The second Super Rugby match on Saturday in Round 6 could well be the match of the weekend as the Brumbies host the Chiefs in Canberra.
The Brumbies are currently the top Australian team and the Chiefs are the top New Zealand team so the winner of this match will top the Australasian Group.
Canberra’s Brumbies have just returned from a three match tour of Perth and South Africa for this match. They have played five matches and won four as their only loss was to the Stormers.
The Chiefs have had much less travel for this week as they completed the tour of South Africa and Argentina before last week’s 53-10 victory over the Force.
The Brumbies have named an unchanged team for this week but there are three changes on the replacements bench.
Josh Mann-Rea returns to the squad as a replacements following a one-week suspension, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin also returns after missing the match against the Cheetahs and scrum half Joe Powell comes into the squad as a reserve for the first time this season.
The Chiefs have made two changes to their starting line up and both are in the back line with Anton Lienert-Brown returning from injury to start at centre and Toni Pulu getting an opportunity to impress on the right wing.
There are three changes to the reserves with Maama Vaipulu coming in as loose-forward cover, midfield powerhouse Seta Tamanivalu to don jersey 22 and exciting young utility-back Shaun Stevenson making his return to the 23 after sustaining a minor shoulder injury in round one against the Crusaders.
The Brumbies and the Chiefs have played each other 22 times in Super Rugby since 1996 and the Brumbies have won 13, drawn one and lost eight. This gives the Brumbies a record of winning 59% of their matches against the Chiefs.
In Canberra the Brumbies have hosted the Chiefs 12 times and they have won 12, drawn one and lost two. This gives them a record of winning 75% of their home matches against the Chiefs.
The average score when the Brumbies play the Chiefs in Canberra is : Brumbies 34 Chiefs 25.
The Brumbies have won the last four matches between the sides in Canberra and the last time the Chiefs left as winners was in 2008.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ, Aus, SA and in the UK on Sky Sports 3.
Average score: Brumbies 29 Chiefs 23
Last five results
20 Feb 2015 Brumbies v Chiefs 17-19 New Plymouth
19 Jul 2014 Elim Brumbies v Chiefs 32-30 Canberra
25 Apr 2014 Brumbies v Chiefs 41-23 Canberra
03 Aug 2013 Final Brumbies v Chiefs 22-27 Hamilton
16 Mar 2012 Brumbies v Chiefs 22-29 Hamilton
Brumbies overall record against the Chiefs
Played 22, Wins 13, Losses 8 , Draws 1
Match No.45:Brumbies v Chiefs
Date : Saturday 2 April 2016
Venue : GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick Off local: 19:45 local
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 1:William Houston
Assistant Ref 2:James Leckie
TMO : Ian Smith
Teams
Brumbies
Scott Sio, Stephen Moore (c), Ben Alexander, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, David Pocock, Ita Vaea, Tomás Cubelli , Christian Lealiifano (c), Robbie Coleman, Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani, Joe Tomane, Aidan Toua
Replacements : Josh Mann-Rea, Allan Alaalatoa, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, Tom Staniforth, Jordan Smiler, Joe Powell, James Dargaville, Nigel Ah Wong.
Chiefs
1. Mitchell Graham , 2. Hika Elliot, 3. Siate Tokolahi, 4. Michael Allardice, 5. Taleni Seu, 6. Tom Sanders , 7. Sam Cane (cc), 8. Michael Leitch , 9. Brad Weber , 10. Aaron Cruden (cc), 11. James Lowe, 12. Charlie Ngatai , 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Toni Pulu , 15. Damian McKenzie
Replacements : 16. Rhys Marshall , 17. Atu Moli, 18. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 19. James Tucker, 20. Maama Vaipulu , 21. Kayne Hammington , 22. Seta Tamanivalu , 23. Shaun Stevenson
