Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has challenged his players to improve their dismal recent Super Rugby history against New Zealand sides as they prepare for a crunch match against the Highlanders.
Saturday night’s match at GIO Stadium shapes as a golden opportunity for the the Brumbies to extend their winning streak to three and begin to correct their poor record against Kiwi teams.
Since 2015, the Brumbies have beaten New Zealand sides twice in 10 matches and have been dumped from the finals by Kiwi opposition for the past two years.
In the same period they have won 13 and lost three against Australian opponents including a record nine consecutive derby victories, capped by last week’s 28-12 triumph over the Waratahs.
“There’s been a big emphasis in the pre-season on trying to beat New Zealand teams,” Larkham said.
“When you talk about the conference system, the important games are certainly the derbies between your conference teams but we want to win each week.
“We have a poor record against the Kiwi sides over the last couple of years that we certainly want to turn around.”
The Brumbies aren’t alone in their struggle against teams from across the Tasman.
Of the 25 matches between Australian and New Zealand teams last year, the Brumbies laid claim to one of the three victories against the Kiwis.
While the Brumbies enter the round as conference leaders and the only Australian team inside the overall top 12, Larkham doesn’t see his side as flag-bearers for the nation.
“We don’t represent Australian teams, we represent this area and this organisation,” Larkham said.
“We’re not going out there to play for Australian rugby, we’re going out there to play for the Brumbies.”
A cloud of uncertainty still hangs over the Brumbies, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels as another week rolls on without a SANZAAR announcing if an Australian team is to be axed.
Earlier in the week the Brumbies issued a “call to arms” to their supporters to show their support by attending the match against the Highlanders.
Larkham said a big crowd would prove Canberra and surrounds wanted the Brumbies’ future guaranteed.
“The decision is yet to be made, and like I’ve said before, it’s not a decision we can influence as players but the community can certainly influence it,” he said.
BRUMBIES V NEW ZEALAND TEAMS (W-L record)
2017 – 0-1
2016 – 1-5
2015 – 1-4
BRUMBIES V AUSTRALIAN TEAMS
2017 – 2-0
2016 – 6-0
2015 – 5-3
stainlesssteve
Guest
you can also get out of the firing line, at least to some degree, by playing hard and fair, entertaining rugby, not trying to shift the blame and giving your fan-base something to take home. In these important ways, players and coaches have influence. in the event that the ACT community, in this case, chooses not to exert its influence, you dry your eyes, pack your bags and put up your "gun for hire" flag "C'est la vie", as Ned said. Maybe the community has about the same influence as the players, actually, in the face of the corporate knee-jerk hip-pocket reflex, which, though sanitised and given a cosmetic make-over in the media, is nothing more than greed for maximum short-term returns. The Brumbies are to some degree a community icon, and to some degree just another consumer commodity. The trick is, to enhance the iconic component, and keep the money-boys in some way part of the community too, not just circling predators upon it.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Two teams of similar styles, built around strong set pieces, kicking and slogging hard rather than through attacking brilliance from completely star studded back lines. I think they're also of a similar level. My heart says we can win it, but my head says that Aussie teams just don't beat Kiwi ones..
ukkiwi
Guest
“The decision is yet to be made, and like I’ve said before, it’s not a decision we can influence as players but the community can certainly influence it,”? If you're winning titles you're out of the firing line Stephen.
stainlesssteve
Guest
great article from one perspective the Landers will be flinging it all at it, too. They won't be leaving anything on the field Would be nice to mention, there are two teams playing this game