Pretoria - According to ABC online's website, the Brumbies have targeted breakdown dominance as key against the Bulls, despite the risk of giving away penalties.
On Saturday, the Brumbies will come up against Morné Steyn's deadly-accurate boot.
In 2013, Steyn has scored 51 penalties, more than any other player in the history of Super Rugby, with an accuracy rate of 85.6%.
The Brumbies have conceded more penalties than any other Super Rugby side this year, yet coach Jake White says his team will continue the aggressive ruck tactics that earned the visitors a semi-final place against the Bulls in Pretoria.
"In the stats you can see we've got the most pilfers, the most turnovers and best ability to slow down the opposition ball," White said.
"So with that comes the chance of giving a penalty away.
"One goes in hand with the other and I'm prepared to take the risk of conceding a penalty or two, knowing full well that you get a lot of return on what we do at the breakdown."
White is well-aware that with the high-altitude at Loftus Versfeld, Steyn is capable of scoring penalty goals from behind the halfway-line.
"Morné is one of the best kickers in world rugby, especially at Loftus. He obviously kicks a lot better at his home ground," White said.
"There's nothing you can do about the ball going 10 metres further (at Loftus).
"We've just got to make sure we don't concede penalties but at the same time be as aggressive as we can at the breakdown."
The 29-year-old flyhalf was instrumental in the Bulls’ defeat of the Brumbies at Loftus Versfeld last year, scoring a total of 26 points (seven penalty goals, a conversion and a drop goal) in the Bulls' 36-34 win.
sharkbok
Captain23,297 posts
Captain23,297 posts
25 Jul 2013, 02:38
#1
25 Jul 2013, 02:38#1
