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Cape Town - Brumbies prop Ruan Smith has warned his team-mates not to underestimate the Sunwolves ahead of their clash in Canberra on Saturday.
Smith played for the Verblitz in Japan’s Top League during the off-season and he knows exactly what to expect from the Tokyo based outfit.
Smith told the Brumbies website that the Sunwolves will try rush up on defence and compete heavily at the breakdown.
“They’ll try to shut us down quickly, especially coming out of the defensive line and breakdown they’ll get in our faces,” he said.
Smith added that he will use his experience of playing in the Japanese top league to help his team to victory on Saturday.
“I sort of know how they play and approach a game so hopefully it benefits a bit,” he explained.
The 26-year-old turned his attention towards his team’s own game and what they need to focus on in order to come away with the victory.
"We have to [go hard],” he said.
“They gave the Reds a strong run last week and two weeks ago they almost got over the Stormers so they’ll definitely be tougher than what everyone thinks. It’ll be a big game.
“I think everyone has the deception they’re smaller but they were heavier than the Reds on the weekend.”
He highlighted the scrum as the area where the Sunwolves will look to put in a big effort this weekend.
“They’re generally short and strong in stature but they’ll definitely be up for it set piece wise as well," remarked Smith.
“They technically have a good scrum, they’ve struggled at times but can do it very well, and their backs out wide have a lot of experience and have scored a lot of tries so all over the park it’ll be hard.”
With four games of the regular season left to play, Smith said that every game is becoming a final and this weekends clash will be no different.
“We know where we are at the moment," he added.
“We’ve got four games left and regardless of whom we’re playing we need to get the most out of these four games to put ourselves in the best position to have a home semi-final and a home knockout-final.
“It’s our focus to do the best we can and get the most points in the next four games and three of those are at home which is a lot easier for us and obviously what we prefer.
“We’ve only got one bonus point so far in the competition so that’s definitely something we want to do.
“We all know bonus points at the end of the competition are a massive thing.”
