Brumbies ready for next Super challenge

The Brumbies are on guard for a mental collapse against Melbourne in Friday night’s danger Super Rugby derby at AAMI Park.

The ACT side, desperate to put last year’s heartbreak behind them, spent an entire off-season building up for their round-one assignment against Queensland.

It was mission accomplished against the Reds, in a bruising affair in Canberra, but the Brumbies coaching staff are wary of a lag in a back-to-back Australian derby clash with the Rebels.

It’s a match the Brumbies should win, but Melbourne showed in their first-up win over the Western Force that 2013 could be their year to make an impact.

Brumbies assistant Stephen Larkham says the team will hold regular meetings this week to make sure the players’ minds are on the job, with derby points vital in the Australian Conference race.

“That’s a definite threat when you build up for so long for one game. It’s hard to get up for the next game or to focus on the next game,” Larkham said.

“But the chat has been all good so far. We’ve done a review on the Reds and we’ve already spoken a number of times on the Rebels.

“We had a meeting (Monday) morning making sure we’re concentrating wholeheartedly on the Rebels this week.”

Larkham will work closely with playmaking pair Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano, who earned a points-victory over Quade Cooper in the 24-6 win against the Reds.

But the Rebels boast a double-edged sword in their attacking game, with two maestros James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale running the show.

Larkham said shutting down fullback O’Connor and five-eighth Beale will be key.

“They pose a different threat. We obviously had Quade Cooper last week, and James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale this week. They play slightly different to the way the Reds play,” he said.

“They attack the field differently, distribute ball differently, kick the ball differently, so there’s a new challenge for the team this week.

“It’s about refocusing for the Rebels now. We have to let the Reds go.”