Brumbies’ Super finals push nearing climax

The Brumbies have a golden opportunity to put the Super Rugby finals race to bed before the June Test window, starting with Sunday morning’s clash with the Jaguares.

Coach Stephen Larkham will rely on the same team that beat the Kings in Port Elizabeth last round in Buenos Aires, with a win tightening their grip on the Australian conference.

If the Waratahs, who are four points adrift in second, are to put pressure on the Brumbies this week, they will have to end a 23-game losing streak for Australian sides against Kiwi opposition when they face the Highlanders on Saturday evening.

While the Brumbies return home to face the Melbourne Rebels in their last game before the Test window next week, the Waratahs remain in New Zealand to face the Chiefs.

The Jaguares clash is the first time Larkham has named an unchanged line-up this season after a steadfast commitment to his rotation policy.

That policy hasn’t discriminated against some of the club’s biggest names with skipper Sam Carter and flanker Scott Fardy two Wallabies to have spent time on the sidelines.

The Brumbies’ gruelling travel schedule is in stark contrast to the lead-up of the Jaguares who had last week off after a shock home defeat to the Western Force, who were also in the second leg of a world tour.

It’s a result that could give the Brumbies some inspiration as they prepare to play on a third continent in as many weeks.

“It’s just accepting the fact you’re going to be uncomfortable for a few days,” Fardy said during the week.

“I think guys did that well in Africa and then they have to do it this week as well.”

The unchanged line-up means prop Ben Alexander will equal club legend George Smith’s record of 142 Brumbies caps, in the first meeting between the Brumbies and Argentina’s Super Rugby side.

The Jaguares have made seven changes to the team that lost to the Force and will be looking to show the form that has them leading the competition for carries and unloads, areas where the Brumbies are 12th and last respectively.

Brumbies: Tom Banks, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Kyle Godwin, Aidan Toua, Wharenui Hawera, Joe Powell, Jordan Smiler, Chris Alcock, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter (capt), Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Mann-Rea, Ben Alexander. Res: Robbie Abel, Nic Mayhew, Leslie Leuluaiali-Makin, Blake Enever, Jarrad Butler, De Wet Roos, Andrew Muirhead, Andrew Smith.

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