2016 shapes as a make or break year for the Brumbies. The ‘Premiership window’ as they call it could be coming to a close after a run of three consecutive years in the finals including the 2013 final and semi-finals the last two years.
Even before a ball was kicked in anger, there were already confirmed moves for the 2017 season with big name players Stephen Moore and Matt Toomua already signalling their intentions. Add to that the contract situation regarding David Pocock, there is already talk of unwanted distractions ahead of the 2016 season but Coach Steve Larkham is adamant it won’t derail their title aspirations.
On the field, there is a change in the captaincy structure with Stephen Moore to be joined by Christian Lealiifano in a co-captaincy role.
2015 Season
The Brumbies won nine and lost seven with five of those losses by five points or less which saw them end up second in the Australian conference and took the scenic route to the finals with a win in Cape Town over the Stormers before falling to the Hurricanes in Wellington.
Recruiting
The big name recruit is Argentinian scrum half Tomas Cubelli to cover the loss of Nic White. Cubelli was one of few of the Los Pumas Test side not to sign up to the Jaguares and his running game will be suited to the Brumbies style of play they are attempting to employ in 2016.
The Brumbies did not have the same number of departures that some Aussie teams have had but have recruited mostly to extend the cover depth to the starting XV. Aidan Toua will fight it out for first crack at fullback whilst Andrew Smith returns from Brumbies foreign exchange club, Montpellier, and will push for a start in the backline where he will find some familiar faces.
Joe Powell and Nick Jooste have been rewarded with a strong showing in the NRC and are part of the EPS.
2016 Season Draw
The Brumbies start 2016 with two big games at home against the Hurricanes and Waratahs before hitting the road for three away games in Perth, Cape Town (for the third time in two seasons) and downtown Bloemfontein. They come home to play the Chiefs before a bye in Round 7 then have three crucial matches against the Waratahs (a), Crusaders (h) and the 2015 winners the Highlanders in sunny Invercargill with their second bye following.
Four of their six remaining games are at home with the Sunwolves coming to visit with trips to Melbourne and Auckland thrown in and they won’t be easy fixtures. The last three games of the regular season are after the England Test window and their will be fingers crossed that the Wallaby contingent comes through unscathed.
Fearless Prediction
The Brumbies have made plans to employ a new attacking structure in 2016 and has been on show in parts in their two trial matches so far. Gone are the big boots of Nic White and Jesse Mogg to get the Brumbies good field position from a penalty or out of trouble at their own end so expect to see more ball in hand.
The changes to the maul interpretation has meant the Brumbies have had to tinker with their main weapon from 2015 that could mean less hat tricks to David Pocock after two last year.
As mentioned earlier, the Brumbies have been spared the high number of departures that other Aussie teams have and have a fairly settled starting XV so should be competing with the Waratahs for top spot in the conference.
Squad
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Backs
Nigel Ah Wong
Robbie Coleman
Tomás Cubelli
James Dargaville
Michael Dowsett
Tevita Kuridrani
Christian Lealiifano
Andrew Smith
Henry Speight
Lausii Taliauli
Joe Tomane
Aidan Toua
Matt Toomua
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Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa
Ben Alexander
Albert Anae
Rory Arnold
Jarrad Butler
Sam Carter
Blake Enever
Scott Fardy
Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin
Josh Mann-Rea
Stephen Moore
David Pocock
Scott Sio
Jordan Smiler
Ruan Smith
Tom Staniforth
Ita Vaea
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EPS
Robbie Abel
Nic Jooste
Joe Powell
Michael Wells
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INS
Albert Anae (Treviso, Italy)
Tomás Cubelli (Belgrano, Argentina)
Andrew Smith (Montpellier, France)
Aidan Toua (Agen, France)
Robbie Abel (Western Force)
Nic Jooste (Perth Spirit, NRC)
Joe Powell (Vikings, NRC)
Michael Wells (Australian Sevens)
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OUTS
Fotu Auelua (Released)
Sean Doyle (Munster, Ireland)
Rodney Iona (Released)
Jesse Mogg (Montpellier, France)
Siliva Siliva (Melbourne Rebels)
Jean-Pierre Smith (Stormers, South Africa)
Nic White (Montpellier, France)
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