The Brumbies must complete a Barrett-busting hat-trick if they are to produce a bold underdog triumph in the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
One down, two to go.
It is one of rugby’s most quirky obstacle courses. The Brumbies have seen off Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes) and have to deal with brother Beauden (Blues) in Saturday night’s semi-final at a hostile Eden Park.
Should they somehow topple BOTB (Best Of The Barretts), they will likely run into another brother, lock Scott (Crusaders), in the final.
Centre Jordie fell last weekend. Brumbies centre Irae Simone put on a little footwork to go by him on that neat run for the try that gave his team the lead for the first time in Canberra.
Flyhalf Beauden Barrett is an altogether more challenging hurdle. He remains one of the most watchable players in the game, a reason to turn on the TV or dive into a livestream. That’s just because of him.
His acceleration. His arcing runs and smile while skewering the opposition is magnetic.
It’s no illusion that he’s really coming good when it matters. He has scored four tries and dealt four try assists in the past three matches.
He is the player for the Brumbies to fear more than anyone and he radiates such assurance into his teammates. Every team likes to play with Superman and you saw how the Blues got around him when he potted that field goal after the full-time hooter to sink the Brumbies in Canberra last month.
Beauden Barrett of the Blues in action during the round 14 Super Rugby Pacific match between the ACT Brumbies and the Blues. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
You only get closer to shutting down Barrett if the Brumbies forwards dictate and disrupt so the defence gets a flying start to cutting down his time and space.
I spent a bit of time this week going through some Stan Sport Minis to refresh the mind on the best elements of the Brumbies this season.
The standout feature was how many individuals they have who are capable of stinging the opposition when their team patterns click.
We’ve mentioned the underrated Simone.
There was winger Tom Wright’s solo, stepping, swerving gem over 65m against the Crusaders. There was Rob Valetini on any number of occasions, including that audacious kick ahead and score against the Hurricanes.
Nic White on the scurry, Pete Samu making line breaks out wide, Tom Banks flicking on the afterburners, Noah Lolesio potting kicks at goal at 78 per cent, Darcy Swain pinching lineouts or charging down kicks, Scott Sio bursting ahead like he’s 21 again…
Those fierce, driving, rolling mauls from lineouts, under helmsman Folau Fainga’a, to score two tries against the Blues last time will have the men from Auckland sweating too.
Paul Cully from stuff.co.nz joins Brett McKay and Harry Jones to preview the SRP semis
The point is, the Brumbies are heading to Auckland with some weapons and plenty enough to dictate if they get things right.
We have all seen enough missions to Eden Park by the Wallabies to realise it is a graveyard. There’s slippery, skiddy grass under the lights even when it hasn’t rained for a fortnight.
No.8 Valetini is the key. His direct charges, not four or five but twice that number, are huge momentum.
He commits defenders, his post-contact metres are more meaningful than any other Australian player and when he hits, his targets feel it.
He’s emblematic of what the Brumbies are about.
The Brumbies use every backrower at their disposal over 80 minutes. Valetini, Samu, Tom Hooper and reserve pair Jahrome Brown and Luke Reimer cover all the bases.
There’s power running, edge running, ball thieving, tough tackling, edgy breakdown work, big defence and workrate in their combined DNA.
We all want to build a case for the Brumbies to have such a crack they are still in this one to the 80th minute.
It would be great to just throw egg at the sports bookies who rate them 13-point outsiders.
They are better than that after four wins over Kiwi sides this season.
To win at the Eden Park, they have to lead and apply the pressure. It’s not a cauldron where you win from behind.
One thing for certain, halfback White won’t be playing the quiet, retiring visitor. He picked up a loose ball and ran 60m against the Blues in Canberra. He’d love to find the tryline in Auckland. His mo would do a 360 if that happened.
It’s really Barrett v White in terms of playmakers.
No one kicks more, runs more, offloads more or deals more try assists in the Brumbies halves than White. It’s a balance that takes the load of young Lolesio. He can play his own game yet never feel the entire show is on his shoulders.
The Brumbies have done so much right this season. Dare to dream they have a chance at more.
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zubrick
Roar Rookie
stephen larkham will have to go hard to recruit ben donaldson for the brums next season noah no good..cant pass or kick goals when the pressure is on no improvement despite another full season the ponies played their guts out in the 2nd half and were let down royally congrats blues supporters. theyll win over the crusaders next week at eden park
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Ya’ just had a feeling they were going to be held up. The two previous rucks were marginal. Brumbies got a bit fixated.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ Wanting the brumbies to win for the good of the SRP ” Thought the same Wigeye. The Brums alive would keep open the Aussie eyeball market. But anyway, overall this iteration of Super has been, well, super. So no complaints from me. Flexibility is key methinks. A set up that enables tweaks year to year, that gives priority to contest, and allows healthy expansion of the code regionally, is key. Anyway, giddy up Ponies!
