Brumbies to channel 2013 squad
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The last time the Brumbies were playing with this much confidence they made the Super Rugby final, according to 99-game prop Scott Sio.
The Brumbies won their fifth straight game last week to clinch a finals berth and the Australian conference with one game remaining in the regular season.
They host the Queensland Reds on Saturday and victory can see them finish as high as second on the overall ladder. They can’t drop lower than third.
Sio arrived at the Brumbies in 2012 and started in the 2013 Super Rugby final, where the franchise was narrowly beaten by the Chiefs.
The 27-year-old believes there are plenty of similarities between the 2013 squad and the current team, which has won seven of its past eight games.
“The biggest thing for me when I first got to this club, I played with a lot of great players but what really stood out to me was team success was the most important thing here,” Sio said.
“This year reminds me a lot of that 2013 squad, different individuals but a really cool vibe. We’ve got pretty close between then and now but I guess now it’s just that believe we can win and chance our arm at any time in the game, no matter whether we’re on the back foot or not.
“Belief is a very strong tool, especially coming into finals.
“It’s not about changing anything now, it’s just being diligent in everything we do and taking it to the next level.”
Brumbies tighthead Allan Alaalatoa said their best is good enough to beat any team and backed the club to charge into the finals.
“I’m definitely confident in the group. There’s a lot of chat about the finals and if we continue to build that momentum into the Reds this week it’s going to put us in good stead,” Alaalatoa said.
“Keeping that momentum is crucial for us if we just rock up on Saturday and just hope to put on a good performance it’s not good enough heading into the finals.
“We have to give the Reds respect because they deserve it, they beat us the last time we played them and bashed us up front, so as a forward pack it’s going to be a huge challenge.”
Source: AAP
