Brian Smith has never won a rugby league premiership in 27 years of coaching, but he may well be the key to the Brumbies winning the Super Rugby.
The 59-year-old is the Brumbies defence coach, and last night at Suncorp in a sea of red supporters the men from Canberra turned in one of the greatest defensive performances seen for yonks in a 19-all draw.
The Reds-Brumbies top of the table clash was rightfully previewed as a blockbuster, but it was the Brumbies busting the Reds’ attacking power base that included keeping Will Genia, Quade Cooper, and Liam Gill quiet.
Smith-inspired quiet.
There’s no feeling of accomplishment in a draw.
But in this case where the Reds scored three tries to one, and three disallowed, had 20 minutes with a Brumby in the bin, and attacked non-stop for seven minutes late in the game with the white line only a sniff away – the draw was an accomplishment for the Brumbies.
Huge.
And just as huge the 38,404 Suncorp crowd, what a magnificent turnout. NSW Rugby take note.
Sitting in the stand was Wallaby coach Robbie Deans. In front of him so many putting their hands up for selection against the Lions.
The Reds – Greg Holmes, James Hanson, James Slipper, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Liam Gill, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Digby Ioane, and Ben Tapuai.
The Brumbies – Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Dan Palmer, George Smith, Ben Mowen, Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, and Jesse Mogg,
Most of those named have been there, done that. But in 2013, they have lifted their games.
And that’s what we want to see against the Lions – gifted Wallabies playing to their potential, and not hamstrung by any negative, safety-first, rugby.
There’s no better sight than Ioane in full flight. Last night he managed to escape the Brumby defences a couple of times that had the fans on their feet, The same can for said for wing partner Rod Davies, two speed merchants who should be constantly fed quick ball.
The Brumbies have a couple of wingers as well with Tomane and Henry Speight, both match-winners who are just as likely to suffer frost-bite waiting for the ball.
This weekend has proved that given the coach’s nod, Australian rugby isn’t far away from the great days when the ball-in-hand did most of the talking, and not the foot.
The much-maligned Waratahs turned the corner on Friday night by playing some scintillating rugby for the best part of 60 minutes. Beating the Chiefs was no small ask,
Even the Force showed some flair at times in their 22-16 loss to the Hurricanes.
It’s an instinct that has been lost in the telling with Australian rugby. They have always preferred to run, than chase.
Now if Robbie Deans can unleash the Wallaby backs to run, rather than chase, that brings a whole new equation into the Lions series.
The jury is out, but itching to come in with a verdict.
Trotting Duck
Guest
Totally agree regarding the last 20 minutes of the game I think the ref lost all control at the breakdown. Brum's very lucky to only have two yellow carded should have been another two at least. Great game all the same although I much prefer how the reds scored there 19 than how the Brum's did. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I could quite happily live with the three week camp if the Wallabies had someone like Italy for a warm up match included. As it stands I think we are missing a trick. Fingers crossed it doesn't bite us.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Hmmm... Make or break stuff. Wales hadn't played in a while, and look how cold they were.
jeznez
Roar Guru
WB, he was part of a very good tight head steal against France last year and he has more than held his own against Castrogiovanni - the key denominator in both of those instances is he was playing LHP. He just isn't as comfortable on the TH side even tough playing most of his Super Rugby there. I only ever seem to see Slipper struggle at LH when he is first switching across each season, at TH particularly at international level he has a lot more problems.
jeznez
Roar Guru
They effectively had a warm up game for half to three quarters of the side against Scotland. The only players who didn't play Scotland had played Super Rugby the week before.
Eric
Guest
Everyone says that McCabe can't pass. If I'm not mistaken, wasn't his very first touch a pass to the player on his outside? I thought that he had a pretty good game once he came on the field. He may not be the ideal 12 in the wallabies, but his work rate is excellent and you can't ask for a more fearless player.
Dan H
Guest
Way to get off track. Still havent really seemed to see a decent rebuttal for my comment as abrasive as it may be.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Jez, you know a heck of a lot more about scrummaging more than me but Slipper to me just doesn't seem to be able to hold up the scrum at Int level. His general play is great but scrummaging seems pedestrian. Agree the 3 week camp is ridiculous. Let them play Super rugby and then go into camp for 10 days. The Lions will have played 3 or 4 games and will be match hardened.