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I’ll be watching the game plan, Phil. Nick Bishop’s excellent analysis this week highlighted the accuracy of who the Brums kick to. The Kick n’ Smother tactic worked, just, last week. A week is a long time in finals rugby. If there was justice in rugby the Blues should win running away, but there is no justice. The Brums have a lot to play for- it’s the end of an empire in some ways. McKellar, Simone and others. Apprentice v Master at 10. May rugby (and Rennie) be the winner.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Nah I see no benefit for SRP or rugby in general for the Brumbies to beat the Blues. Agree it would be great to see SRP teams v UK comp teams tho... I see Leinster is losing the unlosable ( according to many ) games.....
taylorman
Roar Guru
Just have to look at both 9-15’s to think someone’s in big trouble. But then, I don’t want these words to come back and bite me. :laughing: still getting ‘re-used’ to this Blues at the top of the table thing…
WEST
Roar Guru
A lot of their game plan has been to kick it away and fall back on their defence, then let the opposition run into them. Brumbies then try to turn it over by flooding the rucks.. Risky game plan against the Blues. But it has been productive for them this year. I’m expecting plenty of mauls by the Brumbies. Let’s face it, that’s where the bulk of their tries come from. They don’t call them one trick pony for nothing. In the wet, they’ll be counting on.. Or hoping for the Blues to have plenty of errors because of the wet ball.. That should even things up. But if the Blues keep it in hand, the passes stick. The Brumbies might be in trouble. The Blues forward pack is due a more complete performance, it’s been awhile since the display they put on against the Crusaders in Christchurch, if they can get back to that standard it will be a long night for the Brumbies. But, it’s Rugby :rugby: anything can happen :thumbup:
Wigeye
Guest
Wanting the brumbies to win for the good of the SRP and rugby in general. Be great to see top 4 teams play nh domestic teams like provincial teamss on tour, but yeah time frames and too much gametime for players :rugby:
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
It's going to be tough for the Brumbies, but if anyone can they can. They have the forwards that can hold the Blues, the have Folou to score off their rolling maul, they have the gameplan to beat most Kiwi teams, and they have the backs that are able to take advantage of any opportunities. What really let them down in the last few weeks against the Crusaders and the Blues was poor 22 exits. If they can get this right, they are in with a good chance.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Bobby Its the Maul.... Thats McKellars game plan..... Maul maul and maul again.....Nah just joking as the Brumbies backline has been the best in Aus this year followed closely by the Tahs...
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Great read Jim :rugby: Brilliant Article! Brumbies - Crusaders Final would be a fitting way to finish the 'New' Super Rugby Comp
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Nice to read a positive piece, talking about an Australian team's genuine threats. This Brumbies mob has the skill and heart to give it a red hot shot. Whilst they hung tough in the Canberra game, they need to do more tomorrow. Tackling a lot and holding them up over the line isn't going to get it done. They need to win the collisions so, as you say, they can get to BOTB. Whilst White's mo does a 360, let's see Barrett's smile do a 180.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
They will be lucky Jim . You and your pundit mates have named 50 wallabies from the Reds and Tahs. Rennie could only find room for 15 Brumbies. A big ask for apparently our third best side.
Fox
Roar Guru
Agreed West
WEST
Roar Guru
Threats across the line :boxing: Mark Telea is a handful as well. The Blues front row and the bench is what the Brumbies will be more concerned about
Fox
Roar Guru
I would be a bit worried about RTS and Reiko and that insane acceleration of his, and Perofeta as well Jim…there is a lot of exceptional class in that Blues backline. Just be thankful Caleb Clerk is not there as well I reckon.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Brums (hopefully) will start quick, pressure the Blues and kept them a bit short of their rhythm. Scoreboard pressure is a real deal. Hopefully the Ponies bench puts in another huge effort
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Nice work Jim and I think any team that gets into the semi finals must have some good players to get there. I'm not sure the Blues will rely on BB to get them home and they have won plenty of games without him on the park this year which suggests that as much as you have written up the Brumbies players the Blues might also have players that can do as much or more. The thing is they didn't have a 3 game losing streak just before the finals and while I don't hold to the idea it was deliberate to prevent a Brumbies vs Waratahs 1/4 final I'm not so sure it was welcome or planned.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
Ponies were hard at collisions last week. This week the big men opposite are bigger. I'm hoping they vary the game somewhat and make those big bodies work. Blues at home will be quite pumped.
Mungo69
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately, even if you do everything right to keep BB quiet, his little mate next to him has some of the best feet in either rugby code and looks like he is coming real good at the right time. As much as we should all enjoy the smash em ups at the breakdown, the Battle of Midfield could decide the game.