Rolling mauls or flashy finishes – it doesn’t matter to the Brumbies where their tries come from, as long as they’re winning.
The Brumbies drew level with the Australian conference leaders the Rebels with a pivotal 26-21 win over the Blues on Saturday night.
A Folau Faingaa hat-trick of rolling maul tries laid the platform for the victory and that has created plenty of discussion in the days since about the spectacle of forward-heavy tactics.
Faingaa’s performance takes his season tally to 10 – the most of any Brumbies forward in history and within striking distance of Joe Roff’s 15 tries in a season.
Of his 10, nine have come directly from a rolling maul – making up almost a quarter of the team’s 39 tries this season.
Asked about the optics of the rolling maul tries post-match, coach Dan McKellar simply said, “last time I checked, they were all worth five points.”
That stance sums up what is team thinks as well, despite some criticism from some corners that dubbed it a boring tactic.
Assistant coach Laurie Fisher wasn’t afraid to voice his thoughts on that criticism earlier this week on Twitter, writing: “Part of me wants to burr up over some of the half arsed commentary about the style of our win on Saturday but my dominant feeling is F… them.”
Winger Toni Pulu said it certainly didn’t worry him if their scores came from the pack rather than the outside backs.
“Ignore the haters,” he joked on Tuesday.
“I love when the forwards score. It’s hard to even get a maul try these days.
“That’s our strength this year and the backs are happy because our forwards are world-class players and sometimes we get in there too so we’re involved in those maul tries.
“We’re happy to get win, it doesn’t matter how we do it.”
As for the forwards? They’re relishing it, according to lock Murray Douglas.
“I’m a tight five forward primarily so it’s always pleasing when you get over with a maul try,” he said.
“Not to say that we’re not capable of scoring elsewhere but it’s always pleasing if stuff you practise during the week, if you can execute it on game day, it’s always pleasing.”
While their scoring strategies have dominated the conversation, the forwards were also praised for their dominance across the park on Saturday night.
It was a performance made even more significant in the absence of David Pocock, Locky McCaffrey, Rob Valetini, and, for a large part of the game, lock Rory Arnold.
Arnold is no certainty to play against the Sunwolves on Sunday after spraining his ankle but Douglas said the Brumbies had shown they have the depth to cover a big injury toll this season.
“Rory’s a big player for this team, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“He brings a lot to the pitch in his physicality and his set piece but I’m sure you’ll agree in the last few weeks Darcy Swain’s done a great job there and guys like myself, Blake Enever in the squad, guys that can play lock.
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“So, I think we’re really confident in the playing group that if people do get injured the next guy will step up and really stake his claim.”
The Brumbies take on the Sunwolves on Sunday May 12, kicking off at 4:05pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.