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'We're definitely full of confidence': How Brumbies plan to beat Blues

Noah Lolesio. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Playmaker Noah Lolesio says the Brumbies must keep their discipline in check to trouble the Blues and keep their Super Rugby Pacific title hopes alive.

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The teams will meet on Saturday at Auckland’s Eden Park – usually a graveyard for Australian rugby teams – with a grand final berth on the line.

In their regular round meeting last month the Brumbies looked to have snared a shock victory in Canberra only for Beauden Barrett to slot a field goal after the full-time siren.

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 16

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“It went down to the last minute and we were probably a ruck or two away from winning that game, which would have been a famous victory in Canberra,” Lolesio said on Monday.

The Brumbies showed their grit to even be in a winning position until that moment given the penalty count.

Folau Fainga’a and Darcy Swain were sin-binned as an early 12-1 penalty count took its toll.

The eventual tally was 16-5 and Lolesio said the Brumbies would need to be better to oust the Blues, who are on a 13-game winning streak.

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“We took a lot of lessons from that. Obviously we’ve got to be more disciplined – I remember the penalty count wasn’t favouring us at all,” the young Wallabies playmaker said.

“Us backs, we need to kick better too. It’s something I thought we did really well against the Hurricanes.”

As Australia’s only final four representative, the Brumbies will travel to New Zealand with their tails up after a rousing second half lifted them to a 35-25 win over the Hurricanes.

The Blues advanced courtesy of a 29-point romp over the Highlanders in their quarter-final.

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All Blacks wizard Barrett was again the star, scoring two tries and setting up another.

With a full house at Eden Park expected as the Blues hunt their first Super title since 2003, the Brumbies know they need a fast start to keep the crowd out of it.

“At Eden Park it will be us 23 against the Blues and also the Blues crowd,” Lolesio said.

“We’re definitely full of confidence but we know we’ve got a hard task.”

The Brumbies are hopeful of having Len Ikitau available after the Test centre was sent off in the Hurricanes match for a high tackle.

“That’s our point of difference in this competition – we have tremendous depth in every position,” Lolesio said.

“Lenny is a huge player for us and hopefully he will get the all clear but if not, we go back to next player to slot straight in.

“It’s a real squad mentality here.”

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James 897 days ago

I dont know why Aussi teams always talk themselves up, all Noah has done is helped the Blues get motivated to give them a good lesson. Noah was targeted by the ABs last year and failed under pressure, and I think he will be targeted once again to good effect. Blues by 15.

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JW 20 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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