Jake's influence lingering in Canberra
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Stephen Larkham may have gone a long way towards evolving the Brumbies' game, but they still can't escape the Jake White influence.
Larkham, who has been in charge for the past two season since taking over as coach from White last year, admitted that White's "structures" have been invaluable to the Canberra-based franchise's cause.
White took over a troubled Brumbies outfit in 2011 and after two years turned them into percentage-playing finalists, before he abruptly quit halfway through his contract.
Larkham, who took over from White, said the foundations he put in place had been 'invaluable' to the franchise's revival.
Larkham added the Brumbies were continuing to evolve, while still relying on some of the foundation White had built.
"Jake [White] obviously brought in a fair bit of South African structure to the Brumbies, specifically kicking out of our own half," Larkham said.
"It was invaluable to have Jake there and Laurie Fisher as well.
"Laurie Fisher was a very good technical coach, Jake is more of a man-manager and it was good to see the contrast between the
coaches."
Jake White has been team-hopping – helping out the Tongan national team for a brief period, before joining the Sharks and has since joined Montpellier in France.
He has already convinced current Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White, along with former Brumbies' skipper Ben Mowen to join him in the Top 14.
Nic White explained the base of the Brumbies game is still the same from when Jake White had the team.
"Jake [White] set the platform in the first couple of years, and since then Bernie [Larkham] has helped the team evolve and individuals evolve their game," the scrumhalf said.
"The base of our game is still the same, we have tried to add it that as opposed to change it.
"It has been a good evolution of the coaching staff and in the way we play."
The Brumbies' style of play can be compared to South African teams.
They have a strong scrum – with Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore and the Smith brothers, Ruan and Jean-Pierre – plus a big kicking game, catalysed by Christian Lealiifano, Jesse Mogg, Matt Toomua and White himself.
"There a parts of our game that can go back to South African style, but that's just rugby, you want a good set piece," said White.
Nic White also said that Australian franchises will not be able to afford their players the luxury of rest periods – as is the case with South African and New Zealand teams – to ensure key Test players arrive fresh and energised at the World Cup in September.
The scrumhalf said Australian teams just don't have the depth to rest any Wallabies ahead of this year's World Cup in England.
The agreement between the South African Rugby Union and the Super Rugby franchises has seen leading Springboks being rested during stages in the season.
The New Zealand teams have adopted a similar strategy.
"Yeah I do [agree with the system], but unfortunately everyone knows that depth in Australia isn't quite as large as maybe South Africa and New Zealand so we don't have that privilege yet, but we're working towards it," added White.
By Andrew Duncan
@rugby365com
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