BRUMBIES 2010
Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:49
BRUMBIES 2010
The Brumbies' chances of winning a third Super Rugby championship will depend to a fair extent on the start they get this year, which sees them playing three matches away from home. They play against the Western Force and then travel to South Africa to play the defending champion Bulls at altitude and then the Stormers.
Whether they return home triumphant, or having to play catch-up, will be crucial to their prospects for adding to their 2001 and 2004 Super 12 title victories.
In the Super 12 they did well enough through their campaign to get to three other finals and one semi-final, but they lost all four of those play-off games. Their record since the start of the Super 14 in 2006 is less impressive, with positions sixth, fifth, ninth and then last year's seventh on the log.
Brumbies coach Andy Friend recognises that a good start is crucial to a successful Super 14 and feels they have the structures in place to see them return to the winners' podium in 2010.
He speaks of his team's determination to play a "different style of rugby" this year. What substantial variation we'll see in their pattern of play will be interesting indeed, since at their best in the old Super 12 they tested opposition defences to the limit, scoring a host of impressive tries.
The Brumbies have certainly made some very good acquisitions, with consummate playmaker Matt Giteau and Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom the major signings. Giteau is one of the most complete rugby players of the modern age, with skills approaching the sublime, and Elsom returns to Australia having been at his unrelenting best for Leinster in the Heineken Cup and for Australia (both as flank and captain) on the Test stage.
Add Giteau's 77 Super games and 78 Test caps to Elsom's 66 Super caps (for the Waratahs) and 49 Tests to the experience of Stirling Mortlock, George Smith and Stephen Moore and the likes of fellow Wallabies Mark Chisholm, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Alexander and Josh Valentine, and you must have a formidable team.
Strengths: At their best the Brumbies are renowned for relentless retention of possession, skilful flair and astute variation of points of attack. They have a strong core of experienced campaigners and a few excitingly talented youngsters.
Weaknesses: They start with a game in Perth, then have to brave the fortress that is Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, and then what is likely to be a capacity crowd of passionate Stormers supporters at Newlands in Cape Town. This is a tough assignment. Depth at prop could be a problem, initially at least, with Ben Alexander's fractured left hand keeping him out until game two at the earliest, and Jerry Yanuyanutawa's stress fracture in his left foot, and Brumbies Academy prop Jono Owen's injured calf muscle also pre-season concerns.
Noteworthy signings: Matt Giteau returns to the Brumbies after three years with the Western Force. Rocky Elsom returns after nine months with Leinster (Ireland), where he won 11 Man-of-the-Match awards in 13 games. Josh Valentine, having played for the Reds, the Waratahs and the Force, is now at the Brumbies. Justin Harrison has concluded his eight-month suspension for actions "prejudicial to the interests of the Game", and joins the Brumbies from Bath and before that the Waratahs and Ulster. He turns 36 in April but is remarkably resilient, having started in 29 of 31 matches for Bath during the 2008/09 season.
Noteworthy losses: Scrumhalf Josh Holmes and Nic Henderson (after 70 games for the Brumbies) have moved to the Western Force. Openside flank Julian Salvi has transferred to Bath, Mark Gerrard (wing / full back) to Japanese second division club NTT Communications, and inside centre Gene Fairbanks to Honda Heat in Japan. Clyde Rathbone has retired. Shawn Mackay died tragically, aged 26, in April last year after being hit by a car in Durban while on tour with the Brumbies.
Coach: Former Brumbies fullback Andy Friend enters his second season as coach after replacing Laurie Fisher last year. Friend spent four years coaching Japanese club, Suntory Sungoliath, and after an advisory role with the Wallabies, was assistant coach of the Waratahs under Bob Dwyer and Ewen McKenzie before his two years as head coach of London Harlequins. Tony Rea joins the Brumbies as assistant coach responsible for defence and skills after an impressive career as player and coach in Rugby League. The renowned former Brumby and Wallaby Owen Finegan is forwards coach and fellow former Wallaby Bill Young is scrummaging coach.
Captain: Stephen Hoiles has been reappointed captain after succeeding Stirling Mortlock last year. A skilful No.8 or flank, he is regarded as an astute reader of the game and a strong leader. An interesting innovation was the announcement that he will be joined in a five-man leadership team by Stephen Moore, Mitchell Chapman, Justin Harrison and Matt Giteau.
Potential bolter: Afusipa Taumoepeau (centre or wing) was the youngest player ever to debut for the Brumbies. He still qualifies for Australia U20 this year but is about to embark on his third Super 14 season, having played five games for the Brumbies in each of 2008 and 2009. A former Australian Schools, Sevens and U20 representative, he has elusive attacking skills and is regarded as a particularly bright prospect.
2009 Position: 7th
Best finish: Super 12 winners in 2001 and 2004
Worst finish: 10th 1998
Home Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra (capacity: 27,000)
2010 Prospects: If their frontline players remain injury-free and their talented youngsters can make the impact their potential suggests possible, the Brumbies combination of experience and youth could certainly see them challenge for a semi-final spot. They have the players this year to revive memories of the glory days of the Brumbies teams of coaches Rod McQueen, Eddie Jones and David Nucifora, and instil the fear in opponents generated in the days of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham.
Brumbies squad: Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mitchell Chapman, Mark Chisholm, Huia Edmonds, Rocky Elsom, Francis Fainifo, Matt Giteau, Ben Hand, Justin Harrison, Stephen Hoiles, Peter Kimlin, Christian Lealiifano, Salesi Ma'afu, Alifeleti Mafi, Pat McCabe, Stephen Moore, Stirling Mortlock, Patrick Phibbs, Guy Shepherdson, Andrew Smith, George Smith, Tyrone Smith, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Sitaleki Timani, Matt Toomua, Josh Valentine, Henry Vanderglas, Jerry Yanuyanutawa. (plus John Ulugia, who has a short-term contract to cover for the injured Ben Alexander)
Schedule:
Friday 12 February: v
Western Force, away
Saturday 20 February: v Bulls, away
Friday 26 February: v Stormers, away
Friday 5 March: v Lions, home
Saturday 13 March: v Sharks, home
Friday 19 March: v Blues, away
Friday 26 March: v Chiefs, home
Saturday 10 April: v Cheetahs, home
Friday 16 April: v Hurricanes, home
Saturday 24 April: v Waratahs, away
Saturday 1 May: v Reds, home
Saturday 8 May: v Highlanders, home
Friday 14 May: v Crusaders, away
By Len Kaplan
