Brumbies out to break New Zealand drought

SPOTLIGHT: Australia’s top-ranked Super Rugby Pacific side, the Brumbies, have some unfinished business in New Zealand starting with the Chiefs on Saturday.

The Brumbies have won their last two against Kiwi opposition, beating the Highlanders in Melbourne and then the Hurricanes in Canberra, to sit second overall on the competition ladder.

But last year, like the four other Australian teams, the Brumbies struggled on New Zealand soil.

They lost all three games there and only managed one victory from two games in Canberra, with a two-point win over the Hurricanes their best result.

Their Wallabies wing Tom Wright said last year’s results had stung the team.

“Without making it about last year there’s definitely a bit of a burning sensation for a few of us,” Wright said on Tuesday in Canberra.

“We went over there last year and got touched up a little bit so definitely looking to make amends on what happened then so it’s a good opportunity for us.”

The Chiefs were 51-27 winners against the Waratahs during Super Round while they edged Queensland by two points in an ugly affair last weekend.

They sit fourth on the table and will fancy their chances against the Brumbies back home at FMG Stadium in Waikato.

Wright said his team had taken lessons from the New Zealanders to try beat them at their own game.

“It’s a little bit of tempo,” he said when asked what changes the Brumbies had made in the last 12 months to prepare for the Kiwi sides.

“On the weekend, we looked good when we played off the cuff and Whitey [Nic White] and Loners [Ryan Lonergan] were jumping out and looking threatening around the ruck.

“We’re trying to play in and out of the structure and take opportunities around the middle part of the field where the Kiwis have been really good.

“Tip our hat to them – we took a few things from stuff they do and it’s working for us.”