Brumbies Test centre Stirling Mortlock has said his side has the extra motivation to sending off George Gregan, Steve Larkham and Jeremy Paul as winners in this Saturday night's Super 14 game against the Crusaders at Canberra Stadium.

"There's a lot going on this weekend - they're naming the stand at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night after George and Steve, the 'Gregan Larkham' stand or the 'Larkham Gregan' stand - I'm not sure who had dibs on having their name appear first! So there will be a lot of distractions and emotions surrounding this game.

Mortlock, who is back in the side for the first time since breaking bones in his hand in the week seven clash against the Cheetahs in March, said the team would be doing its utmost to give the veteran trio a win in their last match at Canberra Stadium before all three play out their careers overseas.

"There are three stalwarts at the club that are playing their final home game this weekend," Mortlock told Sportal.

"Steve Larkham, Jeremy Paul and George Gregan have contributed so much to the way the Brumbies are on and off the field and this is going to be a massive match for the whole club, and to hopefully to send them off in a way befitting those three guys.

"Hopefully we can keep a lid on our emotions and everything that goes with playing such a big match and channel that energy positively into playing a good game."

With the Brumbies currently sitting in sixth place, just one point out of the top four, Mortlock said the Brumbies were already focused on the game, as a loss will most likely spell the end of their race for the finals.

"When you play the Crusaders, you don't need any extra incentive to get yourself up for the game as it's always been a massive game for us. They've been the leader of Super rugby, particularly over the past five years or so, and have been the trendsetters of this tournament.

"On top of that, it's our last home game and of course a must-win for us to try and get that place in the top four. It's a tough one and we need to make sure we don't get emotionally over-awed by the occasion.
"We need to stay calm, composed and stay focused on the key components of the game. I have no doubt that if we do that we'll be fired up and ready to rumble."

Crusaders loose forward Reuben Thorne doubts the Brumbies will get tangled up in the emotions of farewelling George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Jeremy Paul from Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

The Brumbies' chances of snaring a home semi-final are slim* and next weekend's final round-robin match is in Dunedin, meaning the three Wallabies will probably make their final appearances in Canberra.

Canberra administrators are hoping a big crowd rolls up for the send-off, but Thorne doubts the Brumbies will let the occasion blight their preparations.
"I don't know if these guys will. They are pretty experienced and level headed - particularly those two (Gregan and Larkham).

"Without a doubt there will be a lot of emotion at the ground with the crowd and everything, so they will feed off that.

"But I don't think they are a team that will be affected by it negatively."

Gregan and Larkham are the only Brumbies players remaining from the original 1996 squad that was created by coach Rod Macqueen.

Between them the pair has made around 250 Super appearances and played 222 Tests for the Wallabies. Hooker Paul has played more than 100 games for the Brumbies and has 72 Test caps.

Wallabies coach John Connolly is expected to name halfback Gregan as his captain for the World Cup and, barring injury, Larkham should start at first five-eighths.

Despite expecting the Brumbies being determined to mark the occasion with a win, Thorne said the Crusaders are not going to change their approach in an attempt to blunt their enthusiasm.

"We are aware of it. We just have to make sure we don't give them too many opportunities where they get their tails up and get a roll on."

The Crusaders have not won in the Australian capital since 2003. Previous losses were in 2005 and the 2004 final - the latter when the Brumbies built up an early 33-0 lead and held on to win 47-38.

Meanwhile, Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock was named yesterday as expected to make a timely comeback from injury.
Mortlock insisted his side would not be distracted by the emotion surrounding the Brumbies legends.

"Everyone's fully aware of the significance of playing the Crusaders in regards to furthering our season, and we realise the best we can do is to focus on our preparation, execute our game plan and send these guys away from Canberra Stadium winners," the incumbent Wallabies skipper told AAP.

Waratahs coach Ewan McKenzie says his chances of coaching Australia would’ve been better had he coached Stephen Larkham.

McKenzie is one of a number of candidates, who include Blues and Brumbies coaches David Nucifora and Laurie Fisher, in line to take over from Wallaby incumbent John Connolly after the World Cup.

But he said his chances were slim, given the superior win records of his competitors. A major reason for this, he implied, was that both Nucifora and Fisher coached Stephen Larkham.

