Coach Jake White says mobility and speed to the breakdown will be key behind maintaining the Brumbies’ unbeaten 2012 Super Rugby record against the rampaging Chiefs at Mt Maunganui on Friday.
He’s rated the game one of the toughest the young Brumbies will face this year – up against a side which has conquered two of the more-favoured New Zealand franchises in the Blues and the Crusaders over the past fortnight.
The Brumbies are also on two wins after tight come-from-behind victories over the Western Force and the Cheetahs either side of a bye, but have undergone a significant transformation in anticipation of their first away clash.
White has assigned NRL convert Joe Tomane with the tough task of containing Sonny Bill Williams from inside centre, while giving Scott Fardy and Michael Hooper their run-on debuts of the season in the back-row.
He said speed will be important against a Chiefs side which boasts a formidable backline but also an under-rated forward pack.
“With the Force they play through the forwards and the Cheetahs through their backs, but the Chiefs have the potential to strike from anywhere so we need to be ready for that,” White said.
“We were looking for a bit more mobility.
“We are viewing each game as a grand final and selecting the team we think can win.
“I’m picking combinations to suit our style and how we play on different weekends.”
Tomane, who played with Melbourne and Gold Coast in the NRL before signing up with the Brumbies this season, has arguably the toughest task against Williams.
He was White’s pick at inside centre after the South African coach opted not to rush Pat McCabe into the position he filled for the Wallabies last year.
“Joe’s been a fast learner since arriving in Canberra and he deserves his chance,” White said.
“He’s a very good defender, got excellent footwork and that’s given us plenty of faith in throwing him into a match like this.”
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said it would be a mistake to underestimate the Brumbies, despite having shed 13 of their starting players from last year.
“The fact is the Brumbies have also won two games and they’re ahead of us on the table so that’s the challenge they pose,” he said.
“I’m expecting an arm wrestle.”
Rennie was keen to play down the Chiefs’ two-game winning streak, arguing they have bigger battles ahead before claiming a tag as one of the teams to beat.
“We’ve got two out of three, but it’s very early in the season and we’ve got a long way to go.
“We need to see a lot of improvement to stay where we are.”
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