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Brumbies eager to rebound from Super loss

3 minute read

Stand-in skipper Nic White says the Brumbies are eager to atone for their loss to Queensland when they take on the Western Force on Friday night.

NIC WHITE.
NIC WHITE. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

Brumbies halfback Nic White says they've been stewing on their first Super Rugby AU loss and are eager to "right some wrongs" against the Western Force on Friday night.

The Brumbies suffered a two-point defeat against Queensland heading into the bye week and White, who is captain for the Canberra clash, says it hasn't sat well with his team.

"No-one likes to go into a bye week after a loss," White said on Thursday.

"A lot of the stuff we got into trouble with in that game is stuff we can work on and we have, and guys have probably stewed on it and have been waiting for the opportunity to right some wrongs.

"We had some time to get away but I can almost guarantee most guys have had it in the back of their head and are pretty keen to get back in."

The Brumbies got the spoils 27-11 against the Force in their first meeting but White felt the Perth side had improved, delivering their best show of the season in a tight loss to the Reds last round.

"They're travelling really well and they're good in all areas of the game and we're going to have to be sharp from set piece through to multi-phase encounters," the Test No.9 said.

The GIO Stadium match is a homecoming for former Wallaby Tevita Kuridrani, who spent nine seasons with the Brumbies and was a vital member of their title-winning line-up last season.

Force coach Tim Sampson said the veteran centre had a spring in his step.

"He loves Canberra and it's a ground he's obviously really comfortable on," Sampson said.

He felt his team had made some important improvements against the Reds and they were ready to tackle the 2020 champions.

With the Brumbies' front row hit by injury and suspension, he felt setting the set piece tone early would be key.

"There were some really good gains last week and we want to build on that; find some more consistency throughout the game and when we're on the front foot make sure we get points," Sampson said.

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