Brumbies coach Jake White says there's ''no room for sentiment'' in Super Rugby finals with Test winger Joseph Tomane moving to the ACT bench just two weeks after playing the British and Irish Lions.
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White has opted to inject Clyde Rathbone's championship-winning experience to the starting side in a boost for the Brumbies before their clash with the Cheetahs on Sunday.
But Rathbone's remarkable comeback comes at a cost for rising star Tomane, who played in the last two Tests against the Lions.
Tomane has enjoyed his own rapid rise to the top. Just two years ago he was playing park rugby league in Queensland before the Brumbies recruited him to be a part of their rebuilding plan.
The powerful winger made his Wallabies debut last year and is considered one of the most dangerous players in Super Rugby.
''One of the things I've got the players to understand from day one is we pick a team we think can win the game,'' White said.
''There's no room for sentiment in rugby. Joey … two seasons ago he was playing for Ipswich in rugby league and now he's playing Test rugby and finals footy.
''It's about picking the best team. Joey is probably disappointed, but if he's on the bench because the team's winning and he's part of it, I'm sure he won't be anti that.''
The Brumbies have made three changes to their starting XV to take on the Cheetahs in the ACT's first finals game in nine years.
Comeback kings Rathbone and George Smith will add immeasurable experience to the Brumbies' line-up.
The duo played in the club's 2004 championship triumph and Smith won a title in 2001 and has claimed almost every accolade available in world rugby.
The Brumbies will get another major boost when scrumhalf Nic White returns from a shoulder injury.
''To have the team we have from this time last year, it's pleasing. But it's not going to make us win, we still have to do the job,'' White said.
''That's the exciting part. We weren't good last week [in losing to the Western Force] and we know that. But that's what's so exciting, we haven't played our best rugby yet.''
The Brumbies missed regular starting No.9 Nic White in their loss to the Western Force last weekend.
His tactical kicking game is outstanding and flyhalf Matt Toomua hoped White's recovery from injury would boost the the Brumbies' chances of victory.
''I've played with him a lot. We have a good combination,'' Toomua said.
''Quade [Cooper] and Will [Genia] talk about how they just know what's happening with each other. We're trying to develop that and you kind of feel it out there.''
