- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
So here we are on the precipice ready to dive into Super Rugby Season 2012. I am ready to move on from the debacle that was the Brumbies last season and the bewildering meanderings of the Wallabies at Rugby World Cup 2011.
So I thought in order to banish my memories of the Brumbies last year, I will give my opinion on how they will fare this year.
I am sitting here at a Canberra institution, All Bar Nun, the scene of many a football occasion, and the Brumbies have run of the place after finals victories. Sadly, it is in its last week of operation, but in this place I can see similarities to the Brumbies.
It had some high times (interestingly around the time the Brumbies did) but now it has the look and feel of a place content with where it is. Not moving on, just existing, much the same as the Brumbies of recent times.
I don’t want to dwell on the last few years, I think enough has been said and it should be left in the past. I previously wrote an article with some suggestions on how the Brumbies can once again be a force in Super Rugby. There wasn’t much to it, simple stuff really:
1. Get a good coach on board.
2. Get fans to buy back in, by getting around town.
3. Get in some young talent.
4. Upgrade the coaching panel.
I am not sure if the Brumbies officialdom read the article, but it looks like they taken significant strides towards my suggestions: They got a good coach in Jake White. Point one tick!
The entire squad now plays in the local competition and I see more players around town. For example they cooked the free breakfast at Australia day, and I sat next to Jerry Yanuyanutawa at Lonsdale St Roasters for coffee this morning. Point 2 tick!
They recruited a number of young guys including Sam Carter, Cam Crawford, Ruaidhri Murphy and Siliva Siliva. Point 3 tick!
They got Laurie Fisher to return as forwards coach and Eddie Jones on consultancy. Point 4 tick!
Additionally the Brumbies have recruited some size in the backs and forwards. Leon Power and Fotu Auelua will add some starch and go forward. I am especially keen to see how Auelua goes, having watched some of his runs on Youtube from his time at Toulon, he looks damaging.
I am also keen to see how the new halves and inside backs get on this year. In my opinion Toomua and Lealiifano have not been able to show how good they are.
I still believe that Lealiifano is one of the most underrated players going around. I am not saying he is as good as Cooper or even Barnes but he is better than he is given credit for. It will take these two good players to lead the team forward.
The squad this year looks to have a lot of hunger that has been missing over the last few years. The Brumbies seem to have been accepting of losses, and comfortable because their positions were safe. This new bunch expect to win. A sucessful team needs that attitude.
Compare the Brumbies to the Australian Cricket team. For the last couple of years, the Australian XI look content in a draw, a far cry from a few years ago where anything but victory inside 3 days was seen as failure.
As I sit here watching the 4th test against India, I am looking at a team where once again victory is mandatory. The Brumbies should take note of this- the winning attitude is why the Brumbies have succeeded in both winning and growing a fan base in the past.
So to Super Rugby 2012: what do I expect from the Brumbies? This is a delicate question, as in the eyes of many fans nothing but another title will suffice, but I think a bit of reality has to come into this year.
The Brumbies are moving in the right direction. For me personally, all I want to see this year is the return of hunger in the team. That desire to win. I am not expecting the Brumbies to win every game, in fact if they lost them all this year but give 110 percent in every game, I will be more satisfied than I was last year.
With this squad I think that it will take two to three years before they are a constant force, but they will knock over a few teams this year.
So with my membership renewed, and a new spring in my step, a new look team with a new attitude, I can’t wait for season 2012 to kick off. And this year I plan to go to all the games, so I’ll see you at the game!
Go those Brumbies!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.