Lealiifano set to get crack at Brumbies' No 12
Jake White is starting to put his ACT Brumbies puzzle together and is ready to back Matt To'omua and Christian Lealiifano as his flyhalf-inside centre combination.
And Lealiifano wants to use the lessons learned from playing next to Matt Giteau to become a Brumbies leader and help create a dynamic back line.
Despite being three months out from the season, White gave the first indication yesterday he was already piecing together his line-up for the Super Rugby campaign.
Although adamant all positions were still up for grabs and nothing was ''cast in stone'', it appears Lealiifano will get first crack at the No12 jersey with To'omua to take the flyhalf reins.
''Part of the deal [with Lealiifano] is I want him to be close to the ball so he will probably play at No12 so he can get his hands on the ball as many times as he can,'' White said.
''The bottom line is nothing is cast in stone, but I'd like to help Christian play a higher level and give him an opportunity to play for the Wallabies ... At this point in time, we're running with him at 12.
''... It's a new start in terms of Matt Giteau has left and there's an opportunity for a new 10-12 combination. Christian and Matt [To'omua] play really well together.
''There's a picture in my mind of how we want to play, there's a picture in my mind of how the team will look, but the test will be when we play against another team.''
In a young and inexperienced back line, Lealiifano and To'omua will be the leaders with Pat McCabe to miss the first five weeks of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
McCabe played inside centre at the end of the last Super Rugby season and was Robbie Deans's first-choice No12 for the Wallabies' World Cup campaign.
If the Lealiifano-To'omua combination is a success, it's likely White will stick with it even when McCabe returns to the action.
But White has spoken with Deans to make sure having McCabe play in a different position will not harm his chances of future Wallabies selection.
Lealiifano is excited about the prospect of shouldering more responsibility.
The 24-year-old made his Super Rugby debut in 2008 and was part of a tri-halves system with To'omua and Giteau last season when the trio rotated the playmaking duties during games.
With White recruiting young players yet to establish themselves in Super Rugby instead of experienced stars, Lealiifano and To'omua will be expected to lead the back line.
It's a stark contrast to when Lealiifano first came to the Brumbies Academy in 2006 and watched Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Stephen Larkham and George Gregan boss the team around.
''It's a bit weird, I was always the young kid with guys like Stirlo, Gits and [Adam Ashley-Cooper] around, but the experience I had with those guys has helped me,'' Lealiifano said.
''We've got to keep up the standards that those greats set and slowly build it for us. Everyone is looking for you to perform at training and when it matters, but I'm happy to take that role.''
Lealiifano has spent the past two seasons trying to find his feet in the back line.
He played flyhalf while Giteau was with the Western Force before being swapped between inside centre and fullback. He is keen to make the inside centre spot his own after two years of niggling injuries.
