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The Brumbies have lost 8-21 to the Crusaders at GIO Stadium in a match that sadly didn’t live up to its potential.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Brumbies 8
Crusaders 21
The Brumbies take on the Crusaders on Saturday evening in Canberra with both sides knowing the victory could be critical to their ambitions for the rest of the season. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEST.
There’s still half a season to go in the Super Rugby competition so it’s arguably too soon to be thinking of games as do or die for particular teams.
However, this middle phase of the season is a key one as teams look to build momentum and get into a good position for the run into the finals.
There are still plenty of spots up for grabs and teams can change their fortunes – Brumbies we’re looking at you – but they’ve got to do it now.
Unfortunately for the home side, this might not be the week that happens. The numbers and even fate are not on their side.
The Brumbies haven’t beaten the Crusaders since 2009 and no Australian side has beaten a Kiwi side in 35 games.
Add to that the fact that the Crusaders are averaging scoring just over 30 points a game and the sucker punch that the Brumbies will be missing both Pocock and Lealiifano and the bookies’ odds seem almost generous to the Canberra side.
Despite the big holes left by these two Brumbie superstars, the side as a whole is pretty settled.
There are only two changes from last week’s loss at home to the Jaguares and it’ll be exciting to see Andrew Smith back in the centres.
A lot is expected of the lock combination of Carter and Arnold – the battle in the front five and at the set piece is going to be exciting and these two will want to get one over on their talented All Black counterparts, Whitelock and Barrett.
For the Crusaders, interestingly there’s a lot of change – seven players will take the field on Saturday who were not there in the Kiwi’s last match against the Sunwolves.
Perhaps most excitingly is the return of Whitelock and Taufua who will be wanting to stamp his authority all over this match.
With the talent of Crotty in the centres and Dagg on the wing, there is a lot for the Brumbies to be anxious about, even though they are one of the hardest to break down in many ways (they have conceded the second lowest number of line breaks in the competition this season just behind the Chiefs).
It will be interesting to see how Havili performs – the Crusaders full back has not yet reached the same level of performance as last year and he will be wanting to find some form as quickly as possible knowing that Dagg is a good option at No.15.
Prediction
It’s meant to be a dry and cool evening in Canberra on Saturday so the Crusaders will be keen to show that last week’s sluggish performance against the Sunwolves was most definitely rain affected.
At home the Brumbies will be desperate to put in a good performance, knowing as well that another loss could make it a whole lot harder to make the finals.
Despite this drive to win, it’s hard to see anything else other than a Crusaders win in the nation’s capital.
Crusaders to win by 18.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEST on Friday.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.