Brumbies dare to dream against Reds - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Brumbies dare to dream against Reds

Jim Morton 03/06/2011 02:13:54 PM Comments (0)

The Brumbies are staring at Mission Inconceivable, and a record number of losses, but expect the Queensland Reds' Suncorp Stadium fortress to also bring out their best on Saturday night.

In a contrasting tale of two provinces, the table-topping Reds are eyeing a 13th straight home win while the ACT outfit want to avoid an 11th loss this season - the equal worst number of Super Rugby defeats by an Australian team.

But departing Brumbies stars Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper believe they can finish on a high in their three remaining matches all against interstate rivals.

The Brumbies have a 15-2 record over the Reds in 16 seasons and skipper Giteau was confident his side would feed off the rivalry and excitement of playing the competition high-flyers at their cauldron-like stadium.

"You generally lift for these games and while they've got a lot of confidence and playing some super rugby we're still confident in our own ability and we have got a lot to play for," said France-bound playmaker Giteau.

"We've got areas we think we can make some in-roads and maybe get some points but it all depends on how we execute."

Searching for a first win in seven weeks, Giteau made light of how forgettable 2011 had been by admitting he was happy to play at a venue which attracted a record 48,301 spectators last week.

"It will be a change for us to play in front of a crowd," he said. "In Canberra we haven't been getting the biggest crowds.

"Suncorp is one of the best stadiums in the world and I'm looking forward to it."

The Brumbies may have thought it could be 13th time unlucky for the Reds when Will Genia was laid low by a virus on Friday, forcing him to pull out of a pre-match business breakfast, but the influential Test halfback later declared himself a certain starter.

"I'm all right, just a bit run down and a bit fluey," Genia told AAP.

The Brumbies still have enough Test players in their line-up with Giteau, Ashley-Cooper, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander and Mark Chisholm to present a threat to the Reds.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans this week put all Brumbies, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels Test players on notice, telling them to push their World Cup cases in their final three matches.

But utility back Ashley-Cooper, who will turn out for the NSW Waratahs in 2012, denied it was in the forefront of his mind as he was determined to finish with the Brumbies in a fitting fashion.

"The whole organisation in general has been a big part of my life over the last eight years and they've helped me to achieve what I have and put me in the position I have today," he said.

"There's no one here at the Brumbies waiting for the season to end.

"I'm just thinking about winning - and winning this weekend against the Reds.

"This is my last three games with the Brumbies and you wouldn't want to finish them in any other way than against three local provincial teams.

"There's heaps to play for."

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

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