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Payback on offer for Brumbies in Super Rugby AU final

By AAP
Tom Banks. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Having sat back and watched the Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels go into battle for a place in Saturday’s Super Rugby AU final, the Brumbies are primed for a slice of the action.

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They will host the Reds at GIO Stadium on Saturday night in the first decider in Canberra since the Brumbies beat the Crusaders 47-28 in 2004.

The Brumbies earned a weekend off after topping the regular season ladder, while the Reds eliminated the Rebels in a brutal match that resulted in a number of casualties, including star Queensland centre Jordan Petaia.

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Brumbies fullback Tom Banks and assistant coach Pete Hewa – Super Rugby AU Final

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Brumbies fullback Tom Banks and assistant coach Pete Hewa – Super Rugby AU Final

The young gun was forced off with a head knock but is expected to take his place in the final while winger Chris Feauai-Sautia is in doubt with a groin injury.

Brumbies fullback Tom Banks said they took the weekend off to freshen up but kept an eye on the Reds game.

“It was a really physical battle and the Reds played really well,” Banks said on Monday.

“It was good to have the weekend off to get away from footy and now we’ve start a good week of prep to fine-tune a few things and really come into the game firing.”

The teams met in the final round, although it was effectively a dead rubber with both assured of their place in the playoffs.

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The Reds outplayed the Brumbies 26-7 to level their head-to-head after they were pipped 22-20 in round five, courtesy of a penalty kick by the Brumbies’ Mack Hansen after fulltime.

“It all comes back to us this week,” Banks, who was one of 13 Brumbies included the Wallabies squad on Sunday, said.

“We know we didn’t do too well against them last time and we know what we need to improve on.”

– Melissa Woods

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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