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'We won't disappoint': How the Brumbies plan to upset the Crusaders in Trans-Tasman opener
By AAP
The Brumbies are hopeful three weeks on the road against new opponents will help ease the heartbreak of their Super Rugby AU grand-final loss to Queensland.
It doesn't get any easier for the Brumbies, who were beaten after the bell and face New Zealand's top three teams in the opening rounds of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman which kicks off this Friday.
Their first match is against the Super Rugby Aotearoa champions the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon.
Lock Darcy Swain said packing their bags for the new challenge meant they didn't have time to dwell too much on the defeat and don't plan to revisit the loss either.
Swain himself has particularly painful memories after being yellow-carded in the 77th minute and being sidelined while James O'Connor scored the 84th-minute match-winner.
"We're not going to review it; we're trying our best to park it," Swain said on Tuesday.
"It's a good opportunity to jump back on the horse - it's a big task but we back ourselves.
"We've played those Australian teams twice now as well as last year so it will be a good challenge to go over to New Zealand and play their style."
Bookmakers have written off the hopes of Australian teams of winning the inaugural title but Swain feels they have the talent and game plan to be competitive.
"We don't need to go over there and start doing a crazy amount of different things; we just need to back ourselves and stick to our defensive plans and attacking shape and play with heart," the Wallabies hopeful said.
"We go over there as now probably the second best in Australia having lost to the Reds but a lot of what we do will reflect on Australian rugby ... we won't disappoint."
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Latest Comments
TBH I see SA slipping in this WC cycle Nick. France are never really a top side tho. They just cannot do the same thing consistantly. Ireland and England are more likely to become top sides than France even tho France can beat anyone on any given day. Having said that SA has a lot in their favour in this WC cycle. Hosting many tests like 2 this year v ABs, 4 in 2026 v ABs so in the 4 year cycle thats going to be 3 tests in NZ and 6 in SA.
Go to commentsWhat’s the bet that if Ireland lose we’ll have a bunch of people blaming Rob Kearney for it?
This might pizz the All Blacks off but it won’t make George Bell throw the ball any straighter or Rieko pass the ball to his wings more often.
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