Brumbies prepare for Highlander fling - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Brumbies prepare for Highlander fling

By Adrian Warren 03/05/2010 08:09:15 PM Comments (0)

Prolific try scoring prop Ben Alexander wants his Brumbies to get in the faces of their Highlanders counterparts in their do or die Super 14 rugby clash in Canberra on Saturday.

A 32-12 win over Queensland last Saturday has lifted the Brumbies to within two points of the fourth placed Reds with two rounds remaining.

Following the Highlanders, the sixth placed Brumbies face a final round clash in Christchurch against the Crusaders, who are currently three places and two points ahead of them.

Alexander, who leads the Brumbies try-scoring list with six, just two behind leader Gerhard van den Heever, anticipated another tight tussle with the Highlanders.

Four of the last five games between the two teams have been settled by two or less points.

Alexander said the improved performance against Queensland couldn't be a one off and the team needed to reproduce the intensity it showed against the Reds.

"Our backs were really against the wall, it was do or die and it's do or die again (this week)," Alexander said on Monday.

"The belief has always been there and we've just got to keep that standard high and that physicality and intent and really get into their face at scrum and lineout time and general forward facets."

He expected a rugged forward encounter against a robust Highlanders pack who unsettled the Waratahs last week.

"The Waratahs probably started on top of them at scrum time, but the Highlanders class showed in the second half and at the end they pushed the Waratahs off their own ball in that last scrum.

"It's another big day at the office for us front rowers."

Five-eighth Matt Toomua was optimistic of being available for selection after missing the last three matches with a knee injury.

"I've still got to complete a session or two, but so far it's looking very positive," Toomua said.

"The knee is feeling good at the moment."

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