Brumbies backrower Rob Valetini helping the referee at GIO Stadium last weekend against the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes won 35 to 29. Photo: Jayzie Photography.
In the early days of the Brumbies, the team was motivated by sheer passion whenever they played the Waratahs.
At the time, the media was filled with commentary from the Brumbies players, who used every adjective in the dictionary to describe how much they disliked the Waratahs.
This was largely fueled by former Waratahs players who felt unappreciated by NSW officialdom, only to find a new home in Canberra.
In many ways, it worked a treat with the Brumbies emerging as the dominant Australian team in Super Rugby.
That dominance continued up until March this year when the Waratahs broke a 13-game losing run against the Brumbies with a 28-23 victory, with NSW scoring two long-distance tries.
The game was marred by controversy.
The Waratahs appeared to score after Max Jorgensen’s foot went into touch. And again, Tom Wright was denied a try after the referee went back eight phases for a knock-on. The Brumbies also played with 14 men for a quarter of the game, with two players in the bin.
The Brumbies team meeting discussions this week will undoubtedly include an element of revenge after what happened in March, as part of what is internally referred to as ‘Tah week’.
Of greater focus, though, will be rectifying issues that surfaced in the 39-25 loss to the Hurricanes.
The Brumbies were lucky to only lose by six with 46 missed tackles, a player in the sin bin, 10 penalties conceded to five by the Hurricanes, and just seven lineouts.
The Hurricanes’ tactic of avoiding kicking into touch where possible proved to be a master stroke as they avoided one of the Brumbies’ main attacking weapons – Rob Valetini running off the lineout.
It is a strategy, no doubt, being considered by Waratahs coach Dan McKellar.
It is a crucial game for both teams, with the Brumbies just holding on to third place ahead of the Reds while the Waratahs are seventh, but with a game in hand.
The run home sees the Brumbies with four games to go while the Waratahs have five.
The Brumbies games are against the Waratahs, Force, the Reds and the Crusaders.
The Waratahs face the Brumbies, Blues, Force, Crusaders and Reds.
So, both the Brumbies and the Waratahs take on teams that are very much in the mix for the finals.
A bonus point win for the Brumbies this weekend will put the ACT team in a good position to secure a place in the finals.
The Waratahs will see this game as a platform for a charge into the top six.
There is clearly more than a 29-year rivalry at stake on Saturday night.
Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies host the NSW Waratahs on Saturday, 3 May. Kick off at 7:35 pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
