This Saturday evening sees the Brumbies travel to Hamilton as they aim to defeat the Chiefs and win the 2013 Super Rugby tournament.
The Brumbies, finishing in third, had to defeat the Cheetahs in Canberra before making the trip to Pretoria to take on the Bulls.
Finishing in second place, the Bulls were awarded a first round bye and a home semi-final.
The Brumbies began the match with a surprising dominance, Jesse Mogg getting the ball down for an 11th-minute try.
The travelling team found themselves 10-0 up after 15 minutes. The Bulls got a try of their own in the 16th minute, but the Brumbies went into the break with a 16-11 lead.
It was not until 20 minutes to go that the Bulls took the lead for the first time, with Morne Steyn penalty kick taking the score to 20-19.
As the clock wore down the Bulls were awarded several successive penalties, but each time chose to kick the ball into touch rather than kick for three points.
At first the crowd was pleased that their team was going for more tries, though as time counted down the fans turned against the Bulls who were failing to add to their slender lead.
Steyn eventually kicked for goal after a penalty in the 76th minute to give the home-side a four point lead.
But some great ball movement only a few seconds later handed the Brumbies the win when Tevita Kuridrani crossed the line for a try.
With the siren gone, the Brumbies had made the final even if Lealiifano’s conversion was not successful. But the kick was a good one, and the Brumbies won 26-23 in the last seconds of the match.
The Chiefs have a brilliant kicker and fly-half in Aaron Cruden, but the Brumbies have both of these roles filled by Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano who have both been exceptional this season.
Cruden is definitely a danger man for the Cheifs, and it will be up to Toomua to reduce his potency.
We saw against the Bulls that Toomua likes to tackle his opposite number heavily and early on, let them know what he is capable of.
The creativity of the Brumbies fly-half is also an important asset, highlighted by the match-winning try he set up against the Bulls.
Much of the success of the Brumbies this season can be accredited to the expert kicking of Christian Lealiifano.
His kicking stats against the Bulls last match were two conversions from two, and four penalty goals from five attempts, giving him an impressive 85 percent success rate.
For a very young and inexperienced squad, the veteran George Smith (33) and Clyde Rathbone (32) add some quality experience to the squad.
What the Brumbies need to do to win:
The Brumbies gave away more penalties in their semi-final that the Chiefs, with Cruden’s kicking they have to be careful or will give away too many points.
The Brumbies started very strong and aggressive against the Bulls. They will need to do this again, and make the Chiefs case them for the lead.
As they have done all season, the Brumbies will need to be solid in defence and keep the Chiefs out for as long as possible.
They may enter the match as underdogs, but with an impressive semi-final victory over the Bulls I feel the Brumbies may have what it takes. Jake White’s tactics have been exceptional this season and I believe he has the game plan to defeat the Chiefs.
Prediction: Brumbies by three.
Ash
Guest
I saw the poster of it on the rugby club the other night.
DilzfromHtown
Guest
Do you have a source or link because I have been looking around
dwayne
Guest
Should be a beauty. Both teams have some serious intellectual property behind them. I'm ready to go, good luck to both teams.
Blackheart
Guest
ASH.... It's purely the marketing dept. striking while the iron is hot.... If every CHIEF supporter walks out of that stadium with a winning jersey on, the teams profile and therefore momentum to launch to the next seasons sales and merchandise makes it a prize worthy Christmas / birthday/ whatever gift........ Bias hears it as talk..... Marketeers see it as opportunity.... IMHO.
Blackheart
Guest
I'm a CHIEFS supporter and a huge JAKE WHITE fan ..... I'm fizzing at the bung, waiting for this encounter. Given their both BIG on defensive strength that erodes the impetus and crumbles momentum, twill be a good and interesting exercise in advantage taking, especially in the broken play department. How do each opposition cope best away from set piece with backs/forwards intermingling. CAN'T WAIT!!! All the best!
Zero Gain
Guest
Well, fans will be fans, won't they. What do you expect, fans to base their assessments on cold hard logic? How stupid would that expectation be? Fans invest emotion, hope, belief, time and money, through tickets, membership and merchandise. A fan will always believe in their team and support them. That does not disclose any disrespect to the opposition. But bemoaning fans who are just acting as fans will act shows a lack of understanding, intelligence and respect. Moan on, losers.
Geez guys, relax a tad. Looking forward to a great final.
jumpers
Guest
Talk is cheap. More dumb aussies blowing in the wind!! Usual BS from Oz fans. Chiefs will smash Brimbies by 20+
atlas
Guest
I'll simply say I don't believe that. Not on the Chiefs merchandising site. Standard Chiefs jerseys have sold out. Good on the supporters. Maybe a fan knocked up a t-shirt on a home computer. But if it helps your paranoia/hate, good for you.
Ash
Guest
Loud mouth behaviour isn't anything on The Chiefs already promoting their 2013 title winning Super rugby jersey that's for sale.
Dave H
Guest
To clarify - previous comment directed to Kebab. To Chivas - agreed that as thier season went on the Reds level of BS went down but at the start of the season they were comig across as just smug and condescending towards the other Oz franchises. This wasn't helped of course by the smoke being blown up thier freckles by the local media and that moron Marto.
Sir HC
Guest
Aaron Cruden's kicking hasn't been great this year. He's slotted 28 from 40 or 70%. This is poorer than Lilo's 75 from 97 or 77.3%.
Dave H
Guest
Spot on mate. If this sort of attitude existed in Qld I would support the Reds but just can't because of the BS loud mouthed behaviour that accompanies the team. Shame it took a Yarpie to instill this ethos.
mace 22
Guest
The australian players still can't help themselves. they still talk the talk. Not as bad as the three amigo's though. Some fans are more wishful than realistic in their comments. This will be nothing compared how great the wallabies are from next week on.
sportym
Guest
Very true that. Had it been the Tahs or Reds in the Final, the AU media would have created much more of a spectacle. This lead up is more in line with Canberra/Hamilton :) And there is nothing wrong with that! Been a good week.
Chivas
Guest
And to be honest Kebab, the reds have not been publicly blowing air into their own tyres. That has been their fans. I don't see anything humble in this article which is also not a comment in the way the Brumbies have conducted themselves. I don't see any team talking themselves up, just parochial fans.
Kebab
Guest
Great year brumbies no matter what happens. Sensational stuff. Nothing to lose , low key humble champs, hope you guys get plenty of gold jerseys and give it ya best shot. I'm a tahs fan but to hear the spin from the tahs and reds has been embarrassing but the brumbies did the work on the paddock and got the result.
Chivas
Guest
Talk is cheap. Keep talking it up!