70 per cent of the Brumbies' kicks are long and for territory. Photo / Getty Images
I want to focus on the Chiefs clash against the Brumbies in New Plymouth for my first Chalkboard column of 2015. In particular, I want to look at the problems posed by the kicking game of the Brumbies.
It's a new way of looking at the Brumbies. In their great
teams of yesteryear, they were quite regimented - they were the best team at attacking from lineouts I have ever seen - but they wore you down through ball retention. If the brilliance of George Gregan, Stephen Larkham, Stirling Mortlock and Joe Roff didn't create a linebreak, then they'd just grind you down by never letting go of the pill.
The modern-day Brumbies are even more regimented but are far happier to kick away possession. They still have some x-factor players who can hurt you, but they look to strangle the opposition in a different way.
Most teams look to kick as a means of contesting and hopefully retaining possession. The Brumbies will do this, but 70 per cent of their kicks are long and for territory. Nic White, Matt Toomua and Christian Leali'ifano look to kick to space behind and turn the back three around.
