Reds Brumbies look to protect Fortress Australia from New Zealand breach

MELBOURNE - Of the many surprises Super Rugby Pacific has thrown up this season, the Australian teams spotless record at home to New Zealand rivals ranks among the most astonishing.

Having once dominated Australian sides home or away, none of New Zealands six teams have breached Fortress Australia on their trips across the ditch after 10 rounds this season.

The players freed up by the collapse of the Melbourne Rebels have strengthened Australias four remaining teams and made the once-lopsided competition far more intriguing.

Following Western Forces 17-17 draw with the Wellington Hurricanes in Perth last week, it will be the Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies turn to repel the New Zealand invaders.

The Reds face arguably the harder task when they host the Auckland Blues at Lang Park on Friday.

Although the Blues lie eighth in the table with a 3-6 losing record, they are desperate to keep their title defence alive after a tough 25-22 loss at the Canterbury Crusaders last week.

They have won on each of their last three trips to Queensland and racked up 40-plus point scores against the Reds in their last three matches.

But coming in fresh off a bye, Les Kisss fourth-placed Reds will fancy themselves to snap the losing streak on Anzac Day, a bank holiday commemorating Australians and New Zealanders who served in wars and conflicts.

The spirit of the Anzacs is something we should make sure we continue to honour, Kiss told reporters.

Those types of occasions become special and it deepens the meaning .... they become the big games.

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The third-placed Brumbies face the seventh-placed Hurricanes on Saturday, returning to their Canberra Stadium home following an impressive 24-0 victory away to Moana Pasifika in Pukekohe.

Stephen Larkhams Brumbies had a relatively slow start to the season