Rookie lock Darcy Swain wants to make his mark on Super Rugby and is unfazed about the challenge of trying to fill Rory Arnold's giant-sized role.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Swain will play the second start of his seven-game career when the ACT Brumbies play against the Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
A bonus-point win would lift the Brumbies to the top of the Australian conference for the first time this year as they start their charge to the play-offs.
Arnold has been ruled out with an ankle injury, joining a casualty ward which already includes David Pocock, Lachlan McCaffrey and Rob Valetini.
But the Brumbies have faith 21-year-old Swain is ready to step up and replace 208 centimetre Arnold for a crucial clash.
Swain, a former junior Wallaby, wants to repay the coaches by proving he's capable of taking on bigger roles.
"I didn't expect to be starting any games this year, but I got one against the [Canterbury] Crusaders and now this one. I just want to go out, rip in and show everyone that I've got," Swain said.
"Show them that I'm here and that I'm good enough to be in those shoes next year. I'm really using it as a stepping stone to get into next year and hopefully for higher honours.
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
"I like the role off the bench being able to come on and empty the tank with 15 minutes or so to go in a game. But I'm really excited to be able to start against the Sunwolves."
The Brumbies will be chasing their fifth home win in a row in the Mother's Day showdown and the club will use home ground advantage to give them an extra boost for the finals run.
The Melbourne Rebels lead the Australian conference, but the Brumbies can jump one point ahead of them if they beat the Sunwolves by three tries or more.
The Brumbies have scored just one bonus-point win in 11 games so far this season, but the chance to jump to the top of the table before a bye next week could ignite their attack.
The Brumbies copped criticism last week for the way they score tries, which was surprising given they had scored more tries than any other Australian team until the Rebels beat the Queensland Reds on Friday night.
The team's use of the rolling maul has been an easy target for detractors, but the Brumbies say they won't shift away from what has been working to please others.
Hooker Folau Faingaa is the leading try-scorer in Super Rugby and the Sunwolves will be wary of him lurking at the back of mauls when the Brumbies go on the attack on Sunday.
"You've got to stick to your strength, and the boys are aware of that," said Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano.
"When you want to go to a maul that's working well and is going to get you points, then you go to it. If it's not [working], then I've got to think of some other ways.
"The boys are pretty good at backing whatever and hopefully so are the fans when they see tries scored. Those decisions are things for me ... it's more so trying to put the other team under pressure.
"They have to be able to defend [our maul] and it zaps their energy and helps us stay in the right end of the field."
The Brumbies will be bolstered by the return of Tevita Kuridrani, who has overcome a slight medial ligament strain to reclaim the No. 13 jersey in time to launch his bid for a Wallabies recall.
It's awesome to have Tevita back. Super experienced guy and adds a lot to our group. It's a massive boost for us, and confidence boosting for me to have a big body there.
- Christian Lealiifano
Australian players will be called into another World Cup planning camp in Brisbane next week, giving Brumbies hopefuls just one more chances to impress Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
Kuridrani didn't play a Test last year, while Lealiifano is another who is trying to force his way back into Wallabies gold. Arnold has arguably been the most in-form Australian lock this season, but he will leave Super Rugby next year to move his career to France.
Joe Powell, Tom Banks, Sam Carter, Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Faingaa, Toni Pulu, James Slipper and Henry Speight will also be hoping they are in contention for World Cup selection.
Pocock, McCaffrey and Valetini have all had injury-interrupted seasons, but all three could figure in Cheika's plans to chase glory in Japan at the end of the year.
Lealiifano says the Brumbies' only focus is finishing a block of games in the best possible way after winning three of their past four matches, which included a trip to South Africa and Argentina.
"When you put it into context, it is [a big game]. We're just more excited to be back at home and playing on Mother's Day," Lealiifano said.
It's awesome to have Tevita back. Super experienced guy and adds a lot to our group. It's a massive boost for us, and confidence boosting for me to have a big body there. You're aware [of the ladder], but it's not a key focus for us. We want to be proud of our effort.
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 13
Sunday: ACT Brumbies v Japan Sunwolves at Canberra stadium, 4.05pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Brumbies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Faingaa, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Tom Cusack, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Toni Pulu, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. James Slipper, 18. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Murray Douglas, 21. Ryan Lonergan 22. Tom Wright, 23. Andy Muirhead.
Sunwolves: 1. Masataka Mikami, 2. Shota Horie, 3. Hiroshi Yamashita, 4. Mark Abbott, 5. Grant Hattingh, 6. Hendrik Tui, 7. Dan Pryor 8. Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, 9. Kaito Shigeno, 10.Yu Tamura, 11. Jason Emery, 12. Phil Burleigh, 13. Josh Timu, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 15. Ryohei Yamanaka, Reserves: 16. Jaba Bregvadze, 17. Conan O'Donnell, 18. Takuma Asahara, 19. Tom Rowe, 20. Kara Pryor, 21. Ben Gunter, 22. Jamie Booth, 23. Hayden Parker.
