Can new look Brumbies win the 2010 Super 14?
Roar Guru By mudskipper, 19 Jan 2010 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Brumbies, Justin Harrison, Matt Giteau, Rugby Union, wallabies
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The Brumbies have spent several years rejuvenating a team, while patiently waiting for the return of Matt Giteau to the squad.
Matt Giteau returned to the Brumbies yesterday after three years in the shadows of the Western Force, as the last of the Brumbies Wallabies – Rocky Elsom, Adam Ashley-Cooper, George Smith – united with the player group at Brumbies HQ Griffith Canberra.
The enthusiasm of their team couldn’t be disputed as they starting focusing on the 2010 Super 14 championship. Matt Giteau looked extremely pleased to be back at his home province, where it all started.
Coach Andy Friend named the team’s leadership group of inside back Matt Giteau, international veteran lock Justin Harrison, fellow forwards Stephen Moore and Mitchell Chapman, and last season’s skipper, Stephen Hoiles.
Giteau has spent the last two years at fly-half at the Force, after initially establishing himself at inside centre, playing along side flyhalf Steve Larkham.
“I’m happy to play fly half, inside centre, fullback, wherever the team needs me,” said Giteau. “But whichever position I’m chosen (in) I’d like to stick there for the whole season, depending on form.”
The question is: can the Brumbies win their third championship in 2010.
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- Brumbies, Justin Harrison, Matt Giteau, Rugby Union, wallabies
January 19th 2010 @ 12:50pm
Mike G said | January 19th 2010 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
Harrison will play, & IMO be one of the bext rowers in the comp – as said above, he’s playing for his reputation more than anything…Onto the bigger matter, I think the Brumbies will make the finals & (I’m relying heavily on the past here when I say this), I think it’ll be the best Super season for the Aussie sides in years…We have had a knack of peaking heading into WC’s (07 excluded really, save for the Tahs), & I reckon the time is nigh for all the sides to improve on their finish last yr…Brumbies to finish the regular season 2nd, Tahs 4th, Force 6th & Reds 10th!!!
Starting to get a little pumped for the season, carn the Tahs!!
January 19th 2010 @ 2:06pm
Chris said | January 19th 2010 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Not sure there is a lot to suggest the Force will improve two places this year – Pretorius is good but he is no Giteau. Drew Mitchell is a pretty big loss and Brett Sheehan isn’t as good as Valentine. Losing Staniforth (who has performed pretty well for them) doesn’t bode too well either.
Realistically I woud say:
Top 4: Crusaders, Brumbies, Bulls, Hurricanes
Definite Finals Contenders: Waratahs, Chiefs
Outside Finals Contenders: Sharks, Blues
The Also Rans: Stormers, Reds, Force, Highlanders
Trying to avoid the spoon: Cheetahs, Lions.
January 19th 2010 @ 2:19pm
Mike G said | January 19th 2010 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
Giteau obviously had a standout year last yr, in a mid table team…But i think at the Brumbies he’ll fit best at 12..It’s absolutely where he’s played his best football. Don’t forget that he’s always dominated weaker sides (either S14 or tests), but never consistently done so against the better teams. 12 is the spot for him, so i worry that Friend will ignore this and play him at 10…Coming out yesterday & saying he doesn’t mind 12,12 or 15 is a big step & hopefully the precursor to him playing 12, which is where he should end up for the Wallabies, with BB at 10.
As for the Force, agreed Pretorius is a good buy & should ensure good field position & flow of ball to JOC, Shep etc..Not suggesting he’s better than Gits, but the real talent has been bought up front…Dunning & Fairbrother will ensure a strong set piece (& a long needed depth), Sharpe consistent lineout ball & a good backrow – I honestly think they’re a top 6 side, & I’m a Tahs fan!
January 19th 2010 @ 3:07pm
Chris said | January 19th 2010 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
Obviously he should play 12 at the Wallabies (as this is his best position). However at the Brumbies he should play 10. The Brymbies already have a quality 12 in Tyrone Smith but a gap at 10. Toomua just isn’t a championship team 10 yet – maybe in a year or two he will be. Some of the tactical decisions Toomua made in the Chiefs game in particular last year were simply horrendous.
January 19th 2010 @ 1:10pm
ballboy said | January 19th 2010 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
Yep, totally agree Robbie – probably add 2 (Moore) in there as well.I still think Mortlock can play at 14 and have Smith in at 13. I’d prefer to have two highly rated players than not. As we all know, Mortlock started his Wallaby life on the wing so it’s not totally foreign. He played well there last year as well I thought. And who’d want to kick to him??? That being said, McCabe or Mafi will probably be on one of the wings…unless they try Lealiifano at 15 and AAC moves to the wing. Who’d be a coach???
