Round 11 Super Rugby preview: Brumbies out to put pain of Chiefs grand final defeat behind them

THE Brumbies’ grand final rematch against the Chiefs and two more trans-Tasman clashes headline Round 11. Check out our Super Rugby preview!

Christian Lealiifano will start for the Brumbies against the Chiefs.

Waratahs v Blues

Friday, 3.30pm AEST, Fox Sports 2

Everyone heard about enough of Benji? Good. His giant rugby flop can now be condemned to the scrapheap once and for all.

It’s been a difficult week for the Blues and coach John Kirwan in particular, but there was finally some good news on Wednesday when he was able to announce the returns of Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu. It’s great news for Weepu in particular, who has made a speedy return from minor heart surgery.

The hosts should also take comfort in the fact the Waratahs have had little success at Auckland’s Eden Park fortress, winning just once in nine attempts. And while they sit bottom of a tight New Zealand conference the Blues’ home form has been excellent for a perfect 3-0 record.

Check out the full Super Rugby team line-ups for Round 11

News_Image_File: Ma'a Nonu is back for the Blues.

Whether that’s enough to unsettle a talent-rich Waratahs line-up is debatable, with the visitors sure to come hard at rookie five-eighth Simon Hickey.

Hickey will be a target for in-form Waratahs No. 7 Michael Hooper, who turned in one of the finest backrow performances of the season against the Bulls last weekend.

Coach Michael Cheika has stuck solid with the same starting line-up that held on for that seven-point victory while Wycliff Palu could add some late thrust after he was named to return from the bench.

The Waratahs have shown in recent times they’re not just an attack-at-all-costs side and that may well need to be the case again on Friday with showery conditions expected in Auckland.

Brumbies v Chiefs

Friday, 5.40pm AEST, Fox Sports 2

Part two of a cracking trans-Tasman Anzac Day double-header sees a rematch of last year’s grand final, albeit in Canberra this time instead of Hamilton.

The pain of the Waikato Stadium defeat is still “very fresh” for the Brumbies according to Ben Mowen, and the skipper and his teammates will be fired up for one of the most anticipated games of the season.

News_Rich_Media: The Brumbies admit their Super Rugby Final loss to the Chiefs last year still burns ahead of their match at GIO Stadium on ANZAC Day.

Christian Lealiifano played a key role for the Brumbies in that 27-22 result last year and has been named in the starting line-up for the first time this season, with in-form centre Pat McCabe dropping back to the bench. Lock Sam Carter returns from a knee injury in the only other change to the home side’s line-up.

The Chiefs travel to Australia as the No. 1-ranked New Zealand side but are showing signs of vulnerability.

They have won just once in their past five outings, have been hit hard by an injury list that’s headed by star playmaker Aaron Cruden and are coming off a bruising New Zealand derby loss to the Crusaders.

News_Image_File: Scott Fardy in action for the Brumbies during last year’s Super Rugby grand final.

Coach Dave Rennie has lost halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow and No. 8 Liam Squire to head knocks from that defeat as well as lock Mike Fitzgerald to suspension, putting further pressure on his squad depth.

Still, despite a tough run the Chiefs have shown they are difficult to put away, with a three-point loss to the Force their biggest losing margin.

All signs point to another close battle in Canberra.

Sharks v Highlanders

Saturday, 3.10am AEST, Fox Sports 1

The major beneficiaries of this year’s draw, the Sharks play their penultimate home match against the Highlanders this weekend. They’re a perfect six from six at Kings Park, and sit 12 points clear at the top of the South African conference.

Much of that success has been built on a smothering defensive unit, one that faces a far sterner test this weekend with the Highlanders boasting more backline firepower than the Cheetahs and Lions.

The big question will be whether the Highlanders get enough quality ball to unleash a backline that features Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and powerhouse centre Malakai Fekitoa.

News_Image_File: Malakai fekitoa has been on fire for the Highlanders.

That looks a difficult proposition against a Sharks backrow that is Springboks quality and boasts the uncompromising play of Keegan Daniel, Jean Deysel and Marcell Coetzee.

