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This game has the potential to be the match of the round. While both teams have had stop start seasons so far, the performances on the pitch have warranted more notches in the win column.
This game has the potential to be the match of the round. While both teams have had stop start seasons so far, the performances on the pitch have warranted more notches in the win column.
The Brumbies welcome Jamie Joseph’s Highlanders team to GIO Stadium this weekend and it’s set to be a cracker. Both teams enter this weekend off the back of a disappointing defeat to an Australian franchise and will aim to get their season back on track with a win in the ACT.
Lets take a look at some of the key talking points ahead of this weekend’s fixture:
Let the Nonu Comparisons Keep Coming
Last week fans had to settle for seeing Timoci Tavatavanawai on the wing. I know, what a shame! But the Highlanders captain returns to the number 12 shirt, the position that has earned him calls for international honours. Justin Marshall compared him to Ma’a Nonu and even said he was like the stalwart on steroids.
The 27 year old has been devastating in the midfield so far this season and is integral to his side’s ability to get over the gainline. Needs must however and he topped the carrying charts last weekend versus the Reds but Joseph has seen fit to return him to the centres where he’ll look to target the ten channel. Tavatavanawai alone makes this game worth tuning in for.
Team Bonding on Tour
The Highlanders will play back to back games against Australian opposition and Jamie Joseph will hope a good old fashioned tour look and feel will help galvanise his side who have suffered several disappointing defeats.
It’s easy for a coach's message to begin to lose it’s weight when week after week you come out on the wrong side, but Joseph is the exception. The scale of the task Joseph inherited this season after a few terrible years mean that no one in this organisation is looking for the easy option out. They don’t have the wins to show for it, but this team is getting better and better each week. Two difficult tests await in the Brumbies and the Force but picking up points could go a long way to rejuvenating this team.
Rest Week
Stephen Larkham has given Luke Reimer and Ryan Lonergan the week off to rest up and prepare themselves for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season. The Brumbies are well equipped in the back row to cope without Reimer, however Ryan Lonergan is a big loss for the capital side. Noah Lolesio has continued to build a partnership with the scrumhalf and the disruption could be an area the Highlanders target this week. As mentioned above, Tavatavanawai returns to the midfield and he’ll look to expose new scrum half Harrison Goodard’s connection with the Brumbies 10 and number 8.