Super 14 Preview - Brumbies

Remember last year? Written off as a team of geriatrics who would be heading south on the ladder. Well, only a penultimate round stumble at home to the Highlanders and conceding 21 points in the final 10 minutes of their final round clash away in Christchurch saw the Brumbies miss the playoffs. Up until then, they had done most things right despite some average luck with injuries.

To recap on that front, they lost both hookers in the first 2 weeks (Paul came back in Week 7), their starting no 8 out for the season in week 6, Larkham for the final month and Giteau missed 4 games through injury. Despite all that, they missed the semis by the huge margin of 8 points on points differential, or to put it another way, about half a point a game.

Not surprisingly no-one is so quick to write them off in 2007 despite the old brigade being another year older, with most of the attention centred on the loss of Giteau to the Force. Definitely a loss, but partly offset by the signing of Huxley from the Reds. The only other starter missing from last year is prop Bill Young and does cause a niggling concern about the quality of the back-ups in the squad.

But that is about the only hole you can pick in their depth chart. A few of the loosies are coming back from injury and need to be watched but they have gained Hoiles from the Tahs. The starting backline minus Giteau are all back and the reserves look useful.

So don’t be surprised by another strong performance from the Brumbies, even if they stumble early against the Chiefs and/or the Blues. They’re slipping under the radar having not made the semis in the past 2 years, but if their key players stay healthy, a return to the final 4 is probable.

Prediction: 10-3 and a home semi.

Player to watch: Giteau’s replacement Gene Fairbanks.