Toomua and Speight set to boost Brumbies

Canberra based Super Rugby team the Brumbies expect to have Wallabies duo Matt Toomua and Henry Speight available for this weekend’s crucial Super Rugby match against the Crusaders.

The Crusaders can no longer qualify for the Super Rugby play offs but they after the disappointment of missing out they will want to end on a high.

The Brumbies have already qualified for the play offs and will definitely play next week but if results go their way they can move up from sixth to second which could earn them a week off or home advantage in the play offs.

If the Brumbies beat the Crusaders and the Reds beat the Waratahs the Brumbies will move up to second. If the Brumbies win but the Chiefs and Highlanders lose the Brumbies could move up to fourth.

Toomua missed last week’s Super Rugby match against the Western Force while Speight rolled his ankle in the match and had to come off in the second half.

Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White says that Stephen Larkham will most likely play Toomua at inside centre and keep Christian Lealiifano at flyhalf.

“He’ll probably go the same as the Lions (game) – leave (Lealiifano) at 10 and (Toomua) at 12, but they interchange so well,” White told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“(Speight) did some change of direction and I assume he’ll have right up until Saturday to prove his fitness.

“We’ve got good depth, but both of those guys are world class and having them is a huge boost.”

Both the Brumbies and the Waratahs are on 47 points but the Waratahs have one more win so if the teams are level on points the Waratahs will be ranked higher so bonus points could be vital this weekend.

White said the Brumbies have learnt their lessons from past years where they had to travel for a Semi-final and a final.

“We’re trying not to go in our shell at the pointy end of the season,” White said.

“The last couple of years we’ve been guilty of going into our shell in these big games, so it’s about going out there and expressing ourselves.”

“We’re playing finals regardless, so you can go out there with a bit of confidence knowing that (with) a loss (we are) still going to come sixth.”

Even though the Crusaders are out of contention for the finals White expects them to be a dangerous opponent as Richie McCaw and Dan Carter will both be playing their last games for the franchise.

“They like to hold a lot of width and play, so it’s going to be an open game,” White said.

“They’re going to chance their hand against anyone, no matter what time of season.

“But they might have something funky in there since they can’t make finals.”

The Brumbies will also have something in the record books to play for as captain Stephen Moore will be playing his 100th game for the club.

Moore started his career in Queensland playing for the Reds but made the move to Canberra in 2009 but the hooker says that the record will be the furthest thing from his mind.

“Those personal achievements are good I guess, but the focus is squarely on the team’s success,” Moore said.

“You look at the AFL and the (English) Premier League; guys are racking up 600, 700 games there, guys like Steven Gerrard, who’s a hero of mine.”

“Nothing’s out of reach, I guess.”