At training this week, the Brumbies lineout struggled, there was confusion with their team naming and they face a nightmare travel schedule. And Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham wouldn't have it any other way.
The Brumbies are eyeing off a piece of history as they prepare to face the Chiefs in Hamilton in Saturday's semi-final.
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No Australian team has won a Super Rugby playoff game in 14 attempts, with ironically last year's Brumby side the closest when they went down by a point to the Blues.
On top of this, the nature of travelling to Hamilton means they will have to bus up to Canberra before getting into NZ at midnight Thursday, completing the trip with a short trip into the Waikato region.
The preparation has been in perfect but Larkham is well aware that's what awaits them this week, with a bumper crowd and an All-Black-lathered Chiefs side standing in the way of their spot in the final
“We’ve had two sessions this week…we’ve been messy on both days but we’re expecting that in the game,” he explained. “It’s not going to be easy, there’s going to be a lot of mistakes so it’s been good and the guys will be thinking about their roles already.
“It was just mistakes in terms of turning the ball over. We had a few lineout plays on Tuesday that we didn’t get through two phases on which is unusual but the opposition, the guys that are out here prepping us, I thought it was one of their better sessions in terms of putting us under pressure.
“Today, we had a bit of wind out there so things were perfect but that to me is really good prep because we know there will be a lot of pressure and things aren’t going to go perfectly. Even in our preparation between now and the game, you can’t expect everything to go right with the airlines, travel and hotels.”
Larkham also took the chance to dispel some confusion around their lone change to their starting side, with Tom Hooper coming into the starting side.
Hooper was initially listed in the six jersey by the club but will play as the openside to complete the backrow of Pete Samu and Rob Valetini.
“He should be listed at seven. At least that’s how I sent it in…well if he’s listed at six, leave him at six," Larkham joked.
“He’s got a few skills that he’s been working on this week that he’s not normally required to execute this week
“We’ve got good confidence that he’ll execute those and then have the impact in and around the contact zone.”
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Lachlan Lonergan, Sefo Kautai, Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Pete Samu, Nic White (c), Jack Debreczeni, Ollie Sapsford, Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
RESERVES: Connal McInerney, Blake Schoupp, Rhys Van Nek, Darcy Swain, Luke Reimer, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole
