Brumbies can go all the way: Deans
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Brumbies can go all the way: Deans
BY PETER FITZGERALD
RUGBY UNION
11/02/2009 1:00:00 AM
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes the ACT Brumbies have the ability to not only reach the Super14 finals, but reclaim southern hemisphere rugby supremacy.
Deans, the most successful coach in Super rugby history, said yesterday the Brumbies had the two key aspects required to win the championship depth and mental toughness.
Deans spent Monday in Canberra and was impressed with what he saw at two training sessions and from spending time with coach Andy Friend and his assistants.
The former Canterbury Crusaders coach described the Brumbies as a ''particularly strong'' team that was more than capable of dethroning his former club, which has won three of the past four titles.
''The Brumbies absolutely have some serious talent in their squad,'' Deans told The Canberra Times. ''They no doubt should be striving to have a good season and by that I mean making the finals and becoming the best team in the southern hemisphere.
''They potentially have half a Wallabies backline and a forward pack with so much depth in all positions. All the four Australian teams are looking good ... but the Brumbies certainly have the key ingredients to go all the way this year.''
Deans, who led the Crusaders to five championships in nine years before taking over the Australian coaching job, believed the Brumbies' successful past would prove vital to further success.
He said the Brumbies had an ideal mix of youth and experience to make a strong play for the title in 2009, while predicting their reputation as a competition powerhouse would help.
''When I was at the Crusaders the Brumbies were always one team who you gave the utmost respect to and you knew they were going to respect you and I think that's why the two teams forged such a great rivalry over the years which led to couple of finals against each other,'' Deans said.
''They've got an inner belief, if you like, that they can go the distance and if they get to the business end, they'll present a real threat. Having players within the group who have been there and done it, guys like George Smith and Stirling [Mortlock] working off Hoilesy, from a leadership perspective, that's powerful.''
Deans will return to Canberra for the Brumbies' first home game against the Crusaders in 10 days.
FRIDAY
Super14 round one: Otago Highlanders v ACT Brumbies at Carisbrook Park, Dunedin, 5.35pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports2.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...s/1430491.aspx
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Originally Posted by sandgroperrugby
...Campese wasn't ever a brumby but came from the local district...Privately I'm quite happy he wasn't...They didn't need him to flourish....
