Half-ton White focussed on Force
Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White will reach his 50th cap this Friday, when the Brumbies take on the Force in Canberra.
An Academy graduate, White has been on a fulltime contract since 2010, making his debut against the Reds in Brisbane in 2011.
Since then he has risen to be Australia's top scrumhalf and a genuine leader amongst the Brumbies.
White said he was proud to have clocked up 50 caps, but would be turning his focus to Friday to get a result over the Force in Canberra.
"It's a pretty big game this weekend, to be honest I haven't thought too much about my 50th just about the Force and about doing my job," White said.
"It's all about getting the win this weekend. Not looking too far ahead. At the start of the year every side says they want to make the finals so if we win one more game we'll be there and can tick that off the list.
"We've got a job to do. We have to win this weekend to give ourselves a chance in the Finals. We can think finals next week but there'll be no point if we can't knock over the Force on Friday."
Born in Scone and educated at prolific Rugby League nursery, St Gregory's College at Campbelltown, White's crisp pass and speed between breakdowns have him in the driver's seat to take the starting Wallabies No.9 jersey to the next Rugby World Cup in England.
But rather than get carried away with the possibilities of next year, White was keen to focus on the Western Force this Friday and the potential of handing his side a home final for the second year straight.
"It became pretty simple when the Force beat the Reds last weekend, it became clear that we had to win – that was the objective," he said.
"It's as simple as win you go through – lose and you probably don't.
"The Force has got the hunger of a team that have never been in a Finals-series before so it's up to us to match that and go up again."
* Meanwhile Brumbies cult hero Fotu Auelua has put pen to paper to stay with the franchise for another season, through to the end of 2015.
With 30 caps to his name, the 30-year-old loose forward has developed into one of the franchise's old heads and was a member of the Brumbies leadership group through pre-season 2014.
Arriving in Canberra from Japan in 2012, Auelua has become one of the Brumbies fan's favourites over the last three years thanks to his take-no-prisoners approach to getting his side over the advantage line.
Auelua said he was looking forward to another 12 months in the Capital with the Brumbies.
"It's been a longer process than usual getting my contract sorted but now that it's done I'm feeling really positive about the next 12 months with the Brumbies," Auelua said.
"Since I arrived here we've been able to achieve plenty of success. I think most of the boys here would rate the Final last year as a career highlight. Unfortunately I was injured for the Lions series but it was incredible to be part of the squad which knocked them over.
"I've stayed because I feel this group can achieve more of those big moments in the next 12 months. We know each other a bit better and that experience is really starting to show.
"While this is exciting news for me personally, my focus this week is on the Force and ensuring we are at our best to have a crack at a home final the following weekend."
An Australian Schoolboys star who also represented the Parramatta Eels as a junior, Auelua has long been touted as a player who could cut it at Test level.
While injuries have hampered his green and gold ambitions over the last few years, Auelua heads into the back end of the 2014 season fully fit and itching for a crack at the next level.
Source: Brumbies media unit
