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Brumbies aim for Sharks

Stable Brumbies aim for Sharks

03/10/2010 10:41:36 AM

The Brumbies have named an unchanged 22-man squad to take on the Sharks in their Round 5 clash at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

It is only the third time since 2000 that the Brumbies have named an identical line-up (including reserves) for three consecutive matches, the last time the feat occurring being just last year in the first three matches.

The Brumbies have won their past two games with the current squad, edging out the Stormers 19-17 in Cape Town and defeating the Lions 24-13 last weekend at home.

The ACT side has used the same 22 players since their Round 2 loss to the Bulls, with the promotion of lock Ben Hand in favour of Justin Harrison the only change in four weeks.

The match will mark Patrick Phibbs' 50th Super Rugby match for the Brumbies, having made his debut against the Reds in Brisbane during 2005. Phibbs has played 38 of the past 39 matches, including the last 31 on the trot.

The Sharks have not won at Canberra Stadium since their 41-23 victory in 1998 and the South Africans won't receive any favours from a stable Brumbies side looking to make it three in a row.

"It is a luxury to name the same 22 players for four matches in a row,” said coach Andy Friend.

"It gives you a chance to build combinations, it gives players confidence, and our strength and conditioning and medical staff have done a great job in ensuring we can run out the same guys week in and week out."

"Last week (against the Lions) we were a bit off. I guess part of that could be put down to travelling back from South Africa, part of it could be put down to the wet conditions, but these factors are realities of playing in this competition and we need to be better than that."

"The pleasing aspect was that we did create several opportunities that unfortunately weren't converted. The intent is definitely there which is fantastic; now we need to improve on transferring those opportunities onto the scoreboard."

"Teams like the Sharks don't give you too many chances and we need to make sure that we're converting any chance we get."

"We're certainly not reading anything into their position on the table," Friend warned.

"They're a side full of Springboks and, as we found out last season, they're capable of running over the top of you if you give them that chance."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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