After dominating the Australian Conference in the regular season, the Brumbies must see off the Cheetahs to move through to the second week of the Super Rugby finals. We’ll have live scores from 4.10pm AEST.
The Brumbies’ six-point loss against the Force in Perth last weekend cost Jake White’s men dearly.
They missed the opportunity to move ahead the Bulls into second on the overall Super Rugby table, which would have seen them earn a first-round bye and a home semi-final.
Instead, they’ll face a sudden-death knockout against a plucky Cheetahs side with the prospect of travelling to South Africa to face the Bulls should they win.
They’ll be boosted by three big inclusions, with George Smith, Clyde Rathbone and Nic White all returning into the starting XV and Colby Faingaa, Joe Tomane and Ian Prior moving to the bench.
The unpredictable Cheetahs come into the finals series boosted by their most successful Super Rugby season in their eight-year history – in fact, their sixth-placed finish is the only time they’ve ever finished better than tenth.
They’ve been renowned for their rangy, enterprising rugby in recent seasons – well, to most anyway. The Brumbies coach wasn’t so impressed, and the South African White questioned whether his compatriots are as expansive and entertaining as they are perceived.
The Cheetahs travelled to the Australian capital fresh off a fortnight’s rest having had the bye in Week 20, beating the Blues 34-13 the week prior – though they did record losses against the Stormers and Bulls before that.
Cheetahs boss Naka Drotske has named an unchanged 22 from the one that cruised to a 19-point win over the Blues in Bloemfontein.
A brief look at the head-to-head history between the two sides suggests that the Brumbies should have the edge this afternoon – they’ve won five of the seven matches they’ve played against the Cheetahs.
That said, they scraped home by a point when the two sides met at Canberra Stadium back in early March, and the Cheetahs have won four of their past six Super Rugby matches on Australian soil.
With the elimination of the Reds last night in Christchurch, the Brumbies now stand as the last Australian hope in the competition. They should do enough to be able to win this afternoon, but the Cheetahs are placed well to cause an upset.
Will the Brumbies progress to Pretoria this afternoon? Find out from 4.10pm AEST.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
I had a dog named Vicky. Well it wasnt a dog, it was the female equivalent.
p.Tah
Guest
Touché :) I'll be gutted if Folau does leave. I want to see how much better he can become.
Chivas
Guest
Perth is 3 hours behind... Nice to see you responded as soon as you woke up though :-). Now if only the Tahs hang on to Folau and start to string some games together... maybe an Australian team may once again be taken seriously :-)
p.Tah
Guest
:) That could well sell out ANZ. Lets send Pulver a memo
Jerry
Guest
Heh, I was thinking Richie could be the one looking for him while Quade acts like he's about to bop him on the head like Punch.
p.Tah
Guest
Jerry, if its less about malice these days and it's become more of a pantomime I'll leave it there. Perhaps Link should get Quade to wear a big bad wolf costume in Bledisloe I. If Quade commits an indiscretion and the referee is looking for him, the crowd can shout 'he's behind you'... And then they can boo him.
p.Tah
Guest
Chivas, You sat up to nearly 2am (Aus time) trying think of a come back. Chivas. I'm impressed. Here I was sleeping and you spent that time worrying. ;) Anyway, mate. I'm just stirring. All comments above were just that. If you want a niggle and a bite this is the site to come to.
Chivas
Guest
My thoughts too small potatoes. I just love the offence taken when it's dished up, but love how easily they ignore their own boorish behaviour, Cry me a river. Fox got booed up and down the country, Kirwan, Spencer.... Maybe people in QLD go along to the rugby with a thermos of tea and a picnic. I doubt it. They are just whingers who are sore losers it comes across to me like. Grow up and get over it would be my advice. Same as every other team has to do. Quade made himself a target and played up to it. Nobody painted the target on him. Quade did. Deal with it.
Chivas
Guest
And just for the record p-tah read Jerry's comments about crowd thinking he's a tosser... rather than some sort of revenge. Once again whether you are disappointed, disillusioned your comments and logic appears more in the deluded category. As I say you may impress your mates... assuming none of them have followed rugby in NZ either. But keep it up. I'm sure someone will be impressed with your in depth analysis and commentary on appropriate behaviour. Sound like a loser to me though!
Chivas
Guest
Sorry to disappoint p-tah. The day I swallow anything you dish up will be when the moon is found to be made of cheese. Might have better luck with your friends I think. Need to be a bit dozy I suspect. Good to see you are more interested in your own value judgements on people than the game. Not sure I would constitute that as class.... Drop the cl at the start of the word and you might be getting close.
GWS
Guest
Cunning stunt
Wii
Guest
The Brumbies have zero chance of beating the Bulls, Hell they couldn't even score against the Cheetahs at home in Canberra
Wii
Guest
Only the lowest ranked team due to the pity finals placings the Crusaders on the overall log were third but due to guaranteed home finals the Brumbies leapfrog them
mpm
Guest
Ewen has lot of work to do.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
0.20% of venues is a start, yes. ESPN Statistics lists about 1,000 grounds where internationals are played.
Superba
Guest
It does not happen in Lansdowne rd , Ireland .And iit does not happen in Edinburgh Scotland .That's two grounds for you.
Jerry
Guest
Regardless, it's not any worse given the context. I agree it's pretty much done and dusted, though I suspect it's basically a pantomime for the crowd these days. They probably do still think he's a bit of a tool, but I suspect there's not much genuine malice. It's basically like the way the crowds in SA say "BEEEAASSST" whenever Mtawarira gets the ball (or back in the day when NZ crowds would say 'BULLLL" when Mark Allen got it) except they're doing the opposite. One thing though, it's not cause they think he's a thug, it's cause they think he's a tosser.
Kebab
Guest
Saders vs Brumbies final
Sprigs
Guest
Ask Australian supporters who ranks among the greatest current SA players, and I am sure many would nominate Adriaan Strauss. Excellent game today as usual.
Sprigs
Guest
They were brilliantly beaten by the Wallabies in that great game. I remember Quade stopping a certain try, and JOC really on form.