BRUMBIES 2011

This could just be a good year for strong Australian sides with two matches against each other Australian side, including any that may be weak. After all the fifth team may be stretching Australian player resources even with imports from elsewhere. If the Brumbies are strong this year, they may well have four matches in which they can gather many points. If they are strong.

The Brumbies of recent times have not been as effective and clinical as the sides of the earlier part of the century, but they have certainly not been not weak. There were years when they were the envy of the rugby world. Renowned coaches came from all over to see Rod Macqueen in action, and the Brumbies, with their organised phases, changed the way rugby football was played. On the other hand there were people who detested the method for robbing players of individuality.

If you took a tally of places in Super Rugby since 1996, the Brumbies would be second behind the Crusaders. And this year may just be a window of opportunity for the team from Australia's capital

Strengths: If they can recall the Brumby tradition with their varying phases and strict ball retention, they will be good. In Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau and Christian Lealiifano they have three exceptionally clever and effective players. Giteau's form has not been of his usual high standard of late but Ashley-Cooper has been flying.  A lot will depend on how much and what quality ball their forwards can get them. Much will depend on Mark Chisholm, Stephen Moore, Stephen Hoiles and, when he gets back, Rocky Elsom. If they can get the ball to the extremities their speedsters could shock opposing defences - Pat McCabe, Francis Fainifo, Henry Speight from Waikato and young Samu Wara. The Brumbies have a gentle list of fixtures - just four matches outside of Australia. On two occasions they go to New Zealand for one match each time and they have just two matches in South Africa, one against the Cheetahs who ended tenth last year. One of their strengths is their noisy, supportive (one-eyed?) crowd.

Weaknesses: Not having Rocky Elsom at the start is a big blow. He is out till March, which takes a lot of toughness and leadership out of the side. Then, too, Stephen Hoiles, the captain, may also miss the start of the Super 15 matches. They scrum poorly but as half their matches are against Australian opposition who also scrum poorly this is probably not a handicap. Their weakness as a team may be just the lack of robust strength to take on the hard sides. But then they do not play the hardest of them all - the Bulls.

Noteworthy acquisitions: Centre/flyhalf Robbie Coleman, who has played for Australia at Schoolboy, Under-20 and Sevens levels, educated in Canberra at St Edmund's, Colby Faingaa, the younger brother of twins Saia and Anthony Faingaa, educated in Canberra at St Edmund's, Dan Palmer from the Waratahs, Julian Salvi,  who has come back home after a short stay in Bath, Henry Speight, a New Zealand with a thirst-quenching name. In addition there is Nic White who has come up from the Brumbies' Academy and was Australia's Under-20 scrumhalf.

Noteworthy losses: Justin  Harrison, who has retired and has taken up coaching, Julian Huxley who has gone south to Melbourne, Alifeleti Mafi who has gone west to the Force, Stirling Mortlock who has joined the Rebels, Guy Shepherdson, a Brumby by upbringing but now off to Brisbane and the Reds, George Smith, a great loss, as the great players has gone off to Toulon where he has been playing as well as ever before heading for Japan, Afusipa  Taumoepeau who has joined the Rebels.

Coaches: Former Brumbies fullback, Canberra-born Andy Friend enters his second season as coach after replacing Laurie Fisher. Friend spent four years coaching Japanese club, Suntory Sungoliath, and after an advisory role with the Wallabies, was assistant coach of the Waratahs under Bob Dwyer and Ewen McKenzie before his two years as head coach of the London club Harlequins. In 2010 Tony Rea, a former rugby league hooker, joined the Brumbies as assistant coach responsible for defence and skills after an impressive career as player and coach in Rugby League. Stephen Larkham is back - one of the Brumbies' most famous sons, so much so that they have a stand named after him. He comes home to the Brumbies from Japan as the Brumbies' attacking coach. Few modern rugby players know more about attack than Larkham - especially the Brumbies' way of doing it. Justin Harrison is another famous Brumby coming home to coach. He is the forward coach in the place of Owen Finegan.

Captain: Stephen Hoiles is back as captain. Whether he has the dynamism and determination on the field is an open question but then captains make few decisions in a match in modern rugby.

Potential bolter: Robbie Coleman - so talented, so fast, so skilled.

2010 Position: 6th
Best finish: Super Rugby winners in 2000, 2001 and 2004
Worst finish: 10th 1998
Home Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra (capacity: 25 000)

2010 Prospects: They should surely be one of the six teams in the play-offs, and then anything can happen, but it would be surprising if they won the inaugural Super 15.

Brumbies squad: Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Mitch Chapman, Mark Chisholm, Robbie Coleman,  Huia Edmonds, Rocky Elsom, Colby Faingaa, Francis Fainifo, Matt Giteau, Ben Hand, Stephen Hoiles (captain), Michael Hooper, Peter Kimlin, Christian Lealiifano, Salesi Ma'afu, Pat McCabe, Stephen Moore, Dan Palmer, Patrick Phibbs, Julian Salvi, Andrew Smith, Tyrone Smith, Henry Speight, Ed Stubbs, Matt Toomua, Josh Valentine, Samu Wara, Nic White, Jerry Yanuyanutawa

Schedule:
19 February: v Chiefs,home
25 February: v Rebels, away
5 March: v Reds,home
11 March: v Crusaders, away
19 March: Bye
26 March: v Waratahs,home
1 April: v Highlanders, away
9 April: v Hurricanes, home
17 April: v Force,home
23 April:  Bye
30 April: v Cheetahs, away
7 May: v Sharks, away
14 May: v Lions, home
21 May: v Force, away
28 May: v Stormers, home
4 June: v Reds,home
10 June: v Rebels, home
18 June: v Waratahs, away