“Anyone who coaches Steve Larkham looks like a good coach,” McKenzie said. “If you’re a coach and you’ve got Steve Larkham in your stable you’ve generally got a pretty good win-loss record.

“You look through the names and you work it out pretty quick, so he’s a good guy to be coaching.”

Nucifora won 14 of his 24 matches as Brumbies coach. His two seasons with the table-topping Blues has reaped 14 wins and eight losses.

Fisher’s won 13 of his 19 matches with the Brumbies [two draws], but five of those losses came in his debut season in 2005 when Larkham was injured.

He is in a class of his own. Actually....Hewat belongs with the Brumbies

Peter Hewat will pursue a lucrative overseas contract offer before his current deal expires next year if the door is closed on his Wallabies selection hopes and the NSW and Australian rugby unions may not stand in his way.

"That's true. If the Wallabies are out then I may talk about seeking a release on my last year," said Hewat, who has had offers from France, England and Japan. "I've tried not to think about it over the last weeks because I have wanted to concentrate on the Super 14 and not let it affect my game.

"But now as we are getting to the last couple of games and the Wallabies will soon start, I'll have to think about it. There comes a time when I have to think about the future.

"But I have loved every minute at the Waratahs and really appreciate what Ewen [McKenzie] has done. He saw in me what others may not have, or still don't."

NSW coach McKenzie yesterday said.....if Hewat - who potted four from five kicks against the Highlanders and scored two of NSW's three tries to extend his career tally of Super 14 points to 489 and season score to 125 - is not in the Wallabies selection frame, then NSW Rugby and the ARU should at least consider giving him a clearance.

McKenzie said for a player such as Hewat, who is 29 and has already rejected offers because of his desire to play for Australia, there is "a human element in all this. I don't think you want to be too bloody-minded about it".

"We've always had a philosophy to try to develop players for the national team," McKenzie said. "If it becomes clear that someone's never going to play for the national team … we're not talking about a 20-year-old here. We're talking about a guy that's [almost] 30-plus and there's some big opportunities for him.

"He's had really serious offers thrown at him from overseas and he's spurned those the last couple of years. Rightly so, because we've had him on contract."

"Everyone be quiet. I'm trying to make a decision. I need a clear head"

Western Force skipper Nathan Sharpe has indicated his side is targeting Brumbies playmaker* Stephen Larkham in this Friday night's crucial Super 14 clash in Canberra.

Larkham has recovered from a mid-season shoulder injury to lead the Brumbies to three consecutive wins in their last three starts and is displaying some of the best form of his career.

But Sharpe admits that Larkham's former Brumbies team-mates Matt Giteau, Matt Henjak and Scott Fava have been giving the Force plenty of background information on the talented flyhalf.

"Gits, Henjak and Fava know how Bernie (Larkham) runs their side and we've had a good look at how to shut him down," Sharpe told The Australian.

"No mistake, if we let Bernie run, he'll dominate the game."

However, Sharpe was also quick to point out that the Force cannot waste all their energy on shutting down Larkham as the Brumbies, even without injured skipper Stirling Mortlock, have a host of other attacking options in their star-studded backline, including George Gregan, Adam Ashley-Cooper and inform utility back Julian Huxley

"We can't afford to focus exclusively on him (Larkham)," said Sharpe. "He'll quickly realise that and distribute the ball to where the holes are.

"They've got world-class players right across the park but a guy like Julian Huxley is someone we'll really have to watch."

Clyde Rathbone, who missed the Brumbies last match against the Waratahs with a thigh injury, is expected to be fit for this Friday's crucial clash.

Meanwhile, Brumbies head coach Laurie Fisher indicated that with only three games to go until the semi-finals, both sides are desperate to win and grab bonus points for scoring four or more tries.

"Obviously, both sides will be up for it and you're now at that stage of the season where you're not only looking to win but also to score bonus points, so I'm expecting some tries," Fisher

Wallabies playmaker Stephen Larkham is poised to follow the lead of longtime halves partner George Gregan and finish his career in France.

Larkham is understood to have received a lucrative offer to play for star-studded French club Toulouse after the World Cup.

Toulouse are keen to sign the 95-Test veteran to replace French Test star Frederik Michalak who is joining the Durban-based Sharks for the 2008 Super 14.

"My French is terrible, but hopefully they'll also speak a bit of English to help me through," Larkham told rugbyexclusive.com.

