Brumbies looking to change gears - Super Rugby 2018 Preview
The Brumbies have been Australia’s conference champion the last two years. Although in 2017, that didn’t mean much – the side qualified for the playoffs with a 6-9 losing record as Australia’s sides registered their worst ever collective season.
Two straight first-round playoff exits has left the Brumbies at an impasse. No one in Canberra is satisfied as conference champions.
Newly promoted head coach Dan McKellar understands that Super Rugby has become all about relentless attack. In order to get back to competing for Super Rugby titles, the side needs to change.
“We can’t be so reliant on our lineout and our maul and our set-piece to win a competition,” McKellar told Fox Sports Australia.
“Whilst that will win us games at times, in conditions and oppositions that we’re playing against, it’s not going to win us the Super Rugby comp and that’s our end goal.
The ‘oppositions’ McKellar refers to are New Zealand’s high-powered teams and South Africa’s Lions. They play at a frenetic pace and score points in frenzies. Playing a conservative, set-piece dominant game has failed Australian sides in recent years.
“If you think of the Brumbies over the last few years — certainly while I’ve been here over the past four years — we’ve been known for our lineout, our maul, our breakdown and our defence, so we’ve identified that we need to score more tries.
“To do that, we’ll tweak how we’ll play the game and certainly make sure we’re more threatening from unstructured situations and transition.”
How they will do that is easier said than done but the realisation that it needs to be is a step in the right direction.
The return of their best player, David Pocock, has been delayed by the need for surgery following a season in Japan. His attacking game has broadened under Robbie Deans where he has become a damaging edge runner, but bringing this to Super Rugby will be a different task.
Pocock’s game is more of a trump card in defence – his disruption at the breakdown is key to slowing opposition ball and winning the odd turnover – which can stifle and suffocate fast teams dragging them into a stop-start affair.
Much of the attack will rest on the shoulders of Christian Lealiifano, back to full health and returning from a short European stint with Ulster. He was outstanding for the Irish club and his experience will be instrumental in guiding the Brumbies backline.
New recruit Matt Lucas joins the side from the Waratahs to compete with Joe Powell as Lealiifano’s halves partner while last years Kiwi flyhalf Wharenui Hawera will likely be the backup 10.
Kyle Godwin and Tevita Kuridrani will likely start in the midfield, while ex-Force winger Chance Peni joins the team looking to pair with Henry Speight on the wing. Queenslander Tom Banks will be back at fullback.
The strength of the Brumbies still looks to be in the forward pack, with Wallabies Allan Alaalatoa, Scott Sio, Ben Alexander, Rory Arnold, Sam Carter, Josh Mann-Rea, Tom Cusack and Blake Enever.
Australia’s Super Rugby Player of the Year Isi Naisarani will join the Brumbies from the Force, adding a dynamic ball-carrying Number 8 to the pack. In just his first season Naisarani made a huge impact, and the Brumbies will benefit from his play this season.
It’s hard to see the Brumbies diverging too far away from their strength until their attacking prowess develops, but the pack has the ability to set the platform. The Brumbies will compete for the Australian conference with the Waratahs, but as changes take place they will find it hard to do more.
2018 Predictions
Australian Conference Placing: 2nd
Player of the Year: Christian Lealiifano
Rookie of the Year: Folau Fa’ainga
Breakout Player: Lolo Fakaosilea
Best Signing: Isi Naisarani
Franchise History
Best finish: Champions in 2001 and 2004
Worst finish: Thirteenth in 2011
Squad movements
In: Richie Arnold (Western Force), Mees Erasmus (Perth Spirit), Folau Fainga’a (NSW Country Eagles), Matt Lucas (Waratahs), Lachlan McCaffrey (Leicester Tigers), Isi Naisarani (Western Force), Chance Peni (Western Force), David Pocock (return from sabbatical), Darcy Swain (Canberra Vikings), James Verity-Amm (Western Force).
Out: Nigel Ah Wong (Counties Manukau), Chris Alcock (Kamaishi Seawaves), Jarrad Butler (Connacht), Thomas Cubelli (Jaguares), Anthony Fainga’a (Kintetsu Liners), Saia Fainga’a (London Irish), Scott Fardy (Leinster), Nick Jooste (Perth Spirit), De Wet Roos (Southern Districts), Faalelei Sione (Canberra Vikings), Jordan Smiler (Sungoliath), Tom Staniforth (Waratahs), Isaac Thompson (Blue Zoomers), Aidan Toua (Heat).
Squad: Robbie Abel, Allan Alaalatoa, Ben Alexander, Richie Arnold, Rory Arnold, Tom Banks, Sam Carter, Tom Cusack, James Dargaville, Blake Enever, Mees Erasmus, Folau Fainga’a, Lolo Fakaosilea, Kyle Godwin, Mack Hansen, Wharenui Hawera, Ben Hyne, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, Ryan Lonergan, Matt Lucas, Josh Mann-Rea, Nic Mayhew, Lachlan McCaffrey, Andy Muirhead, Isi Naisarani, Chance Peni-Ataera, David Pocock, Joe Powell, Scott Sio, Faalelei Sione, Andrew Smith, Henry Speight, Darcy Swain, Lausii Taliauli, Rob Valetini, James Verity-Amm.
More Super Rugby Previews
Jaguares searching for winning recipe
Can Bulls overcome Kiwi confines?
Stormers the enigma of South Africa
Queensland Reds heading forward with youth movement
Comments on RugbyPass
Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
235 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to comments