Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham plays down chances of Super Rugby home final ahead of Crusaders clash

BRUMBIES coach Stephen Larkham has attempted to lift pressure from the shoulders of his team by rating their chance of securing a home final as a “long shot”.

ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham before the NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies Super Rugby game at Allianz Stadium, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

BRUMBIES coach Stephen Larkham has attempted to lift pressure from the shoulders of his team in Saturday’s crucial clash with the Crusaders by rating their chance of securing a home final as a “long shot”.

The ACT side sit in sixth and are equal with the second-placed Waratahs on 47 points (but behind on total wins) and can leapfrog the NSW side if a few results go their way in the final round.

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Indeed, the Brumbies can win the Australian conference several ways: 1) if the Brumbies beat the Crusaders and the Tahs lose to the Reds; or 2) if the Brumbies win with a bonus point and NSW wins without a bonus point; or 3) or if both sides lose but the Brumbies take a losing bonus point(s) and the Waratahs do not.

With the South African conference champions Stormers electing to field a B-side against the Sharks early the next morning, it’s highly probable the Tahs or Brumbies will finish second, have a crucial week off and host a semi-final.

Henry Speight has been cleared to face the Crusaders.

All are seemingly realistic scenarios but with the Brumbies playing first, Larkham looked to ease the crush of consequence on his team yesterday by declaring them unrealistic, presumably hoping it will free up his side to chase the first bonus point Brumbies win over the Crusaders in a decade.

“You look back two years ago when we played the Force and had the opportunity to finish second in the round games, and we blew that opportunity,” Larkham said.

“It is a good opportunity for us this week to actually play some rugby. We are guaranteed a finals spot but I guess we are long odds of getting a top two finish, so we want to go out there and play some decent rugby that will leave us in good stead for the finals.”

There are no certainties in Super Rugby but on paper Larkham’s “long shot” call can be strongly defended.

Larkham knows his side are outsiders for second place.

The Reds have not shown any consistent form this season, and though they too are not finals bound, the Crusaders are not only an ever-dangerous side.

The Kiwi powerhouses are also welcoming back Kieran Read, Andy Ellis, Sam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty and Larkham has played enough big games against the Crusaders in Canberra to know a quality line-up when he sees one.

“It’s probably their strongest team for the last couple of months. We are expecting a very physical confrontation from the forwards but also a very skilful performance from the Crusaders,” he said.

“We have spoken about what they bring in attack, and the fact the points that they’ve scored is almost double what we’ve let in this year. We are well aware of their attacking capability, and we know in the second half they put in a strong performance.

“We have seen that in the last four years when we’ve played them. It’s been a fairly tight affair up until half-time but then they’ve blown us away in that second half, so yeah, it’s been a focus for us.”

The Brumbies have plenty of extra motivation to turn in a good performance. Nic White is potentially playing his last game in Canberra, and captain Stephen Moore is running out in Brumbies colours for the 100th time.

The home side will welcome back Matt Toomua from injury via the bench, and Larkham said he’d look to give the playmaker “30 minutes on the field at least ... so that he is somewhat match-fit in the finals.”

Winger Henry Speight has also been cleared to play.

Originally published as Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham plays down chances of Super Rugby home final ahead of Crusaders clash