ACT Brumbies centurion Ben Alexander jokes old age has slowed the unusual rapid try-scoring pace he set in his youth, but the Test prop only needs to look into the Canberra Stadium crowd for thousands of faces of inspiration on Friday night.
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Alexander will join an elite list of Brumbies champions when he plays his 100th game for the club in the clash against the Queensland Reds, becoming just the eighth player to reach the milestone.
It's been a long-journey from fringe Super Rugby front-rower to Wallabies stalwart, which included a stunning try-scoring record for a burly prop.
Alexander was the Brumbies' leading try-scorer in the 2010 season, but his ability to cross the line has dropped off with just 16 tries from his 99 games.
And to celebrate his Super Rugby century, thousands of Alexander masks will be handed out to the crowd as he joins a list including George Gregan, George Smith, Stirling Mortlock, Stephen Larkham, Jeremy Paul, Mark Chisholm and Bill Young in playing 100 games for the Brumbies.
"I think we attack a bit more traditionally than we used to, it's the wingers and the backs scoring all the tries now," Alexander said.
"Maybe it's old age catching up with me. But I like to think it's the change in attack, there are less opportunities for lazy front-rowers like me to pick up meat pies. That's how rugby should be played ... my last try was about 2012."
The Brumbies have revamped their game-day experience in the hope of luring fans back to Canberra Stadium, enhancing spectator interaction and creating a "festival atmosphere" at the venue.
The Brumbies have secured a liquor licence for the area next to the AIS Arena to set up a pop-up barbecue, bar and live-band site.
They will also use retired Wallabies warrior Pat McCabe as a game-day interviewer to give fans an insight and are working with broadcaster Fox Sports to have player GPS data and statistics on the big screen at the ground.
"We need the stadium to be world-class," Brumbies chief executive Michael Jones said.
"Pat McCabe will be our roving reporter and it's only for the people in the stadium ... we want people to have a good experience. We'll have our own food and wine festival, we want the stadium to be a destination for fans."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND ONE
Friday: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.40pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
