'You will see a different style': Nic White promises a fresh Brumbies style for Super Rugby
Super Rugby trials are not always the best indicator of form, with players returning from the preseason with rust in the legs, teams experimenting with combinations and extended squads players all getting a chance to impress.
The Waratahs received a huge confidence boost by beating the Brumbies 24-14 in Bowral in the first trial of the year, but Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White believes he saw enough from his side to expect great things for their season ahead.
With the majority of the side’s Wallabies not in action in Bowral, it was a test of squad depth, and there were a number of players who took the opportunity to push their case for a starting spot.
“We still got a lot out of it, the guys worked really hard. There was a number of guys who wore the Brumbies jersey for the first time, which was special.
“There’s guys that have been working hard in preseason for a number of months now to get that crack [at a chance to play] and we will review that.”
Hooker Billy Pollard, lock Tom Hooper and backrowers Luke Reimer and Titi Nofoagatatoa all impressed when they were called upon despite the rainy conditions in Bowral preventing the game from truly opening up. Jahrome Brown’s stocks continue to rise after starring in the number eight position in the absence of Wallaby Pete Samu.
As new players to the Brumbies, lock Ed Kennedy made his presence known in the forwards, while Ollie Sapsford put in an assured performance at inside centre with some strong carries and solid defence.
Off-season recruit Jesse Mogg returned to the side via the bench and look right at home at fullback. It sets up an intriguing battle with Wallabies star Tom Banks for the number fifteen jersey.
The Brumbies season kicks off at home for round one, as a result of the Force having to swap their opening home game fixtures because of ongoing border restrictions in Western Australia. It’s an unexpected bonus for the Brumbies, who now have a run of home games to start the season, and Nic White hopes the fans will come out to fill GIO Stadium.
“It’s going to be awesome. It’s going to be a great opportunity to set up our season. Round one at home, and we have the first three games at home. That’s a good chance to get people out to the games when the weather is good, it can get pretty cold later on in the year.”
“We will be looking to throw the ball around in the good conditions. We love playing footy at this time of the year.
“Three games at home in front of our crowd, a good chance to go three wins on the trot, get the runs on the board and put ourselves up quite high on the table. We’re a little bit lucky, but we will take that.”
Brumbies fans will be glad to see two afternoon games on the fixture list to start the season, and White said the team will be ‘licking their licks’ at an opportunity to entertain the home crowd.
“You will see a different style, there will be more running rugby. The skills will be out on show.”
Comments on RugbyPass
We’re building a bridge but can't agree where the river is.
2 Go to commentsfirst no arms shoulder or helmet tackle into his rib cage is going to be so very painful even to watch. go back to RU mate.
1 Go to commentsBulls by 5. Plus another 50.
3 Go to commentsJohan Goosen avatar. Cute. Surely someone at RP knows how to do a google image search?
3 Go to commentsCan’t these games play a little earlier? Asking for a friend.
3 Go to commentsIt’s impressive that we can see huge stadiums with attendance in the 40 000 to 50 000 region. It shows how popular this competition is becoming. What is even more impressive is the massive growth in broadcast viewership. The URC is one of the two best leagues in the World, the other being the Top14.
7 Go to commentsChristie is not Sottish, like the majority of the Scotland team.
2 Go to commentsHold the phone, decline over-rated. Is it a one game, dead cat bounce or the real thing? Has the Penney dropped? Stay tuned.
45 Go to commentsTotally deserved win for the Crusaders Far smarter than the Chiefs who seem to be avoiding the basics when it matters Hotham showed them what was missing and Hannah seems a real find - a tad light but that can be fixed over time
8 Go to commentsGreat insight into the performance culture with Sarries and I predict Christie will be a fixture in the Scotland team now for some time to come. However, he is slightly missing his own point around Scotland “being soft” when he cites physicality examples in defence of that slight. The issue is much closer to the example he referenced around feeling off before a game but being told “it doesn’t matter, you can still play well” by Farrell. Until Scotland can get their psyche in that square, they will carry on folding under extreme pressure…
2 Go to comments> We are having to adapt, evolve and innovate more than when we were in Super Rugby where there was only really one style that everybody had to play to gain the most success. Have = able to? Interesting what that one style might be? I thought SA sides still had bad tours now, or at least bad schedule, months away? Those extra few hours flights have to be a killer though, no surprise to see their sides doing so badly at the start of the season each year. I wouldn’t enjoy that unfairness as a supporter.
7 Go to commentsThe problem for NZ, and Aus, is they ripped up the SR model and lost a massive chunk of revenue that hasn’t been replaced. Don’t forget SA clubs went North because they were left with no choice, Argy unceremoniously binned and Japan cast adrift. Now SR wasn’t perfect, far from it, but they’ve jumped into something without an effective plan, so far, to replace what they’ve lost. The biggest revenue potential now lies in Japan but it won’t be easy or quick to unlock, they are incredibly insular in culture as a nation. In the meantime, there is a serious time bomb sitting under SH rugby and if it happens then the current financial challenges will look like a picnic. IF the Boks follow their provincial teams and head north then it’s revenue meltdown. Not guaranteed to happen but the status quo is a very odd hybrid, with the Boks pointing one way and the clubs pointing the other way. And for as long as that remains then the threat is real.
45 Go to commentsI think Etene has had some good tuition, likely while at the Warriors to be a professional that helped his rugby jump, but he was certainly thrown in the deep end way too early. Should have arguably 20 less SR caps, and therefor a way better record that he does at his age, but his development would have been fast tracked by the need to satiate his signing away from league. Again, credit to him and others that he has done it so well. Easy to fall over under that pressure in the big leagues like that but he kept at it when I myself wasn’t sure he was good enough.
1 Go to commentsAwesome story. I wonder what a bigger American (SA) scene might have mean for Brex.
1 Go to comments“Johnny McNicholl and the Crusaders” save a Penney. Who has been in camp this week and showed them how to play?
8 Go to commentsSo, reports of the Crusaders’ demise / terminal decline are perhaps just - slightly - premature/exaggerated…? 🤔 Will we see a deep-dive into that by the estimable Rugbypass scribes, and maybe one or two mea culpas? Thought not.
8 Go to comments1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
8 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
45 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to comments