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Upcoming derbies will decide the Brumbies' fate

Sekope Kepu is tackled during match with Brumbies. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Brumbies are in the box seat to top Super Rugby’s Australian conference and play finals but three key derby clashes amid desperation for Wallabies jerseys make for an intriguing finish.

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Bonus point wins in round 15 have given the Brumbies (34 points) and Melbourne Rebels (33) a big lead from the NSW Waratahs (26) who are badly missing Israel Folau’s strike power after their eighth loss by eight points or less.

The Brumbies appear to have the better run home – facing the lowly Sunwolves (12) then the Waratahs and Queensland Reds (24).

The Rebels play the Waratahs at home before a daunting away assignment against the ladder-topping Crusaders and a home clash with the always-competitive Chiefs.

While the Waratahs’ hopes are slim at best and the Reds are out of the running, the competition for Wallabies spots in a World Cup year should ensure the derby clashes are ferociously contested.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar was talking up playmaker Christi an Lealiifano’s claims for an emotional Wallabies return following his cancer battle after he maintained impressive 2019 form in a 22-10 win over the Bulls on Friday.

“He’s been outstanding, just consistently good every week and off the back of his defence, his leadership and direction,” McKellar said. “He’d be my 10 (at the World Cup), but I’m a little bit biased.”

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The coach would be equally impressed with giant Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani’s recent surge of form that included three tries against the Bulls.

The Rebels will have fingers crossed that talismanic halfback Will Genia is fit to play the Waratahs this week after being knocked out in his team’s 52-7 thrashing of the Sunwolves.

Without the sacked Folau’s rare ability to find the tryline, the Waratahs have were frustrated yet again when beaten 23-15 at home by Argentina’s Jaguares (36), who top the South African conference and look a genuine title threat.

“It’s like every game this year, you look up, 70 minutes and the game’s in the balance again. We just haven’t been able to grab the game and run away with it,” said skipper Michael Hooper.

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Adding to the Waratahs’ woes, tough centre Karmichael Hunt’s Super Rugby season appears over after he copped a medial ligament injury.

The improving Reds had their hopes snuffed out in heartbreaking fashion when falling just short of their first win in New Zealand since 2013, losing to the Chiefs 19-13.

The Crusaders (53) remain a class above every team in the competition after they put a controversial week behind them with a 19-11 win against the Blues.

The African conference remains the most open with just six points separating all five teams.

The Jaguares knocked the Bulls (32) off top spot, the Stormers (30) downed the Highlanders and the Sharks (33) were too strong for the Lions (30).

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Nickers 33 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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