The Highlanders, too, must fix what has been a leaky defence over the last month, seeing them concede 30 or more points in three of their last four fixtures.

It looks a tough ask for Jamie Joseph’s side but a win could see move them to within just one point of New Zealand conference leaders, the Chiefs, if the two-time defending champions are beaten on Friday.

Hurricanes v Reds

Saturday, 5.35pm AEST, Fox Sports 2

It’s all or nothing for the Reds as they travel across the ditch for the first time in 2014 with their playoffs hopes well and truly on the line.

Anything but a victory against the Hurricanes and they can kiss their season goodbye.

Unfortunately for the Reds, they can’t even call upon their good recent history against New Zealand teams — forged under now Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie — as they have yet to register a win over the Canes at Westpac Stadium in five attempts.

News_Image_File: Quade Cooper and the Reds face a tough task against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

They won’t find it any easier this year against a Hurricanes side that has finally clicked and is playing the free-flowing rugby to be expected from a side boasting gun young halves TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett and attacking weapons Conrad Smith, Alapati Leiua and the unstoppable Julian Savea.

The Wellington outfit has hit an ominous patch of form, winning three on the trot including a 39-20 thumping of the Blues last start.

News_Rich_Media: The Queensland Reds face a must-win game against the Hurricanes in Wellington next week after failing to live up to early season expectations.

Prop Ben Daley returns in one of four changes for the Reds, for whom James Horwill will play his 100th game for the club.

How the big-hearted skipper would love to celebrate his milestone with a big win to get Queensland’s season back on track.

Force v Bulls

Saturday, 7.40pm AEST, Fox Sports 2

Their winning streak is over but the Force will be looking to bounce back quickly against the Bulls.

The South Africans are at the end of their four-game tour of New Zealand and Australia, and are yet to win on the road in 2014.

News_Image_File: Victor Matfield will suit up again for the Bulls.

They have also lost Flip van der Merwe to a three-week suspension, after the skipper was found guilty of striking NSW prop Paddy Ryan during last week’s 19-12 loss to the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium.

Veteran lock Victor Matfield, who wasn’t supposed to play on tour, will suit up for his third-straight game and will captain the Bulls in van der Merwe’s absence, while fullback Jurgen Visser and winger Akona Ndungane return after missing the Tahs match.

News_Rich_Media: Western Force prop Kieran Longbottom says his side are strongly motivated by the prospect of playing finals rugby for the first time in their history.

The men from the west were far from disgraced in falling to the Rebels last weekend, and are set to gain some key personnel back in the shape of fullback Jayden Hayward and lock Sam Wykes.

The Force have a decent head-to-head record against the Bulls, having won three and lost four, and will be confident of squaring the ledger on Saturday night to consolidate their spot in the top six.

Cheetahs v Stormers

Sunday, 1.05am AEST, Fox Sports 2

Last hosting second last — it’s not an easy game to sell. South African strugglers the Cheetahs and Stormers face off in Bloemfontein in a match that could well decide this year’s wooden spoon.

Coming off a dour 15-point victory over the Lions last weekend, the Stormers have been further boosted by the news that Schalk Burger is finally fit to return and will do so from the bench.

There’s also a starting debut for exciting young winger Devon Williams, who has crossed for nine tries in just six matches in South Africa’s Vodacom Cup.

He’ll face a tough initiation against Springboks star Willie le Roux, although all reports out of the Republic seem to suggest Williams is more than up to it and the returning Jaco Taute will also serve as a calming influence at fullback.

News_Image_File: Willie le Roux has been a shining light for the Cheetahs.

The Cheetahs meanwhile produced their finest defensive display off the tournament in round 10 in giving up just 19 points to ladder leaders the Sharks.

Despite the 11-point loss it was a massive improvement for a side that has been repeatedly cut to shreds, even by the most misfiring attacks.

It’s a fixture the Stormers lead 8-3 and with a few Springboks slowly filtering back into their squad, a record they should extend in ugly fashion this weekend.