RECAP: Waratahs v Brumbies:
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Round 17 between the Waratahs and Brumbies at Bankwest Stadium.
Read all our Super Rugby previews for the weekend here.
The Brumbies say confidence will trump desperation when they face the Waratahs in an all-Australian derby.
The Brumbies had lost three out of their opening four games and admitted they were “desperate” when they faced the Waratahs earlier in the season – but they are bubbling ahead of Saturday’s pivotal return in Sydney.
With six wins in seven, the Canberra side holds a five-point lead over conference rivals the Melbourne Rebels with two matches to play and know another victory will almost certainly secure a home quarterfinal.
Recent results:
2019: Brumbies won 19-13, Canberra
2018: Brumbies won 40-31, Sydney
2018: Waratahs won 24-17, Canberra
2017: Brumbies won 28-12, Sydney
2016: Brumbies won 26-20, Sydney
Prediction: The Brumbies have won five of their last six Super Rugby matches against the NSW Waratahs, including their last three meetings in NSW. The NSW Waratahs have won five of their last six Australian derbies in Super Rugby at home; their only defeat in that span coming against the Brumbies. The Brumbies have won their last four Super Rugby games on the bounce; the last time they won more was a six-game streak to round out their 2007 campaign. The NSW Waratahs boast a tackle success rate of 87 percent in Super Rugby 2019, the highest of any team in the competition and two percentage points higher than the Brumbies (85 percent). Only the Jaguares’ Guido Petti Pagadizaval (63) has won more line-outs (inc. steals) than Brumbies’ duo Sam Carter (60) and Rory Arnold (59).
Prediction: Waratahs
Margin: Two
RECAP: Waratahs v Brumbies:
Kick-off: 19.45 (local time); 09.45 GMT.
Our updates will appear below. There might be a slight delay in the match centre loading, please be patient. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Teams:
Waratahs: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Alex Newsome, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Curtis Rona, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Tuala/Tolu Latu, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Chris Talakai, 19 Jed Holloway, 20 Will Miller, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Tautalatasi Tasi, 23 Cameron Clark.
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Toni Pulu, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Connal Mcinerney, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Lachlan Mccaffrey, 21 Jahrome Brown, 22 Matt Lucas, 23 Tom Wright.
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
