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The Brumbies are finally home after a massive South African party, during which they managed a solid one win from two games, to take on the Bulls tonight at Canberra Stadium. Join us for live scores from 7.40pm AEDT.
The Brumbies have a team sheet that frankly reads like an Australian Rugby Championship side, as opposed to a Super Rugby one.
Yet with a developing trend of underperforming Wallabies, it doesn’t hurt the Brumbies that they have only a couple in their mix.
And if the national team to face the Lions this year doesn’t have a few new faces then the Pope doesn’t sit in a dusty old room and contemplate changing forces within the Catholic Church.
That is to say there will be, and he must do.
The rugby from the Brumbies this year has been inspired. Coach Jake White has been quietly going about his work and in his own way turned this failing team into winners in 2013.
White’s counterpart and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika made the curious and visceral statement that some in his team were still afraid of winning.
There was a lot in that remark; the fear of winning is a real thing. This year it appears that White has developed a fear of losing within his squad.
It took a couple of seasons – last year the transformation wasn’t complete and the Brumbies faltered, failing to make the playoffs when all they needed to do was turn up for their last game of the regular season.
This year they are cantering towards a home final.
To get there, however, they will need to improve their tackle percentage rate, which near 85 percent is at the bottom end of the log.
In attack look out for Jesse Mogg, the man waltzed into the Super Rugby saloon and has been shooting out the lights this year. He’ll be carrying again tonight.
Robbie Coleman is so light on his feet he may keep rocks in his pocket to keep traction with the turf. Let’s hope to see more of him on the field.
With the second-most tries in 2013, behind only the Chiefs, the Brumbies know how to win in increments of seven.
The bovines from the Republic will be looking to put a lid on things and remind the rugby world why Pretoria is such a proud rugby province.
They have, statistically, one of the best lineouts in the competition, however there’s no point winning a lineout if you don’t know what to do with it.
The Bulls are near the bottom of the log in terms of every attacking statistic; defenders beaten, carries, offloads, metres gained.
Add to this that Morne Steyn has the second highest points of any player in 2013.
So you can guess their strategy.
3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3.
The maths doesn’t work out against the Brumbies, who will only need to score two or three tries to win this particular battle, and you’d have to back them to.
The Brumbies team are the daddy in terms of historical head to head, however stats count for nothing in a season that’s uncovering surprises at every turn.
The home team will be good tonight. If the Bulls bring their game we’ll have a barnstormer on our hands.
Join us at 7.40pm AEDT tonight on The Roar, the place to be for live scores and where you can have your say on the go.
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.