Brumbies coach Jake White says Pat Lam’s fight to retain his job as Blues coach provides another hurdle for the lowly-ranked New Zealand outfit as they prepare to meet the Australian Conference leaders.
Lam will stay behind to interview for his position on Friday along with the other candidates, then catch a later flight to rejoin the team in Canberra.
White said it clearly put the Blues on the back foot heading into Saturday’s final Super Rugby round clash at Canberra Stadium.
“It can’t be advantageous to have your coach staying behind and not flying over with the team, and obviously the uncertainty,” White said on Thursday.
“And to be fair to Pat, he’s probably had to present something and prepare something.”
It’s just another obstacle the Blues have to overcome to notch a victory over the Brumbies amid injury concerns and the travel disadvantage.
Highly rated at the start of the season, the struggling Blues sit in last place in the New Zealand Conference, as opposed to the Brumbies, who lead the Australian table and are on the verge of making their first finals appearance since 2004.
Five points clear of Queensland Reds, they need just a bonus point to secure top spot.
And even a heavy loss would still require the Reds to score a four-try victory over NSW Waratahs – something they’ve only accomplished once in the 17-year history of Super Rugby.
Heading into their final regular season match-up, White said the Brumbies’ destiny is where they like it: in their hands.
“The thing we’ve got in our favour this week is we play first,” said White.
“We don’t have to worry about (other teams’) results.
“Literally by the time the final whistle goes, we’ll have an understanding of where we are.”
The Brumbies will be buoyed by the return of winger Joe Tomane and big No.8 Fotu Auelua, both who have missed the past several weeks with injury.
Tomane will be a welcome addition to the backline after suffering an ankle injury in training with the Wallabies last month.
He slots back to his regular spot on the wing, moving Jesse Mogg to fullback and Robbie Coleman to the bench.
Auelua, who injured his hamstring playing in the ACT local competition, is also back from a three-week break and starts on the bench, with Ben Mowen assuming starting No.8 duties.
Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Andrew Smith, Pat McCabe, Joe Tomane, Zack Holmes, Nic White, Ben Mowen (capt), Michael Hooper, Peter Kimlin, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Dan Palmer, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander. Res: Anthony Hegarty, Ruaidhri Murphy, Leon Power, Fotu Auelua, Ian Prior, Tevita Kuridrani, Robbie Coleman.
