Brumbies
26
Match Complete
Crusaders
37
| R. Lonergan |  | 72 | ||
| T. Wright |  | 71 | ||
| 65 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 64 | | W. Jordan | ||
| R. Lonergan | | 61 | ||
| F. Fainga'a | | 60 | ||
| 56 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 55 | | B. Hall | ||
| N. White | | 47 | ||
| I. Simone | | 46 | ||
| 38 |  | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 27 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 18 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 14 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 13 | | S. Reece | ||
| 8 | | R. Mo'unga | ||
| 7 | | C. Taylor | ||
| I. Simone | | 3 |
| 4 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 4 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 3 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The game of round 13 of Super Rugby Pacific will see the Brumbies welcome the Crusaders to GIO Stadium, Canberra as both sides try to chase down the Blues. Join The Roar for live scores from 7:45pm AEST.
As good as the Brumbies’ Super Rugby Pacific form has been this season, they’ll be defying history should they knock off the Crusaders.
They haven’t beaten their Christchurch-based opponents since 2009, suffering 10 losses by an average margin of 16.7 points in the meantime.
The Brumbies are also battling the injury-enforced absences of five-eighth Noah Lolesio (concussion) and blindside flanker Rob Valetini (hamstring).
Skipper Allan Alaalatoa returns to the starting lineup and said he was excited by the clash between the third placed Crusaders and his second ranked team.
“It’s gonna be awesome,” he said.
“I feel the intensity is at such a high level, for us the boys have been training at such a high intensity too, and that goes a long way to performing on the weekend.
“Crusaders have been the pinnacle for a while now, I know a lot of the boys will be up for this game.”
Tom Hooper will start in the backrow in place of Valetini, while Rodney Iona will resume at fly-half with Lolesio in concussion protocols.
Alaalatoa said the fill-ins were excited to make an impact in the absence of their star teammates.
“The boys are keen. Hooper gets a start at No.6, and he’s been awesome for us. He’s a young leader within the team, he’s just keen to rip in as well,” he said.
“Robbie (Valetini’s) been unreal for us (but) when there’s an injury it creates opportunity for others and Hoops has really taken that.
“Rodney has been really good as well, he’s been our driver in the background.”
The Cruasders were at their powerful best when smashing the Western Force by 38 points last weekend although they were beaten 24-21 bt the NSW Waratahs the game prior.
Such is their depth, they’ve recalled five All Blacks to their starting lineup in captain Scott Barrett, vice-captain Codie Taylor, George Bower, Jack Goodhue and Sevu Reece.
Game Information
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEST)
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Brumbies $3.00, Force $1.38 – odds via PlayUp
Brumbies (1-15): James Slipper, Lachlan Lonergan, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Caderyn Neville, Tom Hooper, Jahrome Brown, Pete Samu, Nic White, Rod Iona, Andy Muirhead, Irae Simone, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright, Tom Banks.
Reserves: Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Tom Ross, Nick Frost, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Ryan Lonergan, Ollie Sapsford.
Crusaders (1-15): George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett (c), Sam Whitelock, Pablo Matera, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, Bryn Hall, Richie Mo’unga, George Bridge, David Havili, Jack Goodhue, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan.
Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Finlay Brewis, Tamaiti Williams, Liam Hallam-Eames, Tom Christie, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Braydon Ennor, Leicester Faninga’anuku.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Youre in the wrong hemisphere for starters..Troll on dude..
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
Dream on.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Yea, but open borders now, it’s a free for all.
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
What mistakes did Wright make? Not finding touch with one kick? He was otherwise outstanding. The exact player the Wallabies need in 14. Give the guy some confidence, let him play his game. He is demanding defenders commit to him and is starting to creat space for those around him.
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
Leaving isn't the problem, more so Jacinda letting you back in. :silly:
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
Paulo, Like all bias, Aussies focus on Aussie teams and Kiwis on Kiwis. Furthermore, what can be added to commenting on the Crusaders by the Aussies. We all know they are, have been and continue to be the bench-mark of Super Rugby. We all just want our teams to usurp them. The Crusaders again showed why they are in that position and the Brumbies showed why they aren't. It's far harder for the average punter to dissect excellence than it is mediocrity. This is not a disrespect of the Crusaders performance, more so a confirmation of their consistent excellence.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Iona had comfortably his worst game ever. Looked like he just wasn't match ready in that first half especially
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
How many tries did the Brumbies leave in that game?? Must be up with 3-4 where they fumbled it in the 5m channel.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
You must be new to rugby if you think the ref needs to let any team let alone the crusaders give away 3+ cynicals before they even get a warning. The smirk on barretts face will educate you.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Thanks Joe. The Brumbies lost the game in the 1st half, they made their share of mistakes but the Crusaders were clinical. Virtually everytime they ventured into the Brumbies 22, they left with points. The Brumbies were never allowed to settle. Yet I don’t think the Brumbies played that bad, I think they missed Valetini’s influence at the breakdown. Matera, Blackadder and Grace, the Crusaders back row won the breakdown and gave quick ball to their support players, I felt that was decisive. A lesser team would have folded with the pressure thy were subjected too yet the resolve the Brumbies showed in the 2nd stanza had them out scoring the Crusaders 21-14 in the second half. The Brumbies are a very good rugby team, just on the day they ran up against a side who have been themselves ‘under the punp’ for lessor performances. My ‘briefer’ comment was in response to TC’s post.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Maybe a monetary fine for each penalty? Docked from coach’s salary? I bet penalties would disappear in a week haha
Machooka
Roar Guru
Oh dear :unhappy:
Wally James
Roar Guru
They are all options we have come up with. I only wish, like you, that something was done about it. As we all know as players and former players, it is coached. Perhaps a penalty directed at the coaching staff might also help. Although that is a touch draconian. :laughing:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Considering an account t is free and doesn’t need to be linked to anything, it’s frustrating when some just blow in, drop a deuce, and blow out again.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I think carding the 1st one is a bit too far, but I think the first one gets the warning, and then card the second. The other alternative model is a set number of team penalties, similar to basketball but just a team tally, and once you hit a certain amount, card time. There’s too much ambiguity about when a ref issues the warning. And then if a try’s scored it usually resets it, or half time resets, or even they get ANOTHER warning where he says he ‘really really’ means it. Agree with you that all teams do it and I wish it would stop.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Will await with trepidation for the return match as I don’t think the Brumbies will be the same team if we have a rematch come finals time.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Maybe ‘Guest’ is a misnomer? Editors, perhaps blow ins could be called Blow ins? Guest implies a welcome that does not exist for some of the trolling cr4p that they bring.
Brumboy
Roar Rookie
Played their worst game since the loss to the reds and still came within 11 points of a team as great as the Crusaders. Not sure your comment is really that reasonable. I'm not saying the Brumbies will win the whole thing, but I bet Crusaders and Blues won't be as cock as you.
Wally James
Roar Guru
Both teams were doing it in that game. All teams do it in every game. Most odd. At the time I made that comment only one team was doing it. Ref’s are not tough enough on it. My thoughts are that the first offence close to the line stopping momentum should be presumed cynical and carded. Not after the third/fourth offence. If carded after one, the second, third, fourth etc will be unlikely to happen.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
It was clear Paulo, that the Saders knew where the weak spots were (mistakes make it clear) and how to get pay from them. A class in class.