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'I hope it's minus four tomorrow and raining': Brumbies captain's warning to Highlanders ahead of crucial clash

(Photo by MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images)

The Highlanders should brace for a frosty reception as the Brumbies plot to eliminate New Zealand’s unbeaten high-flyers from the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman title race on Friday night.

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The Highlanders enter the last-round fixture in second spot and on track for a place in next week’s grand final.

But the Hurricanes and Super Rugby Aotearoa champions the Crusaders are ready to cash in on a Highlanders slip-up at GIO Stadium.

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Chasing back-to-back wins over Kiwi opposition for the first time since 2014 after taking down the Chiefs last week, the Brumbies are revelling in sub-zero temperatures in Canberra and are hoping for more of the same for the Highlanders.

“If it’s cold for us, then it’s definitely colder for them,” skipper Allan Alaalatoa said after Thursday’s captain’s run.

“We’ve trained in these conditions during the week and we’re prepared for it. I hope it’s minus four tomorrow and raining.”

After three straight defeats, the Brumbies found the key to toppling New Zealand outfits with a gritty 12-10 victory over the Hurricanes.

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It was only the second win from 20 games for an Australian team this tournament, but the Brumbies are intent on backing it up.

“We showed last week that when we dig our heels in and we have the opportunity to play the sort of footy that we know we can do, we can stick it with the best of them,” Wallabies winger Tom Wright said after inking a two-year contract extension with the Brumbies on Thursday.

“So ideally we put on another strong defensive effort tomorrow night and give ourselves our best shot.”

The Highlanders have racked up 101 points in their past two wins over the Melbourne Rebels and NSW Waratahs.

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Alaalatoa says the onus is on the Brumbies pack to deny the Highlanders as much possession as possible.

“The Highlanders are a great team who pride themselves on their set piece and they’ve been very dominant there, not only in the Trans-Tasman (competition) but also in the Super Rugby Aotearoa as well,” the Wallabies prop said.

“So we definitely know that we’ve got to match them up front.

“They’ve not only got one of the best lineout drives but their scrum is also dominant as well.

“We’re also a team that relies on our set piece, our forwards as well.”

The Queensland Reds, also playing a party pooper role, face the Hurricanes in Friday night’s other game in Wellington.

Victory for the Reds, the only other Australian team to boast a win in the competition, would cruel the Hurricanes’ finals chances.

The NSW Waratahs’ hopes of ending their record 12-game losing streak took another blow on Thursday, with scans confirming halfback and captain Jake Gordon will be sidelined for up to eight weeks with a knee injury.

The setback also rules Gordon out of the Wallabies’ three-test series with France.

The Waratahs play the Chiefs on Saturday in Sydney.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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