The in-form Lions have arrived in Canberra to tackle the stuttering Brumbies in a must-win game for the hosts at GIO Stadium on Friday night. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEST.
The Brumbies have to be tactically and technically astute for the full 80 minutes if they have any chance of stopping the Lions juggernaut.
Still hurting from their narrow loss to the Blues in Canberra a fortnight ago, Brumbies mentor Stephen Larkham must demand his forwards hoe in at the breakdown and his backs to run holes in the Lions’ defence the way he used to in his heydeys as a player.
There’s no doubt the hosts have world-class players in dynamic Fijian duo of Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight, the workaholic Scott Fardy, trusted lineout jumper Sam Carter, super boot Aidan Toua and the athletic Rory Arnold.
But they haven’t been winning which is a bare minimum expectation in professional footy.
With a bye last week, a win on Friday and another the week after against the lowly Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth should bounce the Brumbies back in the playoff mix.
For the Lions, an absence of games against New Zealand sides in the competition will boost their title prospects this year.
Last year’s runners-up from Johannesburg have piled a staggering 136 points against the Waratahs, Reds and Rebels, averaging more than 40 points per match.
Lions pivot Elton Jantjies and elusive back Lionel Mapoe will be the players to watch.
Jantjes form will pile more pressure on other Springbok five-eighth Handre Pollard and Pat Lambie to play equally, if not better, to qualify for places in the national side.
A victory in Canberra and four matches in the Republic between them and home advantage, the venue for Super Rugby final could be determined by the Lions’ encounter on Friday.
Prediction
A lot is at stakes for the Brumbies to let slip this match. Hosts by 5 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEST.
Lara
Guest
I should do what u do, just catch bits n pieces of the game n it might not be so bad....just feel sorry for the poor people at the game , because they paid to see this "stuff".
ethan
Guest
I caught it in bits and pieces. What I saw was by no means as bad as people are saying - I think they are reacting to the scoreline, and the style of loss (very conservative) as opposed to the actual game it self. While by no means a classic, I saw a lot of good tough rugby being played. Just a shame the Brumbies were so one dimensional.
Oscar
Guest
Each week we watch the games, dread the outcome, with reviews articulating the dire position of Aussie Rugby with mutterings, ‘‘surely it cant get worse’’ The reality is, IT IS!
Oscar
Guest
Btc - how often is it said, great players don't make great coaches?
Baylion
Roar Rookie
Sorry but the Blues v Cheetahs game was rubbish. There was no real contest. The teams didn't bother to tackle, it was one for you one for me except somewhere during the 2nd quarter where the Blues score a few in a row.
Baylion
Roar Rookie
I thought this was a good, tough, attritional game. Not airy fairy, schoolboy stuff but a tough contest. We don't appreciate that anymore
Brizvegas
Guest
Watched the Cheetahs v Blues game then made the mistake and watched this rubbish. Even the commentators struggled to describe this game. Watching paint dry comes to mind.
Republican
Guest
Brumbies have made hard work of scoring for yonks so nothing new really, that said, Union isn't exactly an offensive game.
Marius Ciliers
Roar Guru
Watched the Final 20 mins. So yes Nambawan,I can't say I can fully grasp the woefullness or inept or the other number of words that could describe this match from everyone elses perspective. From my perspective I choose to view the good,focus on the positives,identify the strenghts and weaknesess. With the amount of negativity on this site regards aus and saffa rugby,A little bit of possitive wishfull thinking is in order. Why not join me. Your attitude may just improve....
Nambawan
Guest
Did you actually watch the game, because it was a shocker!
Jeffrey
Guest
Larkham refuses to accept that there's anything wrong with the Brumbies. He said something along the lines after the Blues loss about how the Blues didn't beat them but they beat themselves. Talk about total denial. Unless that's just media talk, which I doubt, that attitude leads to a lack of flexibility in terms of changing tactics and patterns of play. It just won't cut it at test level. The top coaches adapt their game and are always looking to evolve their playing style.
Bfc
Guest
Worryingly for the Wallabies....Larkham is the Cheika 'anointed' successor to the Head Coach role..Larkham was a great fly half, but both the Wallas and the Brumbies are very one-dimensional under his tutelage...
Daveski
Guest
Yep they don't seem to vary their plan A match to match and don't carry plans B or C with them either.
ethan
Guest
Yeah he's definitely a winger. Not sure who else the Brumbies have for fullback though? I haven't seen enough of Banks to form an opinion on him.
Lara
Guest
You forgot to mention......tactics or lack of .
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
The Brumbies just don't seem to recognise their own limitations. Lions deserved the result. Nothing to see here.
Cleveland
Guest
Isn't the definition of insanity when you do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result? That was the Brumbies attack tonight. Is that the attacking patterns we will see from the Wallabies? Oh dear...
Matt From Pony Land
Roar Rookie
Another losing BP, mission accomplished! Can we please have Toua put on the wing where they can use his strengths and mitigate his weaknesses?
Daveski
Guest
Lions sub par and still too good. Brumbies wouldn't have scored in 240minutes. Same problems as all year: a fullback who is terrible 9 games out of 10, a barely first grade flyhalf, an outside centre who is one paced and doesn't create, a middling back row and a general lack of quick ball skills. Dunno what happened in that one good half against the Hurricanes but it was a Halley's Comet performance. That they are leading the Aussie conference is down to having a tight five who are the best at scrums and rolling mauls, Joe Powell's play and occasional Henry Speight brilliance.
davSA
Guest
Couldn't see the game ( Bloody work) . Could only follow scores here so thanks Imran .. It was always however going to be attritional . Ackermann in his interview alluded to the fact that this year teams have studied them a lot closer and are implementing strategies to counter/disrupt the Lions attacking game. ...What is encouraging as if we didn't know it is that the Lions are able to play what's in front of them . Their grunt and grind game is also effective.