How the Brumbies have evolved to become unlikely contenders for Super Rugby title
The Brumbies are poised to again dominate the Australian conference of Super Rugby and have the potential go at least one step further and make the tournament’s final in 2020.
Despite the loss of veterans Sam Carter, Rory Arnold and Christian Lealiifano, the Brumbies squad remains one of the most potent in Super Rugby as it has a forward pack that can deliver points, but also possession to a dangerous backline that has the firepower to do the same.
Boasting a forwards contingent that comprises of Wallabies Scott Sio, Folau, Fainga’a, Alan Alaalatoa, James Slipper, Blake Enever, Pete Samu and Rob Valetini, the Brumbies will yet again be clinical and damaging at set-piece under the eye of veteran forwards coach Laurie Fisher.
WATCH – Inside the Barbarians
Such experience will be joined by exciting emerging talent such as the 205cm Nick Frost, who demonstrated his potential whilst appearing for the Junior Wallabies in the World U20 Championship and impressed with his try against Ireland last year.
Both Frost and fellow emerging second rower Darcy Swain will likely appear alongside Enever in the locking role during the season, and will thus provide credible lineout options, allowing the Brumbies to maintain their preference for commencing their attack with a driving maul.
Yet there will be more attacking options on offer for the Brumbies of 2020.
Club legend Christian Lealiifano has left for Japan and some may consider the Brumbies are in a similar position to the New South Wales Waratahs, who could struggle to fill the void left by Bernard Foley.
The Brumbies, however, do not need a flyhalf that will make the crunch decisions, lead the younger players around and win them the game as the Waratahs might.
All the Brumbies need is a flyhalf who can underplay his own game and put the larger forward runners, such as Lachlan McCaffrey and Rob Valetini, into the right areas of the park to breach the gain line.
That should unleash potent outside backs like Tom Banks, Toni Pulu and former rugby league player Solomone Kata, who is a proven try-scorer in that code after scoring 46 tries in 93 appearances for the New Zealand Warriors.
The Brumbies are blessed with youthful talent in the flyhalf role in particular thanks to the addition of Reesjan Pasitoa, who is a product of Nudgee College in Brisbane, which is a known Wallaby factory.
At only 18 years of age, the evidently talented Pasitoa is now a genuine contender to start for the Brumbies in 2020 as Lealiifano’s understudy Wharenui Hawera has moved to Japanese club, the Kubota Spears, and the frustrated Jordan Jackson-Hope has defected to the Sunwolves.
Another young talent vying for the playmaking role is 21-year-old Bayley Kuenzle who represented the Junior Wallabies in 2018.
A product of Newington College in Sydney, Kuenzle is a versatile player who can also play in the inside centre position and is known as a direct ball-runner. Having such a player could open up opportunities out wide as the Brumbies will not run themselves out of attacking space with Kuenzle on the park.
A name some suggest may be a fringe Wallaby this year is Auckland-born Noah Lolesio.
A member of the 2019 Junior Wallabies who narrowly lost to France in the World Rugby U20 Championship final, Lolesio has been training with the Brumbies for at least 12 months, and appears set to have first opportunity to take the reigns when the season opens against the Queensland Reds in a matter of weeks.
Whoever gets the flyhalf spot, much responsibility will rest on their shoulders, although that player will not carry that burden alone as the attack will be orchestrated by Wallabies scrumhalf Joe Powell, who will know how to balance out the No. 10’s workload and bring him into the game as required.
The backs will be coached by former Waratahs fullback Peter Hewat, who appears to be a coach on the rise after a successful 2019 with the Australian Schools and U18 side that defeated New Zealand across the ditch.
Hewat will get the Brumbies to play a more attacking and counter-attacking brand of rugby as seen in recent years.
His inherent attacking assertiveness ensures the Canberra side have the balance to score from both set piece and broken play, which will make them an exceptionally difficult team to defend against.
Rugby should learn from Major League Baseball instead of following its path as it tries to capture the next generation, writes @bensmithrugby https://t.co/Erpp0egY7E
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 12, 2020
The Brumbies have points in them through the set piece, middle of the park and flanks which make them credible contenders for the 2020 Super Rugby crown.
Under the guidance of head coach Dan McKellar, they are in exceptionally good hands to achieve such an outcome.
Mentioned in dispatches as a potential Wallabies coach of the future, McKellar learned his rugby at the famous Souths Magpies in Brisbane, and the North Queenslander brings all the teak a former front rower should.
However, the 43-year-old is not limited by his attraction to only being physically dominate to achieve success.
He is an articulate communicator who appears to have the ability to get the most out of what he has at his disposal and is more pragmatic than dogmatic in his approach to the game plan.
Despite their prowess in the forwards, McKellar is a shrewd enough operator to know the Brumbies must be more than one-trick ponies if they are to progress deep into the finals.
Considering what the entire organisation appears to be able to deliver, 2020 may yet be the year of the Brumby.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments