With the end of the decade only a few weeks away, the RUGBY.com.au team has picked its best XV from each of the Australian Super Rugby sides.
The selections were based on a combination of different factors, ranging from success in the team, statistical achievements, club leadership and overall on-field impact. If they weren't long-serving stars, the selected players made up for it with huge impact and influence in their short stint at the franchise.
Yesterday we saw the Reds. Let's head further south today and take a look at the Brumbies.
Sydney-raised but Canberra-forged, Sio debuted for the Brumbies in 2012 and has since become the rock of the Brumbies pack. With a mix of mobility and set-piece power, Sio has rarely turned in a bad game in his 101 Super Rugby appearances for the ACT side. A mainstay of the Wallabies front row as well, having won 63 Test caps.
2. Stephen Moore (09-17)
Moore began and ended his career with Queensland but it’s easy to forget the outstanding hooker spent the majority of his career in Canberra, tallying up 117 Super Rugby games for the ponies. Captained the team in 2016 and helped inject steel into the Brumbies’ pack that drove them to consistent finals appearances. A Wallabies centurion and skipper, to boot.
3. Ben Alexander (08-18)
Honourable mention to Allan Alalaatoa but you can’t go past “Benny A” for the Brumbies no.3 slot. Alexander finished his 11-season career with the Brumbies record for most games (154) and was regarded as one of the pillars of the club during his playing days. Mobile for a big man, Alexander scored 21 tries and in 2010 topped the team’s tally for the year with seven. Played 72 Tests for the Wallabies.
4. Sam Carter (11-19)
Hard-as-nails lock who led the Brumbies with an unrelenting work ethic, and set-piece excellence. Moving down from Sydney, the bush-bred Carter thrived in Canberra and played 110 games for the club. Captained the team for several seasons, and in a sign of his loyalty, turned down big overseas bucks to stay. Under-utilised at Test level with only 16 caps.
5. Rory Arnold (15-19)
The tallest ever Brumby (and Wallaby) at 2.08m, Arnold came to the Brumbies via the unique pathway of lower grade bush footy but quickly became a star. Arnold was a lineout master but was also one of the rare oversized units who knew how to throw their size around effectively in general play. A 22-cap Wallaby.
6. Scot Fardy (12-17)
Another who captures the Brumbies culture of polishing up uncut gems, Fardy didn’t debut for the club – or in Super Rugby - until he was 27, having figured he may have missed his chance. Quickly became a Brumbies star, playing 97 Super games, and for the Wallabies, too.
7. David Pocock (13-19)
Out-and-out superstar who spent seven seasons with the Force before moving to Canberra, Pocock’s game count for the Brumbies was limited to 43 due almost three seasons out with injury, and a sabbatical. But as with every team Pocock represented, the Brumbies were twice the team with him on deck. Honourable mention to Jarrad Butler.
8. Ben Mowen (12-14)
A Queenslander who emerged for the Waratahs, it took a move to the ACT for Mowen to thrive as a leader. Made captain of the Brumbies in his first year in 2012, the tough, mobile Mowen led the team to the 2013 final and was later made Wallabies captain as well.
9. Nic White (11-15)
Pugnacious halfback who emerged as a key man in the successful Jake White era. Playing well above his 80 kilograms in 67 games, White helped the Brumbies almost win the 2013 title and play for the Wallabies too. Recently re-signed to return to the Brumbies.
10. Christian Lealiifano (07-19)
Heart and soul of the Brumbies. Debuted as a teenager in 2007 and went on to play 148 games for the Brumbies. An inspirational leader who fought his way back from a cancer diagnosis to captain the team to success in his final few seasons, and even return to the Wallabies, too. Holds the club record for most points in a season (231, in 2013). An all-time Brumbies great, let alone one decade.
11. Henry Speight (11-19)
Armed with express pace, light feet and a huge fro, Henry Speight was hard to miss and easy to love for the Brumbies faithful. The flying Fijian winger played 119 games for the Brumbies and finished his time in Canberra third on the all-time club try-scoring list, with 45.
12. Matt To’omua (08-16)
Another teenage debutant from Melbourne, “Pup” Toomua was a classy playmaker in the Brumbies midfield with Lealiifano for most of the decade. Hard-tackling and with a strong boot, Toomua could play direct or use skill to unlock space. Played 88 games for the Brums.
13. Tevita Kuridrani (12-present)
No coincidence that when the Brumbies looked their best in the last decade, Kuridrani was in dominant form. Few, if any, Aussie players can boast to have been a more powerful runner in Super Rugby in that time. Played 73 games for the Brumbies and 60 caps for the Wallabies.
14. Pat McCabe (10-14)
As courageous a footballer as Australia has produced in the last 10 years, it says everything of McCabe that during his five seasons in Canberra, he returned from a broken neck twice. To not only play for the Brumbies, but for the Wallabies as well. Lion-hearted wing and centre who threw himself into every contest in 66 career games, and 24 Tests. Honourable mention to Joe Tomane.
15. Jesse Mogg (12-15)
Tom Banks roared home for the spot but its hard to deny Jesse Mogg, after a 60-game, four-season tenure in the Brumbies no.15 in a period where the club lifted itself out of the doldrums and back up to finals footy. Blessed with a monster boot and deceptive pace, Mogg was ultra-reliable and played four Tests.
COACH: Jake White
