Nic White admits facing off against the ACT Brumbies for the first time will be emotional, but says he can’t let the occasion distract him from getting the job done for his new club.
The Western Force recruit won’t enter GIO Stadium for Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific encounter looking for gratitude from Brumbies fans, but rather for a breakthrough win for his struggling side.
White, who was squeezed out of the Brumbies’ future plans after more than 100 games for the club, saw plenty of similarities between his old and new home.
“There’s many similarities around what’s happening … people coming from a lot of different backgrounds, from different states, feeling like it’s their last chance (after) being sent packing from other places,” he said.
“We’re building at the moment, we’re in a different place to where the Brumbies are, but in terms of culture and what’s happening over there too, there’s a really good feel around what’s happening.
“There’s certainly no panic stations around what we’re doing, it’s just about doing it better and doing it for longer periods of time, there’s been some really good glimpses both with the ball in attack and in defence.”
White and his replacement No.9 at the Brumbies Ryan Lonergan showed no signs of animosity at a press conference on Friday morning, with the Force halfback paying tribute to his adversary’s growth in their time playing together.
“He was rapidly overtaking me anyway,” White said with a laugh.
“I don’t think ‘Lonners’ has probably got the plaudits he deserves over the last couple of years.
“He’ll continue to grow and he’s just needed time in the saddle, and obviously I was taking a little bit of that off him while being here … part of the decision I made (to leave) was to let a guy like that flourish.”
Ahead of what will be the first time the two halfbacks have faced off, Lonergan credited plenty of his progression as a player to his former mentor.
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“His ability and then how he just drives the standards of others, he’s brilliant at that,” he said.
“I’ve heard he’s been doing all that over there at the Force as well, that’s what every great No.9 has got to do.
“I took a lot away from what he does in and around the group.
“I’ve been building towards (starting) for a fair while now and I feel pretty comfortable … (but) I’ve got to keep performing and keep driving the boys.”
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Agree, I would like to see Fines get more game time though which he may with rotation.. hopefully white is involved with the younger west Oz #9’s to help their development
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
He was very good this weekend. With the form, Fines will struggle to get game time.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
He's the type of#9 you want to help to win a game by any means necessary.. His 'advisory' tactics to refs are no different to Weepu, TJP with his goggly eyes and extreme facials or a.smith. no deficit
Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
@Bliksem I rate the Aussie halfbacks as 1. White 2. Lonergan 3. Tate MacD 4. Gordon 5. Lowrens 6. Isaac F-L And all of the 5 better 9's are equally as poor covers for wing as is IFL
Footy Franks
Roar Rookie
Not much competition for the 9. All pretty average.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Maybe because he is also cover wing while Lonergan is only a 9. White was much better than Lonergan today, showing that he has not yet been overtaken.
Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
It continues to amaze me that 27 year old journey man Isaac F-L was preferred to 23 year old excellent goal kicking halfback R Lonergan in the 2023 RWC squad. That has got to be the stupidest selection decision since Cheika's 2016 decision to drop the great S Fardy for young dud Ned Hanigan.
Mirt
Roar Rookie
No worse than Smith jumping all over a defender rolling away to bleed a penalty
Chronicle
Roar Rookie
Stopped the opposition from putting on pressure deep in their red zone near half time helping Australia win a test match. Absolutely no deficit in that for me.
ShortBlind
Roar Rookie
Yeah that dive was a beauty and got him a shot at the academies :stoked: Agree on Fines, I think he could be the Wallaby starter if given some consistent game time.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Good on Nick White... if he continues like this, I will have to start to like him. I have heard he is a very intense individual at training that lifts standards at each session. You need that. After his brief acting career that followed his long advisory career to referees, he fell into a deep deficit. He is still in deficit territory as I would still like to see Fines do a Lonners and push White into the bench.