This game sees the Brumbies host the Bulls, playing in GIO Stadium, Canberra. Join The Roar from 7:45pm (AEST) for all the live scores and commentary on the action.
The Brumbies are desperate for a win. They are will be also keen for good news for their fans, their beleaguered management and board. Before the “Game of Jones” involving the courts, Australian Federal Police, radio interviews, and extraordinary board meetings, the Brumbies looked set to win their conference with a great margin.
Unfortunately for them, they have lost four of their last six matches. They were unable to field their star player, David Pocock, for most of this dry run. However, it did not seem to make much difference when he returned from a three-match ban, and lost to the Highlanders.
The Bulls have won all five of their last five games. They will feel confident, despite that fact those wins were against low-ranked teams: the Force, the Reds, the Kings, the Cheetahs, the Sunwolves.
If the Bulls do win today, they will overtake the Stormers and become the lead franchise for Africa 1. This would be ironic considering the Stormers smashed the Bulls 33–9 during Round 1 in Cape Town.
The Bulls have demonstrated fine form, with a spread of tries scored by a spread of players. Their set piece has been good, powered by powerful and tall locks in RG Snyman and Jason Jenkins. Their strong performances belies their tender age.
The Brumbies had some injury issues in the past, including Joe Tomane, Scott Sio, Ben Alexander and Stephen Moore. A new injury that rocks the Brumbies is Matt Toomua. The retired Ita Vaea’s punishing runs will be again sorely missed by the Brumbies
What the Brumbies have even missed a lot more, are tackles. A lot of them. What was once the best defending team in Super Rugby have become one of the worst. This is mainly due to the lack of mobility in defence. This mobility is really needed because the new ruck interpretations reward faster recycle, wider attack windows and punishes spoiling defenders.
The good news for the Brumbies is the return of their premier front row: Scott Sio, Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander.
But if the Bulls can play the same type of game they played against the struggling franchises in their last five rounds, the Brumbies will have a tough time to prevent a Bulls rampage. The Bulls set piece and breakdown is unlikely to fall prey to the Jake White apprentices.
The Brumbies need to put behind the off field issues. While this one is a coin flip due to all the dynamics, I think it about time the Brumbies shore up their form, play to their strengths and take advantage of the Bull’s travel stress and inexperienced players. They should score more tries than the Pretorians and re-focus on their defence.
Brumbies by a try.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Ben O'Keeffe IS a NZ ref so there was a neutral referee
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Thought Bulls were robbed at several key points in game. Brumbies are my second team, but I'd rather that they won a fair fight. Apart from 2-3 180 degree wrong penalties against the Bulls Okeefe had a pretty good game, but this one shoulda had a kiwi (Argie, or Japanese?) ref.
Akari
Roar Rookie
No worries, Chooks, as Brett McKay did also. Brett is now one down and Paddy the reverse thus far in the tipping... Disgraceful, Brett, just disgraceful...
Akari
Roar Rookie
It's been a bad month for us, RT, and that win last night was priceless and riveting. All I know is that Brett McKay is kicking himself for blindly following Harry Jones and backing the Bulls to touch up the mighty Brumbies as they did against the Western Farce.
RobC
Roar Guru
TRY #2 THE TRY TOMAS STARTS IT. TOMAS FINISHES IT.
RobC
Roar Guru
TRY #2 PLAY BEFORE THE TRY Lelo set piece magic. Lappies the Viking
RobC
Roar Guru
Try #2 53' 16 - 6 REDZONE ENTRY Great work by both sides here, Pirate Basson on the Bulls side. And a wide range of Brums.
RobC
Roar Guru
yes. Nigel can do it, as we all now know
RobC
Roar Guru
The pictures are self explanatory, This is where it all happens LELO K-TRAIN Ah-WONG - Other backs have key roles too (Coleman Toua and Dargatown - he's to big to be a ville)
RobC
Roar Guru
43' 9-6 After Marais slices his restart clearance, Brums win a neat LO and maul fake by Poey
RobC
Roar Guru
Try scoring plays:
Machooka
Roar Guru
Jeepers creepers man... we really are spreading it around. Thin?
RobC
Roar Guru
Player Stats. DEFENCE Bulls: - Everyone tackled. - Not many TOs. Lots of penalties trying to get it, or trying to slow the Brum attack - Arno needs to keep up with Lappies, and young Liebenberg Brums: - Backrowers busy, as usual - Backs lots of missed tackles, courtesy of the Bulls missiles
RobC
Roar Guru
He plays in NSW (the Dogs) now, started with Broncos, after growing up in Auckland. That makes him RT's buddy, my buddy. And your best friend!
RobC
Roar Guru
Player Stats. Attack Scrolling down to the Bulls players stats: - The missile backs: 10 breaks from 27 runs. (The whole Brumbie had 14, three from Cubelli) - If they had some NZ-type forwards score (or coach), the would probably be 30+ Brums: - Nice work Tomas. - Good service Bulter - Solid metres from back 5 and Squeak, good spread of work
Machooka
Roar Guru
Dunno MrRobC... I don't really know who he is. Allanthus appears to know. But if he is a QLDer, fat a*se or not, he's probably an OK sorta guy eh?
RobC
Roar Guru
Game stats: Brums: - Lots of attack, possession and territory. Good place kicks - Defence at tackle better, but still missed 10%. - But won a lot of BD TOs, that made up for it - Josh MR's LO not really Brumbies level - Lelo and Toua kicks for touch...? At least the rookie mistakes from the Reds were by actual rookies - As RT mentioned, Brums need variety. SR 16 is about different forms of quick cycle. Offloads would be a good start Bulls: - BD. Starts and ends there
RobC
Roar Guru
Gday Bob, no sweat. Bulls were fubaring their BD, mauls, and in the end their scrums. They were messy, so no platforms for their missiles Brums is the first away game against a top tier team in the last couple of months. Everyone thought they would open up 2H but they kept getting hemmed down. Tahs next. Bulls should do a lot better. But will NSW let them? cheers, Bob
RobC
Roar Guru
I like Greg Eastwood. He's Queenslander right?
RobC
Roar Guru
P2R2. Hey, yeah. Im for real. Meaning, I really have no idea about NZ league. I am no fan. It seems you are though! Congrats on the wining the three previous games. So that makes 20 AUS wins vs 5 NZ in the last 10 years? Yeah I got the name wrong, search fubar. Sorry about that. I did do a search typed in the result, but failed to write a letter to NZRU for confirmation.