Personal duels and running battles: five key match-ups from Waratahs-ACT semifinal to whet the appetite

HERE are the five key match-ups when the NSW Waratahs host the ACT Brumbies in the Super Rugby semifinals at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Brumbies player Henry Speight at his home in Canberra.

HERE are the five key match-ups when the NSW Waratahs host the ACT Brumbies in the Super Rugby semifinals at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Henry Speight v Rob Horne

Horne has successfully transformed himself into a winger this year while Speight is the most exciting winger in the game right now. Both are in the Wallabies squad, and Horne must contain and outplay Speight if NSW are to win and he is to revive his Test career.

Sam Carter v Will Skelton

Skelton will come off the bench for this clash following the lineout disasters against Queensland. Carter is favourite to partner Rob Simmons in the Wallabies’ second-row against the All Blacks, but few will forget Skelton’s rampaging Test debut. Another matchwinning cameo will have many thinking his X-factor is what’s required to break the Bledisloe hoodoo.

Matt Toomua v Bernard Foley

Midfield partners for the Wallabies, but direct combatants here. The result will largely hinge of what these two can do with the ball their forwards provide. Toomua is highly unlikely to be displaced as Wallabies No.12, but he could make Foley’s place uncertain with his trademark defensive pressure.

Kurtley Beale v Christian Lealiifano

Beale is essentially battling his teammate Foley for the Wallabies’ No.10 jersey. To make an irrefutable case to start in the opening Bledisloe, he must shine brightest of all in this semi-final, while Lealiifano will be highly driven to put himself back in the picture.

Ben Alexander v Benn Robinson

Poor Fat Cat has been left out of the Wallabies squad again as his hopes of a Test recall grow slimmer. But there’s no better way to make a statement than in the scrum against Alexander, who has been recalled to the Test squad following injury.

Originally published as Personal duels and running battles: five key match-ups from Waratahs-ACT semifinal to whet the appetite