- Joined
- Jun 18, 2010
- Messages
- 7,386
- Country Flag
- Club or Nation
Sydney Football Stadium (18-06-2011, 11:30 GMT)
The Waratahs are out of the top six but a win over the Brumbies will see them get back into the top six as the teams placed in fifth and sixth place have to play each other.
The Brumbies could do South African rugby a huge favour because if they beat the Waratahs the Sharks and Bulls both qualify for the play offs.
When the Waratahs and Brumbies met earlier this season the Waratahs won 29-22 in Canberra and this week's match is in Sydney.
The Waratahs have played the Brumbies 17 times and won 10 times.
On average when the Waratahs play the Brumbies they score 22 points and the Brumbies score 25 points.
However when the Waratahs are in Sydney they 28 score 28 points on average against the Brumbies who score 20 points against the Waratahs on average.
The Brumbies have played the Waratahs 9 times in Sydney and won just once - back in 2002.
A month ago the Brumbies would not have posed a threat for the Waratahs but they have found form lately and are not to be taken lightly.
The Brumbies have also shown that they don't have much compassion for their Australian friends as Matt Giteau kicked an extra time penalty to rob the Reds of a losing bonus point. The Waratahs can expect no favours in this one.
The Waratahs have a terrible habit of playing well (at times) in the first half and then sending their fans and the opposition to sleep in the second half. They will have to be careful of doing this against the resurgent Brumbies as it could backfire on them if the Brumbies launch a late attack.
There is no Berrick Barnes in the team for the Waratahs (for the rest of the season) but he has been absent so many times from the team sheet so they should not be troubled too much. The go to man as it has been all season for the Waratahs is Kurtley Beale.
The Brumbies have named Josh Valentine on the bench and Ita Vaea is back from suspension.
A bonus point will help the Waratahs if they can get one but they need to focus on the win first. In all likelihood the Waratahs will be placed sixth if they do qualify which sets up a meeting with the team that finishes third.
source: superxv.com
Last five results:
26 Mar 2011 Waratahs v Brumbies 29-22 Canberra
24 Apr 2010 Waratahs v Brumbies 19-12 Sydney
13 Mar 2009 Waratahs v Brumbies 11-21 Canberra
07 Mar 2008 Waratahs v Brumbies 24-17 Sydney
08 Apr 2007 Waratahs v Brumbies 10-36 Canberra
Waratahs overall record against the Brumbies
Played 17 , Wins 10, Losses 7, Draws 0
Match Officials:
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Stuart Dickinson, James Leckie
Television match official: George Ayoub
Teams
Waratahs: 1. Benn Robinson, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Al Baxter, 4. Pat O'Connor, 5. Sitaleki Timani, 6. Dean Mumm, 7. Phil Waugh (c), 8. Dave Dennis, 9. Luke Burgess, 10. Daniel Halangahu, 11. Atieli Pakalani, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Ryan Cross, 14. Lachie Turner, 15. Kurtley Beale
Reserves 16. John Ulugia, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Daniel Vickerman, 19. Chris Alcock, 20. Hugh Perrett, 21. Josh Holmes, 22. Sosene Anesi
Brumbies: 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Ben Alexander, 4. Peter Kimlin, 5. Ben Hand, 6. Mitchell Chapman, 7. Julian Salvi, 8. Ita Vaea, 9. Patrick Phibbs, 10. Matt Giteau, 11. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Pat McCabe, 13. Tyrone Smith, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Christian Lealiifano
Replacements: 16. Anthony Hegarty, 17. Jono Owen, 18. Henry Vanderglas, 19. Tom Boidin, 20. Josh Valentine, 21. Andrew Smith, 22. Robbie Coleman
<a href="http://winbetting.at/therugbyforum?CTY=1&CID=15908"><img src="http://b1.perfb.com/b1.php?ID=15908&PURL=winbetting.at/therugbyforum" border="0" /></a>
*Vbookie odds supplied by BWIN*
