Super Rugby: Brumbies play it cool in build-up for Tahs

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has called a deliberate end to the fire-and-brimstone build-up to the Waratahs match.

David Pocock who is set to make his first appearance for the Brumbies this season, against the Waratahs this weekend

With David Pocock set to make his first appearance of the season and captain Sam Carter poised to return from injury, the emotion will probably take care of itself, but Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has called an end to the fire-and-brimstone build-up to the Waratahs match on Saturday night.

It’s normally one of the high points of the season, as two pumped-up sides separated by just a three-hour drive go at each other, and while the Tahs might be just in front in terms of results, winning 16 of the 30 clashes, the Brumbies have won the past three, including two in Sydney. This match will be played at Canberra Stadium and, for the moment, McKellar does not want to play the emotion card so soon in the season.

“In the past it’s been quite emotional and that’s something we’ve made a point of, of not going down the emotional path too early,” said McKellar, a former Red and, accordingly, a man who normally would need no encouragement to ramp up the intensity against NSW.

“It’s Super Rugby so there will be a physical battle. The boys will present physically on Saturday night, as will NSW. But for our point of view, it’s about us getting our game in order.”

Hopefully, that is one of the effects Pocock will have. Having taken a leave of absence last year before playing in Japan — returning home with a knee injury that the Brumbies reluctantly decided to fix surgically — he has missed the first four matches of the season, during which the Canberra-based side has soldiered on manfully using Lachie McCaffery and Tom Cusack as their flankers.

But Pocock, on song, is like virtually no other player, and certainly Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will be anxious to see him taking up his customary position over the tackled player, legs braced, immovable, as he hunts for turnover ball.

The Irish side, ranked two in the world, is heading our way in June and one of Cheika’s main concerns will be to stop Joe Schmidt’s men from recycling possession endlessly and there is no doubt that Pocock must loom large in those plans.

Still, indications are that he might be eased back into the fray off the bench. “If Poey is fit and available to me, he’ll be playing. If I was to make a decision now, he will have some involvement on Saturday night.”

So, too, lock Carter is on course to return from concussion, although he had a minor setback last week when he felt unwell in training, and with second-row the one area in which McKellar is spoiled for choice, it’s unlikely any risks will be taken with him.

Although the Sharks scored a late try to suddenly throw their game against the Brumbies into the balance, the ACT side hung on in their last match to stabilise their season at 2-2. Significantly, Wharenui Hawera chose that moment to graduate from bit player to starring role.

“We’ve spoken a lot about our existing leaders and developing our emerging guys and Wharenui is one of our younger guys and he certainly stood up,” said McKellar.

Meanwhile, so well did Anaru Rangi perform at hooker last week against the Sharks that Melbourne Rebels coach Dave Wessels indicated he would retain the jersey against the Hurricanes on Friday night at AAMI Park, despite the return from injury of Jordan Uelese.

All expectations are that Uelese will be used against the Irish, possibly even in the starting side even if Tatafu Polota-Nau is back from Britain, but so well did Rangi perform against the Sharks — scoring one try and claiming another, even if it was registered to Amanaki Mafi — that it would have been cruel not to retain him.

Wessels insisted this was the hardest team he had ever had to pick, with so many names being put forward at the coaches meeting, but if ever a side needed to be at full strength, it’s for a match against the Hurricanes.

“Yeah, they’re a reasonable team,” Wessels deadpanned before breaking into a grin. “And that Beauden Barrett is not a bad player. He goes OK.”

Not surprisingly, he quickly upgraded his opinion of Barrett — “the best player in the world” — but, even so, he wants his Rebels side to force him to do what he least likes doing, defending. And with Rebels five-eighth Jack Debreczeni having played the best Wessels had ever seen him against the Sharks, after warming up by reading a book in the changerooms before the match, it could make for a fascinating clash of playmakers.

“He can give you the shits, with the way he looks so casual,” said Wessels said of his five-eighth. “You want to give him a smack but that’s just his way.”