Brumbies re-sign Phibbs and White
Super 14 rugby side the Brumbies have re-signed two key players ahead of the next domestic season.
Patrick Phibbs and Nick White have both signed extended contracts with the club, which means the coaches of the team will not be forced to go and look for two new players in key positions.
The news will come as a massive relief to all Brumbies fans due to the fact that the club did not have a huge playing base in the first place. They rely on the nucleus of a small and organised group to win games and power their chances of success.
It's important to examine what each player means to the club and the attributes that they possess. This will allow you to form a better judgement of how the team are likely to play next season in a very competitive league.
Patrick Phibbs
Phibbs plays at scrum-half, which is one of the most important positions in any rugby side. His kicking is often something that gets the team out of trouble whether he is booting the ball over for points or just clearing up the field.
He's been at the club for a number of seasons and has been able to build up club and playing experience. This means he will be comfortable with the way the club is run and he will be able to adapt to a variety of different match situations.
Phibbs' versatility is something that often gets overlooked because of his kicking. He can move around many positions in the team and cover for players that fall out of position due to other tactical plays.
Brumbies Chief Executive Andrew Fagan said: "We're very pleased to have Pat and Nick in the squad along with Josh Valentine, who will provide three genuine scrum-half options for the side in 2011."
Nick White
White can also play in the scrum-half position, which means that these players are going to be in direct competition at some point during the season. The differences are slight but can be telling in match situations.
White is slightly quicker across the turf and this means he will get to the ball a little bit earlier and poses more of a threat in attack. He can use his pace in central or wide areas and this is something that the Brumbies have done well in recent seasons.
He's a little bigger than Phibbs and this means that he is able to ride a few more challenges before being brought down or tackled. This is vital late on in games when the opposition defence are getting tired.
Fagan added: "Pat has been a consistent performer for the side over the past six seasons. He's been a very reliable player and brings a great deal of experience having brought up his 50th Super Rugby cap this year."
Betting Advice
It would be very naive to think that the Brumbies can rely on the depth and power of their squad because it just isn't in place. They rely on a key group of players and this is what will win them matches next season.
They are nothing more than an outside bet who will win the matches they need to against lesser sides and cause the occasional upset. However, they will not push bigger teams to the limit and will have too much inconsistency to win anything.
If you want to back a player then go for Phibbs because he scores a lot of points through the boot and this is something that you can cash in on during some stage of the season.
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