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Brumbies plot historic win in NZ to extend their year
By AAP
A burning desire to send off departing skipper Nic White in style is driving the Brumbies' quest for Super Rugby Pacific history in Hamilton.
After surviving an epic finish against the Hurricanes in Canberra to extend their season, the Brumbies take on the table-topping Chiefs on Saturday intent on becoming the first Australian team to win a Super Rugby finals match in New Zealand.
The Western Force-bound White is among six players plus two coaches leaving the club at season's end and lock Tom Hooper says the Brumbies' opportunity to achieve a feat never previously attained is providing just the motivation required.
"I saw a stat on TV that no Australian team had won in 14 (finals) games in New Zealand and we definitely want to put an end to that," Hooper said on Monday.
"Someone's got to be the first so why can't it be us? The Brumbies have a really good history in finals footy so hopefully we can keep that going.
"There's a lot to play for."
But Hooper says as desperate as the Brumbies are to win the trophy, they yearn just as strongly to keep their campaign going for another two weeks, knowing the squad is breaking up.
"Teams that talk about culture are often teams that don't really have it. I'm not going to sit here and say how good our culture is but the guy who has been our captain is moving on in two weeks," he said.
"We've got two really quality coaches moving on at the end of the season and we're a tight-knit group. It's the last time our 40-man squad - players and coaches - are going to be together so we want to share some special memories with those guys.
"We want to be a team in 10 years getting back together, getting on the beers, celebrating our 10-year reunion of something pretty special. We just have a mateship that extends beyond the field."
After losing last year's semi-final to the Blues in Auckland by one point, the Brumbies know winning across the Tasman is possible.
Stephen Larkham's side also plan to borrow some of Queensland's game plan after the Reds upset the Chiefs in New Plymouth last month before pushing them hard again in a 29-20 quarter-final loss on Saturday at Waikato.
"Whatever Queensland did, they did it well. They beat them once and went close last week," Hooper said.
"So we've just got to see what the Reds did, do it a bit better and put our own Brumbies spin on it, our own Brumbies charm, and hopefully that will do the job."
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Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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