Fatty
Guest
Went to Suncorp for second time in life on Saturday. Kids mad keen to go so caught up with Qld arm of family and other old mates. Great seats and most 2nd half down our end. Great game with lots of banter between the Reds and Brums supporters in our group. What great nights at the rugby should be. Some comments... *Ref, as a retired back, probably out of depth in what ended up a defensive forward beltathon for last 15 minutes...but I wonder what a Kaplan or a picky Nth Hemisphere ref would have done? *Brumbies lose a helluva lot when Toomua off and McCabe at inside centre. Others here have worried about Ione's inability to pass...but McCabe's at 12 and can't * Horwill should have taken points when on offer and will need to do that if Wallabies skipper v Lions.....and Wil Genia needs to make sure if he is going to take a quick tap he does it tecnically correctly. I have seen all 3 refs apointed to Lions tests pull quick taps back for what he did twice *Scrum v Lions should be Sio Moore Palmer with Slipper as back up to run on second half. Alexander completely outplayed on both sides on Saturday *Reds probably deserved to win but got white line fever in last 10 mins at least. Brumbies may have been cynical but they had worked out what they had to do to stop Reds scoring, as it seems the Reds were desperate to do it by forward tries when they had a disorganised Brumbies backline to take advantage of
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Had the Wallabies had much action prior to the first Wales Test this year? I recall being impressed by how well they came out of the blocks in that first half. You could tell how surprised the Welsh were by the intensity. Btw, excuse me being lazy - I probably could just Google all this.
jeznez
Roar Guru
That is the general consensus over here. Feels like an over reaction to the restricted preparation for the Scotland game last year. Two weeks seems more on the mark to me but Deans is adamant he needs the time and that the camp is more important than any potential loss of match fitness or form and the ARU are giving him what he wants.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
3 weeks is quite a while. It's also a lengthy period to go without playing games. Big risk that.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
Except when you compare them to every SA team to ever play, besides the cheetahs. Who would think they play SA style, with a SA coach?
Kane
Guest
My coach always told me as an openisde if you're not cheating you're not trying hard enough and if you're caught cheating then you're not cheating well enough.
jeznez
Roar Guru
That is Robbie's plan. He is going to hold his test match players out of the pre-test games and have them miss a round of Super Rugby.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Are the Wallabies in camp for 3 weeks prior to the Lions series?
jeznez
Roar Guru
He is in for me. I'd take him and Alexander as the tight heads and Robinson/Slipper for the looseheads. Have really enjoyed Sio and Ryan this season but think it is a touch early for both of them. My only concern is Slipper not getting any time at loosehead before the series but hopefully they can get him back up to speed during the three week camp.
TembaVJ
Guest
Also before you bash the bulls as lame cheats, lets look at the comparative stats to the reds. Bulls lead with 65 tries to 60. Reds lead line breaks by a margin 111 to 95 bulls have less penalties 251 to reds 259. The Bulls are looking very strong towards the end. What people should be happy about is that the competition is diverse, every team played like the Reds and Chiefs people would be bored after one season. So many styles that have to compete, its good. Labelling the Bulls as boring cheats is not the way to go.
TembaVJ
Guest
The Brumbies PD is 86 and the reds 13. The Brumbies are the better team they did well in hostile territory in a tight match.
TembaVJ
Guest
Jutsie the reds looked more like the bulls with line-out maul after maul, if QC and the reds Back line were so good why did they keep trying to score in the pack, they could have taken the three and ran the brumbies ragged at the restart? It a win for brumbie defence. Its hard playing attacking rugby when you spend 70% of a half in your own side of the field. This was shown by the reds in the first half and Brumbies in the second. Both teams keeping the other pinned back in their respective halves of the game. The rolling mall has for years been a legal way to cheat, so many times when the Bulls scored tries this way people in Australia would be up in arms. Its effective because its too hard to stop when done well. Both teams showed cynical play when in their own 22, the brumbies simply spent more time there. I know reds fans are miffed but in the end the result could have been there if the captain was smarter and used his backs. Lets look at the stats for the year so far, Brumbies lead the Reds 63 tries to 60, Line breaks Brum 114 to 111, Yellow card Red 6 to brumbies 5, penalties Reds 259 to Brumbies 252. The over all picture paints a another story.