Waratahs and Brumbies show the value of positivity

The Waratahs game plan over the last two seasons has been built on an attacking mindset – keep the ball in hand and play – and as a result they’ve become the most exciting team in Super Rugby.

Just two years ago their home crowd was booing them, particularly when they kicked for territory.

In their early years the Brumbies held the title of the most exciting team in the competition but after winning the title in 2004 they seemed to lose their identity. In 2012 Jake White tried to give them a new identity based on ‘Jake Ball’ – don’t take risks and always kick out of your own territory.

There are different ways to play rugby dependent on a range of factors such as weather conditions, the team you’re playing against and the skill set of your own players. There’s no ‘right way’ to play but ‘Jake Ball’ doesn’t seem to attract the support of fans in Australia.

Even though the Brumbies performed well last season, I don’t think most fans were that enthusiastic about the way they were playing.

With Stephen Larkham taking over as head coach from White this season we expected to see a more attacking philosophy from the Brumbies.

However, if you assessed how much their attacking philosophy had changed by reviewing their Round 13 clash against the Sharks you would have been excused for thinking White was still coaching the team. The Brumbies won that match, but from a spectators point of view it was a terrible game of rugby to watch.

Since that match the Brumbies have been evolving their attacking play and In their Round 19 clash against the Force we saw a much more attacking philosophy. They still kicked the ball regularly but it didn’t appear to be the first choice option.

That attacking mindset was evident again last weekend against the Chiefs. In the first half the Brumbies attacked with all the purpose, pace and power we’ve seen from the Waratahs this year.

They gave the Chiefs virtually no chance to get into the match and the Chiefs did very well to keep the deficit at half time to only 12 points.

The Chiefs hit back in the second half, as we all knew they would, and with 25 minutes remaining they levelled the scores. The Brumbies responded brilliantly to hit back with a powerful try from a driving maul and then hold on to their lead despite a strong finish from the Chiefs.

It was a very good performance from the Brumbies and if they can maintain that form, the Waratahs will find it hard to beat them.

Regardless of who wins this match, there are two Australian teams in the final four and we’re guaranteed an Australian team in the final for the third time in the last four years. If the Waratahs win, the final will be in Australia for the second time in four years.

There are plenty of positives for Australian rugby to take from the performance of the Waratahs and the Brumbies this season but as pleasing as the progress is, it won’t automatically mean the Wallabies are more competitive this season against New Zealand and South Africa.

The Wallabies will benefit from a significant number of their squad playing finals rugby and being in form leading into The Rugby Championship.

One of the other real positives is that the top two Australian teams in Super Rugby are currently playing a similar style to the Wallabies under Ewen McKenzie based on an attack-first philosophy.

This will help the Wallabies continue developing the style of play we’ve seen McKenzie and attack coach, Jim McKay, trying to introduce since the middle of last season.

While it’s a more pleasing style of rugby for fans, we’re yet to see whether it can form the basis of success against the All Blacks and Springboks but let’s hope it does.

There’s no doubt that the Waratahs will continue with their attacking game plan in the semi-final this week and if the Brumbies join them, we could see a fantastic spectacle in Sydney on Saturday night.

Obviously the Waratahs attack will include plans to involve Israel Folau as much as possible, but the Brumbies have Henry Speight. Speight is probably even more dangerous than Folau at the moment. His performances in the last two matches have been incredible and it’s no wonder that the Brumbies directed much of their attack down his side of the field against the Chiefs.

This is a match I’m really looking forward to and while the Waratahs blew the Brumbies away when they met just three weeks ago, I think the outcome of this match will be very close.

The ‘Tahs must be slight favourites given home ground advantage and I think whoever wins, they’ll play the Crusaders in the final.