Brumbies' plan for Big Ben
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Technique, not size, will be the Brumbies' weapon of choice in the scrum battle against giant Chiefs props Ben Tameifuna and Jamie Mackintosh.
The Chiefs-Brumbies clash is a replay of the 2013 Super Final that the Chiefs won 27-22 and although the Chiefs have not looked as dominant throughout the season, they have some big weapons in their arsenal.
The match will be littered with head-to-head battles across the park, but with stats ranking the Brumbies last for winning scrums on their own feed (76 per cent), it's sure to be an area the two-time defending champions will target.
The Brumbies prop duo of Ben Alexander (120kg) and Scott Sio (116kg) already give away 34 kgs on their much larger opposition whoes combined weight comes in at 270kg.
This coupled with Alexander's neck concern that ruled him out of the international series against France could make it a long day for the Australain-team's pack.
However, Alexander was quick to defend his slighter pack by stating there is more to scrumming than size.
"Yeah, they're very big guys – you've just got to find ways around that using technique, work ethic and what-not," he said.
"Sides have scrummed well against them, and then they've touched up other sides as well."
With their scrumming prowess put aside, the Chiefs front row also poses a threat in ball carrying with Tameifuna famed for his wrecking-ball like carries.
Brumbies flank Scott Fardy, whose job it will be to keep Tameifuna in-check, is well aware of the threat.
"He's 135kg-140kg, so we've just got to keep our tempo up on the game, make him work around the field and minimise the ability for him to get his hands on the ball," Fardy said.
The Chiefs props will be backed up by outstanding All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick, who many rate as the best in the world, as well as fellow Kiwi Test loose forwards Liam Messam and Tanerau Latimer.
"Then there's threats all over the park in the backline," Fardy added.
"They know how to win finals, they've shown that."
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