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Thursday, March 21, 2013

FS FS Rugby Page Nav Rugby Holder Rugby Super Rugby Wallabies The Rugby Championship Video Sharpe Focus: Stephen Larkham's influence on Brumbies inside backs obvious, Nathan Sharpe writes


Christian Lealiifano
Learning from the best ... Stephen Larkham is working wonders with Lealiifano (pictured). Source: FOX SPORTS
Fox Sports rugby commentator and former Wallabies captain Nathan Sharpe takes a look at the Brumbies' clash with the Stormers in Cape Town, as they look to start the season with five straight wins.
I haven’t played a lot of football with either Christian Lealiifano or Matt Toomua but watching from a far you can see the influence Stephen Larkham is having. "Bernie" was the best player I ever played with and you can see how he’s moulding the young Brumbies halves into fine ball-players.
The way they’re controlling the game reminds me a lot of how Bernie used to run things and his mentoring is really paying dividends for both those boys at the Brumbies.
From my experience with the Brumbies’ Wallabies last year, I can tell you that they all talk glowingly of what Jake White's put in place in Canberra. Jake’s a guy who has a tremendous amount of respect for his players – the way he manages men is second to none.
He understands the respect that players earn when they earn their stripes and he sets up a team culture that you can see is really blossoming down there at the Brumbies.
There’s been a lot of talk about Ben Mowen and his Wallabies claims, and the balance between picking a team on form and history. Super Rugby and Test rugby are two different games but on form you’d definitely have to consider the Brumbies captain.

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I don’t think you can pick a team purely based on form, but there’s no doubt Mowen will come under heavy consideration for the Lions series.
Looking ahead to this weekend and, as usual, the Stormers’ defence will be pretty tough to crack in Cape Town. They've been the best defensive outfit over the last two seasons but I don’t think they can rely on that solely this weekend.
The Brumbies are starting to score a lot of points in games, you’ve seen them put a lot of points on the Reds and not concede many either. And similarly against the Rebels and then last weekend against the Sharks, they’re putting points on the board and their defence has been very strong.
So the Stormers will have to show a little more in attack – something they managed to do against the Chiefs two weeks ago - if they're to make it back-to-back wins.
Five straight wins to start the season would be an amazing effort but this clash in Cape Town will be the Brumbies’ biggest test to date. I’m not prepared to say they’ll be home and hosed in the Aussie conference if they pick up a win because there’s still a long way to go in the season.
However, there’s no doubting they’re the form Australian side by quite some distance. A clean sweep of their South African tour will send a message to their Australian rivals and prove to any remaining doubters that they’re a genuine force in 2013.

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