim Boys, Sean Romans, Jayden Hayward/Brett Mather, Kenny Lynn.
Brumbies: Mark Gerrard, Clyde Rathbone, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Francis Fainifo, Christian Lealiifano, Patrick Phibbs, Stephen Hoiles (capt), George Smith, Julian Salvi, Mark Chisolm, Ben Hand, Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Nic Henderson. Res: John Ulugia, Ben Alexander, Sitaleki Timani, Peter Kimlin, Josh Holmes, Tyrone Smith, Matt Toomua.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
It was a memorable night in more ways than one for the Queensland forward.
The youngster was playing his first Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench, but his game wasn't the main talking point after the game.
Is this a sign that rugby laws are getting too tricky, even for the players and commentators?
The kick of around 50 metres got the Reds well downfield!
The Reds centre had to leave the field to get the shoulder popped in, with fears he will need several weeks on the sideline…
Not only did the Queensland fullback keep up with his opponent, but then was quick enough to force a turnover penalty in the ruck.
