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ACT Brumbies became the first Australian team to claim a Kiwi scalp in Super Rugby Pacific beating the Highlanders 28-17 and coach Dan McKellar appealed to his No.9 Nic White to “stick around a bit longer” after speculation linking him to a move to Japan.
White is reportedly the target of seven-figure interest from a Japanese club and the 31-year-old Wallabies halfback addressed a question about his future after Sunday’s game, saying it was being worked on in the background, presumably by agents.
“I’m letting it take it’s course, but hopefully we sort it out sooner rather than later,” was White succinct summary.
McKellar, who is leaving the Brumbies to work fulltime with the Wallabies at the end of this season, was full of praise for White as they sat side by side at the post-match press conference.
“He’s a huge member in the Brumbies and Wallaby group as well. He’s got a little bit of old school about him, Whitey,” said McKellar.
“He loves a challenge and to keep everyone accountable, players and staff, and you need that in a group. The generation these days are very respectful and very humble and having someone there who’s going to keep challenging them to be better is the reason why I wanted to bring him back in the first place.
“Hopefully he sticks around for a bit longer.”
White had a mixed day as the the Brumbies beat the Highlanders for the first time since 2015, having lost their past six games against the NZ team, missing their own influential Test halfback Aaron Smith.
After Queensland Reds and the Waratahs suffered sobering defeats to New Zealand opposition earlier in the Super Round weekend in Melbourne, the Brumbies flew out of the gates in their bid to address the imbalance between the nations.
In 2021 Australian teams won just two of 25 games against Kiwi opponents – half way there with just three games down.
The Brumbies began on fire and led 14-0 after 19 minutes through tries from Jahrome Brown and Lachlan Lonergan, but should have almost put the game to bed in the opening 25 with two butchered tries exasperating McKellar.
“We spoke at halftime that the first half an hour we were dominant and we spoke about why we were dominant, and for whatever reason we went away from that,” McKellar said.
“We wanted to go back to that powerful and dynamic carry – being urgent and active in the clean out. It’s where we have to get better – simple as that, we can’t get bored with what’s working. It’s got to change. There’s a reason we were up 14-0 and it probably should have been 28-0.”
The game was just two minutes old when Wallabies winger Tom Wright, playing at No.15 with Tom Banks still absent, was guilty of a shocking schoolboy error, carelessly dropping the ball as he went to place it down over the try line.
Over confidence or a lack of concentration – either way it was an unforgiveable mistake from a Test player.
Asked for how he felt when he watched Wright’s blunder, McKellar answered “angry, if I’m being honest.
“But at the same time Tom is not going over there to do it deliberately, but it was a lazy action. You’ve got to be better than that.
“The backline execution was good and collectively across the board it was a really good passage of play and it’s disappointing we’re not sitting there on Tuesday reviewing an outstanding team try, we’re reviewing a frustrating error.
“Thankfully, Wrighty didn’t dwell on it and had a pretty good game.”
On 22 minutes White crossed and did place the ball down properly – unfortunately for him he had knocked on in the preceding kick chase.
White then missed the tackle that allowed Thomas Umaga-Jensen to charge through for the Highlanders’ first try.
A Noah Lolesio penalty right on halftime pushed the Brumbies lead to 17-7, and McKellar urged his team to show the same intensity of the opening 25 minutes in the second half and “not get bored”.
Lolesio kicked an early penalty but the Highlanders fought back through James Lentjes’ try before the team’s traded further penalties.
With 11 minutes left the Highlanders thought they’d scored a sensational try wide on the right to have a chance to level. Umaga-Jensen provided the line break and a deft kick to the attacking right corner flag. Sam Gilbert dived spectacularly and claimed the touch down but TMO rightly spotted separation as he tried to place the ball.
Tom Wright would have been the most relieved man in Melbourne and three minutes later he was put out of his misery as some superb play from Irae Simone put Lolesio over wide on the left. The Wallabies flyhalf missed the conversion attempt but the 11 point lead at 28-17 was enough.
It was an excellent return after injury from Lolesio, who won praise from his halves partner White.
“It was a tough one – we got away to a good start but we knew the momentum was going to change,” said White.
“The Highlanders can hurt you from everywhere and they made us work for it but I’m super proud of our willingness to work hard and roll up the sleeves get stuck into it.
“These sort of games against really good sides it comes down to a bit of desire and we had that in spades today.
“This is a good start – but it’s just a start. At the same time it feels bloody good right now.”
McKellar said Banks and captain Allan Alaalatoa were a chance of being fit for the match against the Hurricanes in Canberra next week.