Brumbies
Reds out to seal resurgence in Super Rugby AU final
They won five from eight then beat the Melbourne Rebels in last weekend's playoff, and go into Saturday's crunch clash in Canberra buoyed by convincingly...
The resumption of Super Rugby is impossible because of international travel bans so Australia is looking to follow New Zealand’s lead by setting up a one-country competition to get players back on the pitch.
The southern hemisphere competition, featuring teams from Australia, Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa, has so far not had to cancel any matches due to the deadly COVID-19.
The competition started for the first time in January on Friday and Brumbies coach Dan McKellar compared the conditions to an oven as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius (104° Fahrenheit) during his side’s 27-24 victory over the Reds in Canberra.
Dan McKellar guided the Brumbies into the Super Rugby playoffs last season and Australian media had touted him as the leading local candidate to take over from Michael Cheika.
Entering the semifinal after six straight victories, the Jaguares reacted to a 30,000 singing, clapping crowd by winning far more comfortably than expected.
While the Argentines are eyeing a first final appearance only three years after debuting, the Brumbies hope to reach the title decider a fourth time having won the competition twice.
The Sharks managed to reduce the gap to four points thanks to a brilliant kick from Curwin Bosch from just inside the Brumbies' half.
The Australian franchise have won eight of their past nine games, including seven in a row at Canberra Stadium.
Wallabies flanker David Pocock has confirmed that he has played his last match for Super Rugby side the Brumbies and will be focusing entirely on getting fit for the Rugby World Cup for the remainder of the season.
Coastal Sharks will lack two injured Springbok front rowers, prop Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira and hooker Akker van der Merwe, against the Lions as they seek to improve a dismal home record.
The Brumbies defended as a unit, making over 200 tackles - three times more than the Stormers - while they also forced 10 turnovers against a hapless Cape side.
The South African approached the governing body after Australia won just four of their 13 Tests this year, according to the Sydney Morning Herald
The Brumbies fell to the reigning champions at Canberra Stadium for the first time in seven years, the defeat ending Australia's involvement in the competition two weeks early.
Christian Lealiifano was awarded a controversial try late in the first half.
The 19-39 loss to the Brumbies signals the end of Allister Coetzee’s stint as coach of the Stormers.
At the break the Brumbies lead 24-6 to Stomers at Newlands.
Brumbies flyhalf Christian Leali’ifano missed a simple conversion from in front of the posts.
The Super Rugby final between the Waratahs and the Crusaders will take place in Sydney next Saturday.