CAPE TOWN: ACT Brumbies halfback Nic White admits the ARU's eligibility backflip has put his World Cup hopes in jeopardy, but says he won't get bogged down in the pursuit of a Wallabies jersey.
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The feisty No. 9 has vowed to throw all of his energy into the last five games of the Super Rugby season to ensure he doesn't end his Brumbies career on a sour note before moving to France.
White's World Cup hopes were thrown a curveball when the ARU changed its Test selection rules, paving the way for former Brumbies skipper Matt Giteau to revive his international career with the Wallabies.
Giteau's versatility could be his trump card as Wallabies coach Michael Cheika considers axing a specialist third halfback in favour of the 92-Test veteran.
It leaves White to compete with Nick Phipps and Will Genia, but the Brumbies' vice-captain has put World Cup ambitions aside to focus on staying in the Super Rugby title race.
"The new eligibility rules obviously change things a bit, but it doesn't change the way I play or the way I prepare," White said. "I've had a think about it and you prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
"If anything, it simplifies things for me. Don't worry about playing well, just play in the moment. You can't get caught up in the peripheral, you narrow it to every minute of every game.
"Realistically there are five games left in the regular season and the scary thing is that could be it for me in a Brumbies jersey. I guess that helps the desperation."
White is back in the Brumbies' starting team after a three-week absence with an ankle injury, the Brumbies looking to keep their season alive against the Cape Town Stormers in South Africa.
White and lock Rory Arnold are the only two additions to the Brumbies' starting XV after a three-point loss to the NSW Waratahs last weekend.
White replaces Michael Dowsett, who moves to the bench, while Arnold is back in the second row with Jordan Smiler shifting to the bench.
The Brumbies need to win both of their games in South Africa to ensure they don't tumble out of finals contention.
"The challenge goes up, we're going to have to probably play our best footy and our best game to beat the Stormers in their own backyard. It's a crucial week for the seasons of both teams.
"The winner of this weekend probably give themselves a chance at finals and a loss makes it tough for the loser, there's a lot of pressure on both teams."
White will join French club Montpellier at the end of the season, but desperately wants to leave Australian rugby on a high with Super Rugby success and a spot in the World Cup squad.
Brumbies coach and Wallabies assistant Stephen Larkham has urged his players to focus on the Super Rugby campaign rather than World Cup ambitions.
"We said at the start of the year that World Cup selection would come if we have a good Super Rugby campaign," Larkham said. "If we're successful as a team, then we'll have more guys in the World Cup team. I'd like everyone to be thinking like that now."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 13
Sunday: Cape Town Stormers v ACT Brumbies at Newlands, 1.05am (AEST). TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2
Brumbies team: 15. Jesse Mogg, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Robbie Coleman, 11. Joseph Tomane, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. Nic White, 8. Ita Vaea, 7. David Pocock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Jean-Pierre Smith. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Allan Alaalatoa, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Jordan Smiler, 20. Jarrad Butler, 21. Michael Dowsett, 22. Nigel Ah Wong, 23. James Dargaville.
