17 March 2010 - History favours the home side as the Brumbies appear on New Zealand soil for the first time in 2010.
Eden Park is a venue the Australian side is familiar with, having appeared at the ground on nine previous occasions in Super Rugby, with the Blues holding a commanding six wins to three advantage through those matches.
This includes the Brumbies’ maiden final appearance in 1997 (lost 7-23) and a semi-final six years later (lost 21-42). The Brumbies’ three wins away to the Blues were achieved in 1999 (22-16), 2001 (35-7) and on their most recent visit two years ago, when inside centre Christian Lealiifano supplied the try in a 16-11 success.
The Brumbies scored five tries to two in defeating the Blues by 22 last year, when the Aucklanders visited Canberra Stadium. Friday night’s match is the first of two for the Brumbies in New Zealand this year, to be followed by a round 14 visit to the Crusaders.
The side played three games on the other side of the Tasman Sea last season, beating the Highlanders by one, but losing to both the Chiefs and Hurricanes, the latter in a 49-point blow out.
The Brumbies have won 15 but lost 23 from all matches in New Zealand since being formed at the start of Super Rugby in 1996. While they have just four sides below them on the championship table, the Blues are advantaged coming into this match off the bye. This has allowed them to freshen up and get back the previously injured fullback Isaia Toeava.
All Black inside centre Luke McAlister was also set to return, until he fractured his nose at training earlier in the week, which will see him remain on the sidelines. A big night is in prospect for Blues skipper Keven Mealamu, who becomes the first player to have made 100 appearances exclusively for the Blues.
The Brumbies have been advantaged by being injury free through the opening stages of the competition, but coach Andy Friend has tinkered with the backline combination this week. As a result, last year’s Qantas Wallabies midweek tourist Tyrone Smith comes in, replacing Stirling Mortlock at centre.
While the Blues have just a 50 percent success rate to show from four matches played this year; they do boast an excellent historical record coming off the bye, having won nine, lost two and drawn two in that state. Both of their losses post the bye were sustained in matches played away from Auckland.
Significantly the Blues have twice previously beaten the Brumbies at Eden Park coming out of the break, 17-0 in 2005 and 26-15 a year later. |
