Super Rugby finals preview: Brumbies v Chiefs, GIO Stadium, Canberra

BRUMBIES v CHIEFS. WE bring you everything you need to know about the first Super Rugby qualifying final between the Brumbies and Chiefs.

Brumbies' Matt Toomua, center front, is tackled by the Chiefs' Andrew Horrell, left, and Asaeli Tikoirotuma in the Super Rugby final match in Hamilton, New Zealand, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford) NEW ZEALAND OUT

WE bring you everything you need to know about the first Super Rugby qualifying final between the Brumbies and Chiefs.

What, where and when: First qualifier, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 7.40pm (AEST) Saturday.

Form guide: Brumbies WLWLL, Chiefs WWLLL.

Match odds: (sportingbet.com.au) Brumbies $1.53, Chiefs $2.50 (as at 3.30pm, 17/7).

Full line-ups click here

What happens next: The winner advances to the Super Rugby semi-finals; the loser heads for Mad Money.

TALE OF THE TAPE

The 2013 finalists, the Brumbies and Chiefs meet two weeks earlier in the playoffs this time around as the Waikato men look to keep their dreams of a “three-peat” alive.

Unlike last year, the two sides did face off in the regular season with the Brumbies exacting some degree of revenge for last year’s heartbreaking loss with a 41-23 victory in Canberra on Anzac Day.

The star of that triumph, Matt Toomua, remains in tremendous form after picking up a hat-trick in last weekend’s win over the Force while the Canberra side were a far better outfit than the one smashed a fortnight earlier by the Waratahs thanks to the additions of Sam Carter and Joe Tomane.

But it’s also a much different Chiefs line-up to the one beaten in Canberra with Aaron Cruden back at the helm at flyhalf and Tawera Kerr-Barlow back at halfback. The two-time champions are coming off a hard-fought victory over the Blues in Auckland – a win that secured their place in the playoffs.

Lock Brodie Retallick is in career best form while the backline boasts plenty of pace and skill, particularly in the likes of Tim Nanai-Williams and Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

But the Brumbies match up nicely across the park and have the added advantage of playing at home in what will surely be a frosty Canberra evening.

The Brumbies have been the more consistent side throughout the season but in a Crusaders-like fashion, it’s the Chiefs who seem to be peaking at the right time after finally nailing down their first-choice XV.

It’s easily the pick of this weekend’s qualifying finals and one not to be missed.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Sam Carter v Brodie Retallick

Two of the best young locks on the planet, Sam Carter and Brodie Retallick will provide much of the go-forward for the Brumbies and Chiefs respectively.

Back after an ankle injury suffered on his Test debut, Carter turned in a powerful 80-minute effort that feature 12 tackles, six runs for 55m, two tackles busts and a linebreak.

Rettallick meanwhile was Herculean in his defensive work with an amazing 21 tackles against the Blues – a workrate that coach Rennie believes makes him the game’s finest lock.

Brodie Retallick will lead the Chiefs’ defensive line.

Matt Toomua v Aaron Cruden

Of all the head-to-head battles across the field it’s the mouth-watering match-up between the two No.10s that jumps off the page.

Cruden was missing when the Chiefs were thrashed by the Brumbies in Canberra in April, so the visitors will be much more confident with their star man pulling the strings at GIO Stadium.

The All Blacks playmaker looks back to his best after being slowed down by a thumb injury earlier in the year, and he’ll need to be given the form of his rival.

Toomua was simply outstanding last week for the Brumbies when he scored the club’s first hat-trick in a decade. His red-hot running game is sure to keep the Chiefs’ defence guessing, which could in turn provide more opportunities for the men outside Toomua - Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight and co.

Aaron Cruden looks to be getting back to his best following a thumb injury.

STATS AMAZING

The Brumbies have won the last three clashes with the Chiefs in Canberra with the visitors’ last – and only – triumph coming in 2008. The Chiefs’ 18.2 per cent winning record at GIO Stadium is their second worst in the competition behind AMI Stadium in Christchurch (16.7%).

WHAT THEY SAID

“I don’t think there’s any flying under the radar in finals games. We’ve got more experience this year ... it’s a relief to be there but we know we’re good enough to go all the way in the competition. To be alive in a home final, it’s tremendously satisfying at this stage.’’ Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher.

“What we’ve done well in the last couple of years is winning a lot of those tight games. We’ve lost a lot of those this year. The Blues was an arm wrestle and probably could’ve gone either way. But to win against a good side was important going into the playoffs. We’ve been in sudden death for a couple of weeks, so it’s nothing new for us.” Chiefs coach Dave Rennie.

Originally published as Super Rugby finals preview: Brumbies v Chiefs, GIO Stadium, Canberra