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tranquility
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Isn't it nice for Aus rugby though? It will most likely mean Jake will play him at every opportunity, and young hard nosed TH's are all but extinct in these parts.
Ben Mowen backs his no-name Brumbies
IT may sound paradoxical, but new Brumbies captain Ben Mowen believes the team's lack of Wallabies will be an advantage in this year's Super Rugby competition.
- BY:BRET HARRIS
- From:The Australian
- February 15, 2012 12:00AM
Brumbies coach Jake White will today announce Mowen as the new captain of a team that boasts only three current Wallabies: hooker Stephen Moore, prop Ben Alexander and utility back Pat McCabe.
But Mowen believes the fact the no-name Brumbies have been able to train virtually as a team since last June will be a big advantage against teams whose Test players only rejoined them last month.
"We will go really well," Mowen said yesterday. "We have a strong belief in our systems and the troops to do it."
The Brumbies have been skippered by some of the biggest names in Australian rugby, including George Gregan, Stirling Mortlock and Matt Giteau.
But White overlooked Moore, widely regarded as the obvious choice, to give the leadership to Mowen, who will be the only non-Wallaby to captain an Australian Super Rugby team this season.
""You have to earn the respect of the guys around you," Mowen said. "I'll work hard to gain the players' respect and it's important to keep it."
What the mobile backrower lacks in profile, he makes up for in leadership experience, having captained every team he has played for, including the Australian under-21s.
After making his Super Rugby debut for Queensland in 2007, Mowen spent four years with NSW before heading to the Brumbies.
"I had an opportunity to stay at the Waratahs, but there was an opportunity for more development at the Brumbies," he said.
"There was a leadership opportunity and the chance to work with Jake White, Laurie Fisher and Bernie (Stephen Larkham).
"If we had come together in November or December, I would feel new.
"But I joined in June and we have been together for eight months. I feel like I've played for the Brumbies for quite a while. I feel like I'm part of the furniture.
"I played with Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander and Pat McCabe coming through."
Mowen will start the season in former Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles' No 8jersey.
Meanwhile, Moore is expected to play against Western Force in Canberra on Friday week in the opening round of the season, despite hurting his shoulder in a trial against the Queensland Reds in Cairns on Saturday.
Scans on Moore's shoulder showed no damage to his AC joint, but it is still sore and he will not play for the Brumbies in the trial against an ACT XV in Canberra tomorrow night.
The Brumbies do kind of have that "feeling", at least form my perspective. I'm expecting them to knock off one or two big teams at the least.
"What the mobile backrower lacks in profile, he makes up for in leadership experience, having captained every team he has played for, including the Australian under-21s."
Interesting. It feels good to have a guy that has now captained 3 out of 5 of the Oz Super rugby teams.
Exactly right. We can all guess about why Moore wasn't chosen when he seemed to be the natural choice. I don't know the guy at all but from the lounge room he looks a bit confrontational - not a bad trait against opponents but maybe not at other times.
That's my guess.
Massive understatement.. They'll do plenty , many other teams aren't that solid...The Brumbies do kind of have that "feeling", at least form my perspective. I'm expecting them to knock off one or two big teams at the least.
giteau_rugby:
"Ben Mowen says being appointed #Brumbies skipper is the greatest honour in his football career thus far.” what about @stevemoore83??
Original Tweet: http://twitter.com/giteau_rugby/statuses/169524142415155200
Agree.Palmer, wow that is a surprise and a blow to Tahs fans who were hoping he'd come back home.
Agree.
Reckon mowens a good choice, especially as he doesn't miss many games. Wonder weather the mid season wallaby tests have been part of the decision? You would have to think Moore will miss/be rested for a couple of super games as a result.
My other theory is that the selection of mowen helps to mark the end of brumbies playing power but that seems pretty tenuous.
It's also a blow to Alexander's desire to be the starting TH...
I have a very strong feeling that letting Mowen go is really going to come back & bite the Tahs on the arse.