The returning Brumbies host the Lions from SA at 10:40 SA Time on Friday at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australia. The match will be broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. Any guesses who are the favourites here… yip, you have it right, noddy badge for you, it should be the Brumbies.
The Brumbies have just returned from South Africa where they lost against the Bulls but won against a strong Stormers outfit. The Brumbies have looked good though, even in their loss against the Bulls and I see them as serious semi-final contenders.
They have the luxury of stars like Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Stephen Hoiles, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Mark Chisholm and Ben Alexander and they play well in all facets of play, front to back!
Against them we have the struggling Lions with 3 losses under the belt and whose coach has found it wise to make 8 changes to the team who played last week.
They believe in all-out attack and have been porous to the extreme on defence.
I predict that the Brumbies will be comfortable winners, earning their bonus point in the process and I doubt whether a side with 8 changes can play successful catch-up rugby against stars like these….. Brumbies by 25 PLUS.
Previous Super 14 results:
2009: Lions won 25-17 (Johannesburg)
2008: Brumbies won 28-21 (Canberra)
2007: Brumbies won 14-9 (Johannesburg)
2006: Brumbies won 28-7 (Canberra)
Teams:
Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Justin Harrison, 19 Mitchell Chapman, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Tyrone Smith.
Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Walter Venter, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Dusty Noble, 10 Burton Francis, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Todd Clever, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 George Earl, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Charles Emslie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Hannes Franklin, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Jacques Lombaard/Robert Kruger, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Wandile Mjekevu, 22 Earl Rose
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Angus Gardiner (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
Given that we have just started a re-building phase, that the referree is notorious one-eyed, that there is a (as yet unproven) rumour that the new Gilbert jersey has a higher co-efficent of wind resistance, and that the players have yet to fully adapt to DM’s highly structured game plan, this could be a close game.
If all of the above were not factors, the Lions would win this easily, but present circumstances point to a narrow Brumbies victory by about 25 points IMO.
#1
Haha!
It hurts to see SA teams lose, but this will be a massace I am afraid. I hope they keep the margin down to 25 points!
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