#loftus versfeld

[kamsino]

is there anything I enjoy more than a midweek game?

[kamsino]

[kamsino]

[kamsino]

@south-africa-official

[kamsino]

@south-africa-official

[kamsino]

[thisisnotsoccer]

Loftus Versfeld, 1977 - Inauguré en 1906, le Loftus Versfeld (du nom d’un responsable du rugby local mort d’une crise cardiaque dans ce stade) est l’antre des Bulls de Pretoria. On le voit ici copieusement garni à l’occasion d’un match de Currie Cup en septembre 1977 opposant le Northern Transvaal et la Western Province.

[balmainsportsguy]

One down, now, can the Brumbies win the Super Rugby title?

Forget the fact they’ve finally broken the nine year finals free streak, there’s only one question Brumbies fans really care about at this point – can their team win the title?

The Australian conference champions are the now the only Aussie team remaining the in Super Rugby competition following the Reds humbling against the Crusaders on Saturday night.

Despite the obvious speed bump of the Lions tour, which caused the Brumbies a hiccup against the Western Force in the last round, there were enough signs of life against the Cheetahs to suggest the team is working back towards the peak they achieved in round 17 against the Rebels.

Nic White looked threatening with every touch, challenging the line and providing great ball to his outside men, while Henry Speight must surely be on the radar of Ewen McKenzie when he becomes eligible for the Wallabies come September.

The Brumbies have been successful this year with devotion to an unwavering game plan. They don’t play the ball from their own half, preferring to kick for territory with skilled technicians in Jesse Mogg and Matt Toomua. They flood the breakdown with their forwards constantly looking for steals – to which they had great effect against the Cheetahs.

They like to bash up teams with their mobile back and second row and catch others off guard on the counter with their speed men outside. They rely on clinical efficiency and using the accurate goal kicking of Christian Leali’ifano and Nic White to punish mistakes. But do they have enough to take down the might of the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld?

Given the Brumbies employ a South African coach, and a former world cup winning one at that, it’s no surprise that they’ll be coming up against a side with a remarkably similar game plan.

In all major statistically categories the sides are incredibly even matched, excluding metres (Brumbies 404 metres per game, Bulls 363 m/pg) and carries (Brumbies 1831 for season, Bulls 1509 for season), indicating that the Brumbies are prepared to run it more, but the Bulls are more successful in this area.

When they met earlier in the season, the Brumbies prevailed in Canberra, but since early in the season the Bulls have improved drastically, not least Morne Steyn who still remains one of the most dangerous kickers in the game.

In the end, the game is likely to be decided by the most telling factor in Super Rugby, which is the travel. The Brumbies embarked on a mammoth journey to Pretoria early Monday morning where they are likely to be greeted by 51,000 screaming Blue Bulls fans. The Wallabies have never won there, and on a short turnaround the Brumbies likely can’t.

In the other game, the two form teams of the competition will be battling for New Zealand bragging rights when the Chiefs host the Crusaders. I’m tipping the Crusaders to triumph as they did in round 19, winning 43 – 15.           

The final, should the Crusaders triumph, will be held in South Africa where again the Blue Bulls should be able to prevail given the advantages of home. In the history of Super Rugby, no team outside of the top 2 has gone onto win the title.

To think, had the Brumbies gotten the chocolates against the Force they may very well be the team hosting the semi-final in Canberra this weekend.