‘Tah Week’: Brumbies players ready themselves for fierce rivals
ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham says his side’s biggest rivalry remains intact, despite their stunning 11-match winning streak against the NSW Waratahs.
Leading into Saturday night’s clash at GIO Stadium, Brumbies players have been pushing the importance of beating their local foes and continuing their push up the Super Rugby Pacific table.
The third-ranked side (five wins, one loss) could be excused for overlooking the struggling Waratahs in their final hit-out before a mid-season bye week, but Larkham said their collective mind was on the job at hand.
“It’s been driven internally by the players,” Larkham said.
“We just know the build-up over the last couple of years has been right for us when we come into ‘Tah Week’, and we’re following the same process.
“The build-up will be pretty big on game day for us for sure … we had obviously a big game against (Queensland) on the weekend.
“Bodies were quite sore and the boys were quite tired. It’s more of a slow build for us this week, but the energy will certainly be there on the weekend.”
The Waratahs, who have lost their past four outings each by less than a converted try, welcome Wallabies star Angus Bell back into the front row after he missed their 27-21 defeat to Melbourne with a back injury.
While NSW won’t have back-rower Langi Gleeson (concussion), injured Wallabies hooker Dave Porecki or his deputy Mahe Vailanu (knee), the visitors also regain Charlie Gamble and get Lalakai Foketi into the starting side.
“They’ve been really close in four or five games so far this season, going down to the wire and losing in the last couple of minutes,” Larkham said.
“I’m sure their supporters will think that this is the weekend (that they get a win). I hope they turn up and we get a really good atmosphere and a great game.”
At the Brumbies, balancing squad depth as the side builds into the season is one of the bigger challenges facing Larkham and his staff.
Nick Frost and Tom Hooper come into the starters after shining off the bench in last weekend’s 20-19 win against the Reds, with Connal McInerney and Jack Debreczeni joining the reserves.
“There’s really a competition, particularly in the second row and back row, so we’re just trying to get a rotation with those guys,” Larkham said.
“We’re making a decision every week based on the opposition as to the best combination we think is going to work for the first 50 minutes and then those guys that come off the bench … and what can they add to the performance in the back-end of the game.
“They’re all going to add something special for that last 20, 25, 30 minutes.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Grt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
107 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
107 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
107 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
107 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
107 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
107 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
107 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
107 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
3 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
107 Go to comments