January 19th 2010 @ 1:46pm
Robbie said | January 19th 2010 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
It seems at the moment (could change though) Mortlock will be at 13 with (Tyrone) Smith at 12 and AAC at fullback. That said they could just as easily go with Mortlock at wing, AAC at 13 and Lealiifano at fullback. I don’t think Tyrone will be at 13 unless there are some injuries (and given the style of footy Mortlock plays – total commitment to the team without even thinking of his body – he will probably spend a few games out injured).
January 19th 2010 @ 2:16pm
penguin said | January 19th 2010 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
What it comes down to is that the Brumbies have a number of versatile and talented backs. Every position in the backs is covered by at least 3 players.
That will give Friend plenty of depth and flexibility to cover injuries, and I would also expect him to rest players from time to time so (even without injuries) I wouldn’t expect to see the same back line every week.
January 19th 2010 @ 5:34pm
Sth Auckland First XV said | January 19th 2010 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
Out of the Australian sides, my money is on the Force.
January 19th 2010 @ 6:14pm
Chris said | January 19th 2010 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
You are kidding right?
The Waratahs and Brumbies both finished ahead of the Force in 2009.
Since then the Force have lost their best players and the Brumbies/Tahs have both assembled stronger squads.
However if you are still convinced of the Force’s merit Centrebet is offering the juicy odds of 15 to 1 on the Force being the top Australian side. By Comparison the Brumbies are at 5 to 1 to win the actual comp (Force are at 31 to 1)
January 19th 2010 @ 6:49pm
Dave said | January 19th 2010 @ 6:49pm | Report comment
My worry with the Brumbies this season is that while the depth is great – we have few specialist players for each of those spots.
For instance, Smith is playing at 12 (apparently), but I happen to think he is a better option at 13. He is a crash ball player and cannot distribute to the quality players outside of him. AAC is a wing/centre playing fullback, Mortlock is a 13 who will perhaps play on the wing, and Gits is a 12 who will more than likely have to play 10…
The forwards give me much confidence. Its the strongest pack we have assembled in years.
Dont kid ourselves though that this side has anything on the 2000-2004 class. Even with so many great players at their peak, injuries to Larkham bought us undone in 2005 and 2006. Gits could do little to step up in his place and the past 2 seasons that has continued at Wallaby level. He is a freak but he is not a No.10.
The priority needs to be scoring tries. We have won plenty of games in the past few seasons but what made the 2000-2004 side so great was the huge numbers of 4 try bonus points collected.
I think Gits will help in that department. He will score many solo tries against weaker sides.
I still am yet to be convinced that they can challenge the likes of the Bulls and Crusaders however. As much as I hate to say it – I think the Tahs are putting together a very good outfit. For the first time in super rugby they have a genuine No.10 in Barnes. An excellent buy!
January 19th 2010 @ 7:06pm
Nick said | January 19th 2010 @ 7:06pm | Report comment
As a south african i cannot wait for the super 14 and reckon the reds and the lions will be the 2 dark horses in the comp. the stormers will also do well, they are deff stronger then the bulls and the sharks this year as they have a soild foward pack and a killer backline with habana and jaque fourie.
January 20th 2010 @ 10:09am
Matt said | January 20th 2010 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Yeah I agree Nick. Stormers will be a different beast this season. Pity for them to have lost De Villiers though, as he has helped them avoid Lions/Cheetah like finishes for a few seasons. A De Villiers/Fourie midfield would have really made me contemplate a Stromers top 4 finish, but I think they’ll just fall short in the on-field leadership department.
Brumbies will be good, but I just don’t know if they’ll be good enough. A lot will depend on Mortlock for me. If he stays fit then they have a team capable of making the semis. But an injury to the big guy leave a big dent in their defensive organising and guts in those tight situations.
To get a ahead you have to realise that you’re not the only team improving year to year. The Bulls have lost some key personel from last season, while the Chiefs and Waratahs have strengthened slightly. The Canes claim to have finally found a 10 capable of winning the comp and the Crusaders and Blues have significantly strengthened compared to last year.
So the Brumbies will definitely be better than last season, but have they improved to the point where they have surpassed those teams who beat them last season? At least there are a good number of genuinely classy teams this season.
The Crusaders, Hurricanes, Waratahs, Brumbies and Bulls are all chock full of international talent. Head says Saders will be hard to beat, heart says the Hurricanes (who usually lack consistancy and motivation) will raise their game intensity in Colin Coopers final season.
January 20th 2010 @ 10:45am
Brumbies fan said | January 20th 2010 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Joining this discussion late, but would like to point out that the key to a good Super 14 campaign is a good start and low injury toll. For instance, in overly-maligned coach Laurie Fisher’s last campaign (2008), the Brumbies suffered serious injuries to AAC and Fairbanks in their opening loss to the Crusaders in a Christchurch storm, and thereafter had to bring in new untried players to plug the gaps. They didn’t have the depth to cover those players and theitr campaign was virtually shot from the start. I think the difference this year is that they do have the depth, and that’s why they’ll have a better season if the Gods are with them.