Double trouble: Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano will team up as the Brumbies' playmakers on Friday night. Photo: Jay Cronan
The ACT Brumbies want razzle-dazzle rugby to become a habit rather than a rarity, but playmaker Matt Toomua says they won't get lost in headless attack against the NSW Waratahs on Friday.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has instilled a no-fear approach to attacking rugby, imploring his back-line stars to take any opportunity they see to run the ball.
To transfer that into games, Toomua revealed the Brumbies had introduced flick passes, continuous attack and a free-flowing game into training sessions to adapt to the unstructured plan.
Blake Enever will return to the Brumbies starting team to play the Waratahs on Friday night. Photo: Jamila Toderas
It worked wonders in the first round, with the Brumbies scoring seven tries in a 42-point win.
The players are adamant there's room for improvement, but traditionally the Brumbies-Waratahs derbies turn into brutal dogfights rather than attacking onslaughts.
"It's not just running into a game headless, we prepare to attack all week and then you play that way," Toomua said.
Brumbies players at the side's captain's run at Canberra Stadium ahead of their clash with the Waratahs on Friday. Photo: Jamila Toderas
"If you practice a right-arm flick pass at training then you can throw it in the game. It's about prepping the right way … we had some good chances in round one but it was only one game.
"It's about replicating that now, the 'Tahs have been the team with the best attack in the last few years, so to match it against them early would be good.
"The game is different now, you get more ball in an unstructured way. Now it's about finding organised chaos and it's definitely a different focus for us now."
Larkham has opted for minimal changes to his starting side this week, with World Cup prop Scott Sio returning to the front row and Blake Enever replacing Rory Arnold at lock.
Allan Alaalatoa shifts to the bench in a swap with Sio while Arnold has dropped out of the game-day squad and Enever has been parachuted into the second row.
The Brumbies have beaten the Waratahs in just one of the past six matches between the teams.
In those games, the Waratahs have won the physical battle largely thanks to the likes of Jacques Potgieter, Will Skelton, Sekope Kepu and Wycliff Palu.
But the Brumbies want the run to stop in Canberra and are prepared to muscle up for a huge contest.
Enever was called on to replace Wallabies lock Sam Carter in the finals series last year and impressed so much that Larkham described him as a future Wallaby.
The 25-year-old will give away 24 kilograms to 140kg giant Skelton, but is unfazed as he focuses on his mission to make the most of his starting opportunity.
"I came up against Will when we were younger in the under-20s ranks … it should be a good battle. He's always been a big bloke, but each person has their strengths and weaknesses," Enever said.
"If you get good feedback from world-class coaches you've got to take it in. But I've got to keep working and keep progressing … hopefully one day I'll make a [Wallabies] squad.
"You've got to lift and bring the boys with you when you come into the team, it's a big opportunity."
Larkham added: "We're lucky we've got four very good second-rowers [in Canberra] … they've all pushed really well.
"The guys who miss out are unlucky, we want to give everyone an opportunity. With Blake, he was an unknown coming down to us but stepped up last year.
"He was a standout in the loss to the Hurricanes in the semi-final, he's young in terms of Super Rugby experience but we expect him to develop into an outstanding prospect for the Wallabies in the next few years."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND TWO
Friday: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets available from Ticketek. Curtain-raiser: Brumbies Colts v Next Gen Blues in Super under-20s at 5.15pm.
Brumbies team: 15. Aidan Toua, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Matt Toomua, 11. Joseph Tomane, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. Tomas Cubelli, 8. Ita Vaea, 7. David Pocock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Allan Alaalatoa, 18. Les Leuluailii-Makin, 19. Jordan Smiler, 20. Jarrad Butler, 21. Michael Dowsett, 22. Nigel Ah Wong, 23. Andrew Smith.
Waratahs team: 15. Israel Folau, 14. Matt Carraro, 13. Rob Horne, 12. David Horwitz, 11. Zac Guildford, 10. Kurtley Beale, 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Jed Holloway, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. David Dennis, 5. Will Skelton, 4. Dean Mumm, 3. Angus Taavao, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Paddy Ryan. Reserves: 16. Tolu Latu, 17. Matt Sandell, 18. Jeremy Tilse, 19. Sam Lousi, 20. Wycliff Palu, 21. Jack Dempsey, 22. Matt Lucas, 23. Bryce Hegarty.
