Super 12 champions ACT Brumbies will have their playing resources fully stretched when they take on South Africa’s Northern Bulls in the second round of the southern hemisphere provincial rugby series in Canberra on Friday.
The Brumbies were magnificent in adversity last weekend, repulsing last year’s final rivals Canterbury Crusaders 32-21 after losing Wallabies Stirling Mortlock and Clyde Rathbone to injuries.
The champion Australian franchise will again be without another of their star Wallabies Matt Giteau from a pre-season hand injury and Wallaby skipper George Gregan is away playing in the Asian tsunami benefit match at Twickenham this weekend.
Rathbone is expected to recover from concussion and first-season coach Laurie Fisher sees the injury crisis as an opportunity for the Brumbies’ understudies against the Bulls, who went down to fellow South Africans the Golden Cats in Johannesburg last weekend.
”Last week we showed that no matter what happens in regard to injuries, there is always someone there who is ready to step up and take on the role,” outside centre Joel Wilson said. ”We are all very confident in ourselves and in each other.”
Bulls coach Heynecke Meyer is also fielding an inexperienced backline, but the strength of the Bulls is in their forward pack.
”We are well aware of the huge challenge that lies ahead,” Meyer said. ”As I recall, no South African side has been able to beat the Brumbies at home, but we are focused and the spirits in the camp are high. A big game lies ahead and we will rise to the challenge.”
The New South Wales Waratahs, who gained maximum points in their opening win over the Waikato Chiefs at home, have promoted Rocky Elsom for Phil Waugh for their match with the Coastal Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Waugh is the only change as he plays in the London tsunami match for the southern hemisphere.
”The Sharks are a very physical side and we have to match them from the word go because they’ll be hurting over their opening round loss [to the Stormers in Cape Town],” Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie said.
But former Springbok Mark Andrews has raised concerns about the Sharks, saying he does not believe the pack has the necessary firepower to dominate Super 12 opposition and is predicting a mid-table finish.
Two-time winners Auckland Blues have made one change for Friday’s visit of Queensland Reds with utility Ben Atiga fit to resume at centre after a hamstring strain forced out Sam Tuitupou.
Auckland were impressive in disposing of Otago Highlanders 30-14 in Dunedin last Friday, while Queensland were woeful in losing at home to the Wellington Hurricanes.
The Reds’ chances won’t be helped by the absence of Wallaby fullback Chris Latham, one of their few attacking lights, who is in London for the tsunami game.
Former All Black fullback Leon MacDonald will make his comeback for the Crusaders against the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday.
MacDonald played club rugby in Japan last season and with his return Daniel Carter shifts to fly-half to replace Andrew Mehrtens who is playing in the tsunami charity match.
Stand-in captain Rodney So’oialo believes the Wellington Hurricanes showed the sort of character in their first-round win against Queensland that is required to be successful in the Super 12.
The Hurricanes disappointed last season — finishing 11th, but So’oialo, who will captain the side in Tana Umaga’s absence against the Golden Cats in Johannesburg on Saturday, is upbeat about the season.
”The boys showed a lot of ticker [against the Reds] and that’s what’s needed in a really good side. They worked for each other and it definitely showed last weekend.”
The Cats were first-round winners against the Bulls at Ellis Park last weekend, and are already being talked up as potential playoff chances.
Commentators have hailed the Cats’ defence, organised by new assistant coach Brendan Venter, as the ”best defensive effort in ages”.
Western Stormers coach Gert Smal has made three changes in the tight five — debutants loosehead prop JD Moller, hooker Hanyani Shimange and lock Andries Bekker — for Saturday’s match against the Highlanders at Invercargill.
Highlanders’ captain Anton Oliver has bruised ribs and may miss the game. – Sapa-AFP