Name-calling adds spice ahead of Super 12 semis

A siege mentality has taken over as the Brumbies reinforce themselves to take on the Reds in tonight's Super 12 semifinal.

As inside centre Rod Kafer and the Brumbies management wage a war of words with the Australian Rugby Union over the Canberra team being treated like "second-class citizens," the Bruce Stadium bunker was geared for a battle of "us against them."

Brumbies skipper George Gregan, however, was adamant that there was more to motivate the home side than simply proving themselves against what they perceive to be the odds.

"If that's used as motivation, you're only going to have short-term success," Gregan said.

"The fact we've been so successful for the last four years or so proves we're not just motivated by that."

The union has asked Kafer to apologise for his comments that it had always treated the Brumbies like "discards."

Other than just sticking it to the bosses, the Brumbies' greatest motivation is simply winning Australia's first Super 12 title. They lost last year's final to the Crusaders by a point.

Coach Eddie Jones considers the already slick unit can get even better than last week's final-round thrashing of the Chiefs and earn a place in next week's final between South Africa's Cats or Sharks.

"We've improved a lot in the last three weeks, we know we can play better," Jones said.

"Last week against the Chiefs our attack wasn't that great.

"In terms of attack we know we can improve and against the Reds that's what we must do."

But for the Reds, a sudden-death match is nothing new - they've been in that situation for the past six weeks.

After winning just one of the first six games of the series, including a 32-38 loss to the Brumbies in Brisbane in March, the Reds were in 11th place with just over a month to go and the semis looked well beyond reach.

But they charged home to win their last five games and creep into the last four. Coach Mark McBain said tonight was just another step on their unlikely road to the title.

The Brumbies are not the only ones playing mind games - McBain is still trying his subterfuge over Ben Tune's inclusion or otherwise.

The Reds media spokesman said Tune had been left in Brisbane and was ruled out, but McBain tried to convince the media the test winger was still in contention and would be given until the last minute to prove he had overcome the shoulder injury he suffered last week.

"He's not here, he's been left in Sydney where he's seeing someone for it and will join us later," McBain said last night.

Brumbies first five-eighths Stephen Larkham will definitely play. Hooker Jeremy Paul, also suffering a hamstring injury, has been given until the warm-up before the game to prove his fitness.

Paul's only involvement at training yesterday was throwing in the lineout balls, with Tom Murphy running at hooker, while Larkham only trained for seven minutes but insisted that was all he needed.

The Brumbies' other injury worries, Owen Finegan (back) and Jim Williams (ribs), were declared fully fit.

Meanwhile, Cats skipper Rassie Erasmus believes his team's loss to the Bulls last week taught them a valuable lesson ahead of the other semifinal, against the Sharks in Durban tomorrow morning.

"Maybe it was the wake-up call we needed," he said yesterday. "This week's training has been superb and we are well prepared for the Sharks."

Captain Mark Andrews said the Sharks expect enormous home crowd support.

"I think this will be the Boks' trial for a lot of players. I think the forwards will cancel each other out. It's going to be a tremendous battle because they have a bigger pack, but we've got the support."

The Sharks' sharp backline includes centre Deon Kayser, Stefan Terblanche and Justin Swart - among the most consistent backs in the Super 12 this season.

- NZPA

THE TEAMS

BRUMBIES v REDS

Bruce Stad, Canberra; tonight 9.35

Referee:Jonathan Kaplan (SA)

Touch judges: Andre Watson, Tappe Henning (SA)

Brumbies (likely): Andrew Walker, Graeme Bond, Stirling Mortlock, Rod Kafer, Joe Roff, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (c); Jim Williams, George Smith, Owen Finegan, Justin Harrison, David Giffin, Ben Darwin, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young.Res: Mark Barholomeusz, James Holbeck, Travis Hall; Peter Ryan, David Pusey, Matt Weaver, Tom Murphy.

REDS: Chris Latham, Junior Pelesasa/Nathan Williams/Ricky Nalatu, Daniel Herbert, Steve Kefu, Pelesasa/Williams/Nalatu, Elton Flatley, Jacob Rauluni; Toutai Kefu, David Croft, Matt Cockbain, John Eales (c), Nathan Sharpe, Glenn Panoho, Michael Foley, Nick Stiles. Res: Pelesasa/Williams/Nalatu, Shane Drahm, Sam Cordingley; John Roe, Mark Connors, Fletcher Dyson, Sean Hardman.

SHARKS v CATS

ABSA Stad, Durban; tomorrow 2.30 am

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (A)

Touch judges: Scott Young, Peter Marshall (A)

SHARKS: Ricardo Loubscher, Stefan Terblanche, Deon Kayser, Trevor Halstead, Justin Swart, Butch James, Craig Davidson; AJ Venter, Charl van Rensburg, Warren Britz; Mark Andrews (c), Albert van den Berg; Etienne Fynn, John Smit, Ollie le Roux. Res: Andre Snyman, Gaffie du Toit, Hentie Martens; Brad Macleod-Henderson, Shaun Sowerby, Brent Moyle, Lukas van Biljon.

CATS: Thinus Delport, Wylie Human, Grant Esterhuizen, Eugene Meyer, Dean Hall, Louis Koen, Werner Swanepoel; Andre Vos, Andre Venter, Rassie Erasmus (c), Jannes Labuschagne, Johan Ackermann, Willie Meyer, Leon Boshoff, Marius Mostert. Res: Conrad Jantjes, Clinton van Rensburg, Chad Alcock; Piet Krause, Kleinjan Tromp, Baksteen Nell/Pietman van Niekerk, Andre van Niekerk.