"The idea of playing for a great club like Toulouse is very attractive and it certainly would be another challenge."

Larkham has made no secret of the fact 2007 will be his farewell season in Australia and the Brumbies have set in stone plans to replace him.

"We think in Julian Huxley we've got a replacement there and (inside centre) Gene Fairbanks can also play 10," said Brumbies boss Andrew Fagan.

"We've also got young (Brisbane student) Matt Toomua on a rookie contract for 2008 and have former Australian U19 and U21 Christian Lealiifano on our books."

Larkham, 32, will end his Test career with longtime teammate and friend Gregan, who has signed with French second division club Toulon, after playing his third World Cup.

He also has received interest elsewhere in Europe and Japan and says he may play two more seasons.

Larkham returned to vintage form in the Brumbies 36-10 thumping of NSW last weekend to propel the Canberra-based team into the Super 14 top four, but isn't totally satisfied.

"I'm reasonably happy with the way I played against the Waratahs but there are areas I'd like to improve such as my body height in the cleanout and my defence," he said.

Larkham will become just the third Wallaby, behind Gregan (127) and David Campese (101), to pass 100 caps in Melbourne against the All Blacks on June 30 if he plays the first five Tests of the year.

Australian Rugby Union chief executive Gary Flowers is to step down from the post after a tumultuous three-year reign.

Flowers has called a press conference for noon on Friday to announce his decision.

He will remain in the position until December 31.

Flowers' departure may pave the way for former ARU boss John O'Neill's return following his successful stint as boss at Football Federation Australia.

Flowers took on the ARU's top job in June 2004 and has attracted constant criticism for a perceived lack of leadership.

Larkham heaps more misery on Waratahs
Sunday Apr 8 22:44 AEST

Stephen Larkham tormented the NSW Waratahs one last time as the Brumbies surged into the Super 14 top four with a crushing 36-10 victory over their arch-rivals at Canberra Stadium.

The champion five-eighth was in everything as the Brumbies ran in five tries to one to secure their first bonus-point win of the season.

In a dominant display, Larkham set up the first try, was heavily involved in the lead-up to the second, had a hand in the third and scored the fourth and fifth himself.

The 33-year-old's masterful performance lifted the Brumbies above the Western Force into fourth position on the ladder and extended the Waratahs' winless run to eight matches.

Larkham, halfback George Gregan and hooker Jeremy Paul were all playing their final derbies against NSW before finishing their careers overseas and they fittingly finished with a bang, helping the Brumbies snap a four-year losing streak against the Waratahs in stylish fashion.

With Larkham untouchable, the backline on song and dynamic flanker Jone Tawake leading the Brumbies pack, the home team were never seriously threatened.

They made a dream start, with Larkham breaking through some flimsy NSW defence before putting winger Mark Gerrard over for the opening try in just the third minute.

The Waratahs threatened a comeback.....blah blah blah...........But Larkham's tries in the 61st and 72nd minutes, both converted by Gerrard, made it a rout.

The Brumbies have the bye next week before taking on the fifth-placed Force in a potentially decisive round-12 encounter in Canberra.

Form

The Brumbies have seemingly turned the corner in the season and are climbing up the ladder thanks to good wins over the Sharks and Lions on a particularly difficult South African tour.

They go into this match with a winning confidence and the calming influence of veteran playmaker Stephen Larkham leading them around the park.

The Waratahs should have won last week against a near full-strength Crusaders outfit. It just goes to show they can be and probably should have been a potent force in the Super 14 this year.
However, they did still leak six tries so not all their problems are solved, but they will have taken plenty of confidence from last week's close encounter of the rugby kind.

Brumbies utility back Julian Huxley has been simply outstanding in every position he has played this season and is a certified match winner.

Larkham has also been in sparkling form since returning from injury

...while lock Mark Chisholm, props Guy Shepherdson and Nic Henderson and No.8 Stephen Hoiles continue to shine in the pack.

Teenage winger Lachlan Turner* continues his blazing start to his Super rugby career and showed up some quality campaigners last week. Sam Harris played well off the bench and earns his starting spot while Sam Norton-Knight** proved more than useful at flyhalf.
Up front Rocky Elsom is leading the pack along with David Lyons, who is getting back to his peak.