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Brumbies eye set-piece masterclass to snap New Zealand hoodoo / Photo: © AFP
NYSE - LSE
Brumbies eye set-piece masterclass to snap New Zealand hoodoo
ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is banking on a solid set-piece game to upset the Waikato Chiefs and snap a dismal Super Rugby semi-final record against New Zealand opposition.
The Canberra side is once again shouldering Australian hopes in the southern hemisphere competition after a 35-28 win over the in-form Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday thrust them into the final four.
It set up a showdown in Hamilton on Saturday with the Chiefs, who have been the standout club all season but suffered a 20-19 defeat to the defending champion Auckland Blues in their elimination final.
The Chiefs nevertheless lived to fight another day as the highest-seeded loser under a revamped play-off system.
The Brumbies last won a Super Rugby title in 2004 and to keep alive their hopes of matching the feat they must avoid a fourth straight semi-final exit against a New Zealand club.
They were ousted by the Blues last year and in 2022, while the Chiefs spoiled the party in 2023.
"The process this year has been about going one better than last year, so there's a big challenge in front of us against the Chiefs in Hamilton," said Larkham.
"We've been in this situation multiple times through the Brumbies' career.
"Very happy that we've won the game, but we know that there's a lot of work to do."
The Brumbies were lethal in Canberra against the Hurricanes when given a sniff in the opposing 22, with their tried-and-tested rolling mauls and pick-and-drives from lineouts paying dividends.
Four of their five tries came from front-rowers.
"We're not experts in winning finals, but certainly feel that having a good set-piece is going to go a long way to winning finals games and we saw that (against the 'Canes)," he said.
"I thought our scrum was outstanding. Our lineout let us down a little bit and put us under the pump a little bit with turnover ball.
"But obviously those two opportunities there from the maul put 14 points on the board for us."
The Brumbies slipped behind to an early Hurricanes try but levelled the game when hooker Billy Pollard finished off a patient trademark rolling maul.
Pollard repeated the feat from a similar move on the cusp of half-time to give them the lead, which they never relinquished.
J.Scott--SFF
