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O'Connor: Brumbies are the 'pinnacle of Australian rugby'
By AAP
Queensland Reds playmaker James O'Connor has revealed an almost telepathic bond with ball-running prop Taniela Tupou as the side prepares for the next chapter in their Brumbies rivalry.
Top spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder will go on the line at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, the Reds (5-1) able to jump the unbeaten Brumbies with a bonus-point win.
History suggests that will be hard to come by though.
While the home side in Reds v Brumbies games have won a remarkable 14 of the last 15 clashes, the margin has been five points or less in seven of the last eight.
That includes the Reds' last-gasp three-point win in the 2021 domestic final - the Brumbies' last trip north - and a controversial four-point win to the Brumbies in Canberra earlier this month.
On that occasion the Brumbies were able to stifle the Reds' scrum potency, with Tupou bouncing back to dominate at set piece in a gutsy win against the NSW Waratahs last week.
While O'Connor was quick to clarify their scrum would hinge on all eight big men, he said 25-year-old tighthead prop Tupou's influence on the game had grown to new heights this season.
"He's just authentic; Nella is Nella," O'Connor said.
"As he gets older and as he's growing he's becoming so much more reliable.
"Now I can just look at him and tell where he's at and he'll let me know whether he's got it as well.
"In set piece, but also with his energy on the field (in general play) ... he creates space all over the field and I believe he's only getting better."
Second-rower Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will return from an ankle injury for the Reds, while Liam Wright and Filipo Daugunu will start in place of the injured Seru Uru and Jock Campbell.
Yet to play a game this season, off-contract winger Suliasi Vunivalu (hamstring) is eyeing a return in the Reds' April 15 clash with the Melbourne Rebels.
Brumbies five-eighth Noah Lolesio (ankle) is out injured and won't get the chance to push his case for a Wallabies cap later this year against incumbent O'Connor, while Test halfback Nic White will come off the bench a week after the birth of his third child.
"We know each others' games inside and out ... it's so easy to get up for these ones," O'Connor said of the rivalry.
"They're the pinnacle of Australian rugby and we're chasing them.
"They have been the most consistent team this year in Australia ... I feel we're still building, which is a good thing, because last year we probably peaked a bit too early."
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Latest Comments
SCW really dislikes Eddie, doesn't he?
His words in 2019 before the RWC final that he now says should have resulted in Eddie's firing:
"Was Saturday’s sensational World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand England’s greatest ever performance? Yes, unquestionably, would be my answer."
So let's fire the coach one game later? Duh!
Go to commentsIreland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.
The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.
NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.
Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.
Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.
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