Brumbies retain winning formula
The Brumbies have named an unchanged team to take on the Waratahs in a Super Rugby semifinal in Sydney on Saturday.
It is the first all-Australian play-off game since 2002, when the same two teams featured in the 2002 semifinal – which the Brumbies won 51-10 in Sydney.
At one game apiece in 2014, the match shapes as the most important of both the Brumbies and Waratahs seasons – with the winner assured of not only season bragging rights, but a crack at the decider next weekend.
It's the first time since the break the Brumbies have been able to name and unchanged line-up, with the entire squad pulling through last week's win over the Chiefs unscathed and ready to roll.
Director of Rugby Laurie Fisher said the game promised to be one remembered for many years to come.
"To have got through last weekend injury free, it's great for us to be playing again this weekend to maintain momentum," Fisher said.
"The result won't be determined by who's favourite. The result will be decided by who the better team in the match.
"There's an intense rivalry which has been there since the competition started and I'm expecting a fierce clash of bodies this weekend.
"We've got Josh Mann-Rea and Sammy Carter back for this game. We were comfortable with where our set piece was last week against the Chiefs. I expect those areas to work in our favour again this weekend."
It's been a tight tussle with the Waratahs over the last two or three years, with two wins each since the end of 2012.
Neither side has managed to win away from home over that period, but with a victory in Sydney in 2012 which the majority of the Brumbies squad were a part of, history is on the Brumbies side.
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Robbie Coleman, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Leon Power, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Ruaidhri Murphy, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Fotu Auelua, 20 Tom McVerry, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Joe Tomane, 23 Pat McCabe.
Date: Saturday, July 26
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19.40 local (09.40 GMT; 21.40 NZ time, 11.40 SA time)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert, James Leckie
TMO: George Ayoub
