The Brumbies have started their 2018 Super Rugby season off with a win, but only managed to do so by seven points against a fiercely competitive and improved-looking Sunwolves outfit.
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Final score
Sunwolves 25
Brumbies 32
The Brumbies have a golden opportunity to start of the 2018 Super Rugby season with a win on the road when they travel to play the Sunwolves on Saturday. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:15pm AEDT.
This is the first outing in 2018 for both teams. Despite a poor season for 2017, the Sunwolves ended the year on a high note by trashing the Blues at home by 27 points.
The following week, the Brumbies played what turned out to be their last game. It was a dismal performance, losing 19 points to the Hurricanes in the first game of the qualifying round.
The week before, they lost by 18 points to the Chiefs. The game before that, the Brumbies lost to the Reds.
In fact, the last match the Brumbies won was eight months ago in June 3, against the Rebels. It was a shameful run of events.
Can the Brumbies finally win a game? In a match versus the Sunwolves, it should be a cakewalk. There are two considerations.
The visitors will face a familiar nemesis in the form of former Highlander’s coach: Jamie Joseph, who is now the Sunwolves’ mentor while also being Japan’s coach.
Both teams have new coaches. This will a trial by fire for Brisbane-born “Canberra native” Dan McKaller.
Today will be a demonstration of Australia’s coaching skills against a world-class New Zealand stalwart.
Temperature was a major factor for the Sunwolves’ win over the Blues. With a forecast of 6 degrees Celsius, the Brumbies will feel at home against the Sunwolves.
We should see some improvements from the Sunwolves, but the Wallaby-packed Brumbies should put away the hosts by at least two tries.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:15pm AEDT.
Fionn
Guest
Because a lot of the Sunwolves are match fit as a result of playing in the Japanese league. Most of the Brumbies haven't played a match for months. And because teams won't underrate the Sunwolves anymore.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Why is that Fionn? Sunwolves have had three weeks pre-season, Brumbies three months. I think you will see that the four points today will be very useful when we reach the playoff stages.
riddler
Guest
how did cll go?
Fionn
Guest
I did take it for exactly what it was... I still think that the Brumbies will improve more throughout the season than the Sunwolves will.
Daveski
Guest
Sunwolves had some of their gun players out Fionn - Leitch, Yamada, Tamura, Matsushima, Fukuoka. I know you guys missed Pocock. You should take it for what it was - a tight win against a team that probably needed the run more than the Brumbies did. Plenty to like from the Brums though and good to see CLL, Banks, Cusack, McCaffrey and the Arnolds playing well.
Fionn
Guest
Maybe, but maybe the Brumbies were unlucky to play them first? I think the Brumbies will improve more after a few rounds than the Sunwolves will. I doubt the Brumbies would have started so slowly if they had been against the Crusaders. I think they underestimated the Sunwolves and almsot paid the price. The rest of the Aussie teams shouldn't make the same mistake.
RobC
Roar Guru
Agree Jez. Isi, one more year I think.
Archy
Guest
This was the first game under the new laws I have watched. There doesn’t seem much point in having a great back row any more - there’s no competition at the breakdown. The change seems to be a great leveller - when the only way to lose possession is to drop the ball it seems hard for a superior team to assert dominance, especially in the forwards. If all games are like this I’m going to start watching league instead; at least that has a limit to possession.
Corw
Guest
Word Naisarani was brilliant. The wolves half back was great too, in the first half his service from the ruck was almost impeccable
jeznez
Roar Guru
Naisrani really stood out - man of the match for mine. Very impressive play from him. Until Valetini went off they had a clear structure with one of each attacking on either edge. I liked what I saw of Valetini - has some good building blocks but will need to improve his fitness and reading of the game. Nairani looks much closer to the finished article - when does he become Wallaby eligible again?
RobC
Roar Guru
The Sunwolves have fired a warning salvo over everyone's bows today with a bonus point loss against the Australian Conference favourites, the Brumbies. They are clearly not the team of 2017. The Wolves dominated scoring in the first half, at one point leading by 11 points. A lack of concentration, avoidable turnovers and penalties allowed a well-oiled Brumbies outfit to take the lead. In the last 50 minutes, the Brumbies scored 24 of the 27 points through a combination of set piece and broken play movements based on the opportunities offered by the Wolves. In the end it was 5 tries to 3. Good to see Lealiifano back field strong and healthy, though he missed three kicks for post. Ex-Force Isi Naisarani played out of his skin and will be destroyer of opponents for the Canberrans. He ran more metres than most except for backs Saumaki and Banks. Powell played like a pro, along with just about everyone in the team. McKaller did his job as well, steadying the team after 30 minutes. Jamie Joseph's impact on his team was as powerful as the the Wolves' tackles. The team looks balanced, which includes Jaba Bregvadze, the Georgean muscle brought into as a reserve hooker. Jiwon Koo the 122kg tighthead prop scrummaging looks good. The backrow trio of Britz, Labuschagne and Himeno will only get better. Apparently the Wolves had almost zero time for practice. They should be formidable as the season unfolds.
Fionn
Guest
Perhaps. But I already thought of Powell as more of a steady hand and Lucas as more of a maverick. Maybe that means it's better to start Powell and bring Lucas on at 60mins? Anyway, who knows. I'm glad we got the W first up. The Sunwolves looked much better than last year. I hope they maintain this level.
RobC
Roar Guru
correction: FIVE POINTS to the Brums there,
tsuru
Roar Rookie
The speed of clearing the ball from the ruck seemed to increase when Lucas came on, but if that was real it could have been due to some tiredness of the Sunwolves' defence.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
That is probably a fair point. But still props to Brumbies. They were under the pump several times but never lost their cool or gave any stupid penalties. A team with less steel would have been in deep water.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
I still hope he changes his mind a chooses to play for Fiji ;) Gonna be really interesting to see Sunwolves-Rebels next week. Number seven in the Wolves (a Saffa) was really good also. Overall it looks promising for the Wolves hence their pack look like decent SR quality.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Yes, the Brumbies are probably lucky to have played them first up.
Fionn
Guest
Fair point, and you're probably right that I'm being premature. I'm basing this on trial performances also, where both were good. Yes, it was Lucas with the clearance kick. Both have good kicks from the ruck. It was just that immediately when Lucas came on we that break that eventually resulted in Banks' try. I like Lucas' speed and attacking intent. Hope that whoever starts the other gets closer to 20-25mins as they're both good.
Ray
Guest
Whilst the Brumbies got the points, it wasn’t until the 43rd minute they gained the ascendancy courtesy of a poor pass which deflected off the upright. Whilst its early days yet the Brumbies have some work to do if they’re going to match it with the NZ sides.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
A bit hard to judge the halves since Lucas only got about 15 minutes. I thought they both played well enough - Powell even had a couple of runs and seemed to tackle well. Was that Lucas who snapped a clearing kick about 5 minutes from the end when the Brums were under pressure? But the good news is that it looks as though they'll get good service from whichever of them starts. I'm guessing that whoever starts will get about 65 minutes.