VENUE & TIME: Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Saturday March 13, 7.40pm (AEDT)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 15 – Brumbies 8, Sharks 7.
LAST TIME: March 28, 2009 (Durban) – Sharks 35-14 Brumbies (round 7).
LAST TIME AT VENUE: April 19, 2008 (Canberra) – Brumbies 27-21 Sharks (round 10).
Match Odds:
Luxbet: Brumbies: $1.20, Sharks $4.60
WALKING WOUNDED: Brumbies coach Andy Friend has named an identical 22-man squad for the third straight week after his side emerged from a scrappy win over the Lions unscathed. Sharks flanker Keegan Daniel is an unlikely starter after suffering concussion in the narrow loss to the Waratahs, while winger Odwa Ndungane is also in doubt with a minor hamstring complaint.
FORM:
Brumbies Past Five:
Week 4: Win 24-13 v Lions, Canberra
Week 3: Win, 19-17 v Stormers, Cape Town
Week 2: Loss, 50-32 Bulls, Pretoria
Week 1: Win, 24-15 v Force, Perth
Week 14: Loss, 10-7 v Chiefs, Hamilton
Sharks Past Five:
Week 4: Loss, 25-21 v Waratahs, Sydney
Week 3: Loss, 35-6 v Crusaders, Christchurch
Week2: Loss, 25-20 v Cheetahs, Durban
Week 1: Loss, 19-18 v Chiefs, Durban
Week 14: Loss, 27-26 v Bulls, Durban
The Brumbies were fairly poor against the Lions but did enough to claim four points and move into sixth spot on the ladder and within striking distance of the tournament front runners. Heavy rain that fell for the majority of the match prevented the Brumbies playing the expansive style they had promised, however, the team dubbed the Real Madrid of the Super 14 has shown enough to suggest they'll be there or there abouts at the business end of the campaign. The Sharks' horror start to the season continued against the Waratahs last weekend when referee Paul Marks refused to award a penalty try despite issuing Kurtley Beale a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown that prevented the match-winner. The decision, which resulted in Marks being dropped, means the Sharks must now win their remaining nine matches to have a realistic chance of making the semis. While it was an improved performance from John Plumtree's men, the coach, who slammed the match officials after last week's loss, also put his players on notice after ill-discipline again proved costly against the Waratahs.
WHO'S HOT: Hooker Stephen Moore revelled in the horrendous conditions against the Lions, producing his best performance in what has been a strong start to the season for the Wallabies rake. In-form Inside-centre Christian Lealiifano made the most of the horrendous conditions while full back Adam Ashley-Cooper is clearly enjoying the chance to specialise in one position after constantly changing roles in recent seasons. For the Sharks, Ryan Kankowski was the obvious standout in his side's controversial loss to the Waratahs. Having scored a 50-metre intercept try in the first half when the Sharks were reduced to 13 men. The speedy No.8 would have also had the match winner if not for Beale's controversial deflection. Former England flyhalf Andy Goode was solid if not spectacular in his first run-on appearance for his new side after answering an SOS when prize Argentine recruit Juan Martin Hernandez suffered a season ending injury before playing a single game.
WE THINK: The Sharks have not tasted victory at Canberra Stadium since 1998 and are highly unlikely to break their drought in the nation's capital