Brumbies confident of upset win
Robust loose forward Rob Valetini to return in time for the semifinal clash against Blues at Eden Park
It’s the toughest Test in rugby, but if the Brumbies want to taste Super Rugby Pacific championship success, it’s one they simply must pass.
They’ll head to the cauldron that is Eden Park and battle the champion Blues for a spot in the following week’s final, seeking their first Trans-Tasman title since 2004.
But they gave the Blues a serious push just two weeks ago, even leading as the clock ticked over the 80-minute mark before a Beauden Barrett drop goal rescued a 21-19 win for the Auckland side in their round 14 clash in Canberra.
The Brumbies will also be boosted by the return of crucial flanker Rob Valetini, who’s missed the last month with a hamstring injury.
Coach Dan McKellar said confidence was high as his troops entered the biggest week of their professional careers.
“We’ve been here before … we had to go to Argentina a couple of years ago and play a semi over there, we go to Auckland really confident,” he told reporters.
“We felt we should have won that game a couple of weeks ago, there’s an enormous amount of respect for them.
“They’ve got threats across the park, we feel we’ve got the game that can challenge them and we’ll prepare for that.”
The Brumbies had to dig extraordinarily deep to turn a 10-point second-half deficit into a 35-25 win against the Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday night.
Captain Allan Alaalatoa said they headed to the semis believing they could achieve the allegedly impossible.
“There’s a huge amount of belief, and tonight’s win adds to that,” he told reporters.
“Probably a sold-out Eden Park, I mean that atmosphere is going to be unbelievable.
“That connection and belief starts now and we’ll continue to build that up throughout the week.”
The Blues reeled off five straight tries to beat the Highlanders 35-6 on Saturday afternoon, with former NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck looking the goods in scoring his first professional rugby union try.
Thorn on Reds lessons
Brad Thorn is optimistic his Queensland Reds’ tradies will benefit from the ultimate apprenticeship after bowing out in a Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final loss to the Crusaders.
The Reds were beaten 37-15 in Christchurch on Friday, but not within giving the powerhouse side a mighty fright.
Down 16-8 at halftime, they scored first in the second half and would have led if fiveeighth Lawson Creighton’s penalty kick with 30 minutes to play had been accurate.
There were moments of brilliance in the four-tries-to-two loss, wingers Suliasi Vunivalu and Filipo Daugunu both heavily involved and scoring scintillating fivepointers.
But ultimately it was 11 straight losses to the Crusaders, 20 straight losses away to New Zealand sides and a 0-6 record against Kiwi outfits this season.
That comes after a pre-season focused on narrowing the gap between them and the New Zealand teams after the Reds won the 2021 domestic competition but were blown away in trans-Tasman play.
“There’s been improvement but we have to go another step, or a couple more steps, because at the end of the day we want to win,” coach Thorn said.
“Good sides, that’s what they do, that’s why they call it the money time. You’ve got to make the most of your opportunities.
“We went toe to toe, but credit to the Crusaders.”
Injuries plagued them this season though, with James O’Connor and Taniela Tupou notable absences on Friday to headline a casualty ward that remained in the double figures.
The sheer number sidelined allowed the likes of second-rower Connor Vest, hooker Matt Faessler and five-eighth Lawson Creighton unexpected time in the saddle.
“You’d like to think there’s been some real growth in the depth,” Thorn said.
“Lawson is a tradie, still does a few cashie jobs, and he’s wrunning 10 against a World Cup star player in (Richie) Mo’unga.
“Our hooker is a chippie, going head-tohead with Codie Taylor and (lock) Ryan Smith called the lineout, he’s an air-con electrician.
“It’s really cool and I’m sure you’ll see a lot more of them next year.”
Thorn said co-captain Tate McDermott had been “knocked out cold” but had recovered to be walking and talking in the rooms after he was medi-cabbed from the field.