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At long last, the action is about to get back underway. And what better than the old rivalry between the Brumbies and the Waratahs in Sydney?
The Waratahs were the great movers last year as Darren Coleman’s young chargers threw away the training wheels and started to make an impression on the competition.
Coleman’s men now enter the 2023 World Cup year carrying the weight of expectation on their shoulders and their first foes of the campaign are the typically consistent Brumbies, who fell just short in 2022.
Stephen Larkham has returned to the Brumbies’ coaching setup for the first time since 2017 and his moment of truth has arrived.
Listen to Stephen Larkham’s chat with Christy Doran in the player below or on your podcast app of choice
Former coach Dan McKellar, who acted as an assistant under Larkham, believed the Brumbies needed to expand their game and develop their counter-attacking ability once he inherited the side.
Five years later, the Brumbies have taken steps forward but haven’t quite cracked the code. While the Brumbies won the Super Rugby AU competition in 2020 and made the final in 2021, they were bundled out in a thrilling and dramatic semi-final against the Blues at Eden Park last year.
Allan Alaaiatoa with coach Stephen Larkham during the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific Season Launch at Sydney Opera House on February 15, 2023 in Sydney. Photo: Jenny Evans/Getty Images
Can Larkham’s time away from the Brumbies help them seal their first fully-fledged title since 2004?
In a revealing Roar Rugby podcast, Larkham said he wasn’t able to see “the bigger picture” during his first stint as Brumbies head coach.
Now, without the distractions of the Wallabies on his plate, he wants to ensure the Brumbies do more than just play entertaining rugby, he wants to rebuild the connection in Canberra with the franchise.
But who will he select?
He has lost four big names from McKellar’s squad last year, with Wallabies prop Scott Sio, hooker Folau Fainga’a, inside centre Irae Simone and fullback Tom Banks. All four Test players are blows to his depth.
Sio allowed the Brumbies to rotate their front-row nicely, as he traded time with Wallabies incumbent captain James Slipper. His departure to Exeter is a huge blow.
Simone’s departure to Clermont is another blow to the Super side.
Jack Debreczeni is back playing Super Rugby in Australia and will give the Brumbies depth in the playmaking positions Photo: Michael Bradley/Getty Images
He might not have been a regular Wallaby, but he provided a great foil to Noah Lolesio and he grew with each year at the club. His ability to take the ball to the line, be a bigger body in the midfield and connect with his outside men was very valuable to the Brumbies.
Their departures, as well as a potential foot injury to young gun Tom Hooper and the likely return of Jahrome Brown, have made Larkham’s selection for the opening round even more intriguing, particularly with a number of players, including Lolesio, captain Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Valetini and Nic White, not seeing any game time during their trial matches.
“The challenge for us really is with some of these boys, so Al, Nic White, Bobby Valetini, they didn’t have any trial time so they’re coming into the season cold, and I know the Waratahs probably have a couple of players as well that are coming into the season cold,” Larkham told reporters at the Super Rugby Pacific Launch on Wednesday.
“You’re right in terms of the selection as well, that’s also a bit of a nightmare for the coaches at the moment – there’s a lot of good players who are going to miss out on this first round.”
Both the Brumbies and Waratahs are also desperate to win their opening match. Momentum, even in the early stages of the season, is vital.
It is why there will likely be an element of conservatism when it comes to selection in the opening round.
Here is our predicted team for the Brumbies’ opening round against the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium, where a bumper crowd of more than 30,000 is expected.
15: Tom Wright
14: Andy Murihead
13: Len Ikitau
12: Tamati Tua
11: Corey Toole
10: Noah Lolesio
9: Nic White
8: Pete Samu
7: Luke Reimar
6: Rob Valetini
5: Cadeyrn Neville
4: Darcy Swain
3: Allan Alaalatoa
2: Lachlan Lonergan
1: James Slipper
Connal McInerney, Blake Schoupp, Rhys van Nek, Nick Frost, Jahrome Brown, Ryan Lonergan, Jack Debreczeni, Ollie Sapsford
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.