SYDNEY - The line-ups for the ACT Brumbies and the Crusaders remained in doubt last night as they completed preparations for their Super 12 rugby final replay at Bruce Stadium in Canberra tonight.
Injuries forced Brumbies coach Eddie Jones to delay naming his side until shortly before kickoff.
And his Crusaders opposite, Robbie Deans, was still struggling to get on top of his squad's problems.
"The injuries are about typical for us at this time of year," Deans said.
"If you compare it with last year, we've probably got more injuries and we've probably had less time to prepare because of the end-of-season tours."
The starting XV he named yesterday were likely to play despite some bumps and bruises.
The main concern was his reserve front row, with bracketed props Greg Feek (hamstring) and David Hewett (cracked bone in the hand) both less than convincing in fitness terms.
Reserve hooker Mark Hammett was still getting over knocks suffered last week but a replacement would not be flown over if he was unable to make it to the reserves bench.
Before the injuries struck, Jones was reportedly planning to introduce some surprises from his squad of 25.
Wallabies lock David Giffin was taken to hospital in Canberra yesterday with a suspected broken leg after falling during training.
He was later diagnosed as having torn ankle ligaments, but that will put him out for six weeks.
In more bad news for the competition favourites, test first five-eighths Stephen Larkham failed a fitness test on his strained hamstring. He will be out for at least a week.
Rod Kafer was likely to start at No 10 tonight, with James Holbeck outside him. Giffin's place is likely to be filled by novice lock David Pusey.
While some of the Brumbies players had raised revenge for their 19-20 final loss last year as a motivation, Deans said it was far from the minds of his team.
"This is totally different. For a start it's 30 degrees here [Canberra] rather than minus something which we had for the final. There are different line-ups and it's a new campaign but obviously I can see why there is a lot of interest in it."
- NZPA
New Zealand's Super 12 squads
2001 Super 12 schedule/scoreboard
Injuries mire 'replay' sides
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