How the Brumbies are preparing to shock the NZ Super Rugby sides
It’s no secret that Australia’s Super Rugby franchises have struggled to foot it with their Kiwi counterparts in recent years, but the Brumbies are looking to change that in 2022.
The Canberra-based outfit is hoping the dawn of Super Rugby Pacific will bring with it a change in fortunes this year after they fell to four losses from five matches against New Zealand opposition in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman last year.
They were one of only two teams, alongside the Reds, to register victories over Kiwi sides last year, with Australian teams enduring a dismal cross-border campaign that saw them win a collective total of two matches from 25 fixtures.
That poor return came after Australian clubs suffered an eye-popping winless run of 40 matches against New Zealand teams between 2016 and 2018.
Since that streak was broken, the Australians have still only sustained a win rate of just under 22 percent against Kiwi franchises, and that gulf in class was emphasised when Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU merged together in 2021.
Brumbies boss Dan McKellar is understandably eager for that to change, though. If his side are to stand any chance of challenging for the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific title, regular wins over New Zealand teams is non-negotiable.
How McKellar plans for those victories to come has been reflected in his revamped pre-season training programme, which he says has been altered with the aim of becoming “more powerful” in order to take down “the best teams in the competition”.
“It’s very different. Our approach to training is pre-seasons are always very tough here and it’s no different this year,” McKellar told reporters on Tuesday.
“Probably more focused this year on speed, agility, power, quality over quantity. Last year was a real conditioning focus, and I’m not saying that was right or wrong, but we’ve had a shift in how we train this year.
“The players have certainly appreciated that and we just feel that, as a team, we probably need to be a little but more powerful, especially against the best teams in the competition.”
McKellar’s quest to buck the trend of Kiwi dominance in Super Rugby – which won’t begin until round nine due to the Covid-enforced draw revision – has been aided by the fact that he has strong squad depth at his disposal.
In addition to the 14 Brumbies players who represented Australia last year, McKellar has also lured two former Wallabies, Jesse Mogg and Chris Feauaia-Sautia, to Canberra for this season.
That’s not including one-test midfielder Irae Simone or locks Cadeyrn Neville and Nick Frost, both of whom have been involved as non-playing members of the Wallabies squad over the past two years.
Former Waratahs and Australian Sevens speedster Cam Clark and All Blacks Sevens representative Ollie Sapsford have also come onboard, as has Manu Samoa playmaker Rodney Iona, giving McKellar plenty of options come selection time.
“I think a number of the new players that have fit in, that have come from other programmes or they’re getting their first opportunity, they’ve been really impressive,” McKellar said.
“We were just talking about it the other day as a coaching group. There’s genuine competition for spots across the board, which is what we need.”
With an overhauled training scheduled and a new personnel on deck, a sense of excitement is brewing in the Australian capital as the Brumbies continue to work towards their season-opener against the Western Force in Perth on February 19.
However, while spirits remain high within McKellar’s squad, the outgoing head coach maintained there is still plenty of work to be done if the Brumbies are to achieve their goal of toppling the best Super Rugby Pacific has to offer this year.
“We’re still working hard. It’s not like we’re fluffy by any means, but there is a different approach around quality and high-intensity and a real skill-based programme,” he said.
“I think there’s always a buzz at this time of the year. We’ve finally got the majority of the group back together again and everyone just enjoys being at the Brumbies and being around each other, so that’s pretty natural.
“But, I think the change in our approach to how we train has been really well-received.”
Comments on RugbyPass
End to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
7 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to comments