Staying put is a capital idea for pair

Christian Lealiifano and Matt Toomua have told the Rebels they intend to stay in Canberra. Source: News Limited

IN a major boost for the Brumbies ahead of their showdown with Jake White's Sharks, Wallabies stars Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano have turned down offers from Melbourne and will stay in Canberra.

Among other suitors, the ACT playmakers were chased hard by the Rebels — Toomua, in particular — but swayed by the mentorship of Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, the classy pair have informed Melbourne they are staying put.

It is understood contracts are being finalised and official announcements for Toomua and Lealiifano will be made by the Brumbies in coming days.

The news will be a huge boost for Brumbies fans — and Larkham — as the Australian conference leaders prepare to face White and his table-topping Sharks on Saturday.

It will be something of a master-versus-apprentices battle, with Larkham and Laurie Fisher having both served as assistants to White in their run to the 2013 Super Rugby final.

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White is noted practitioner of pre-match mind games and though he hasn't yet served up any this week, you could imagine a wry grin from the South African on Tuesday after pupil Larkham lobbed a few at a training press conference.

Though foreshadowing a battle of wills and tactical kicking, Larkham said knowing "Jake's way" was to his advantage and the Brumbies had tricks up their sleeve to counter the inside knowledge of his former boss.

"He certainly knows how we play, but by the same token we know how they play as well," Larkham said.

"There are a few things, a few tactics that we are going to introduce to hopefully catch them,

"Jake was here for two years and I learned a lot from him. I also learned a lot from Laurie … and (trainer) Dean Benton as well when he was here. But I guess I know Jake's way, which probably gives me an advantage."

Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher have forged a new leadership combination at the Brumbies. Source: News Limited

White complimented Larkham as a "future Wallabies coach" last week but asked why he thought the former Boks coach hadn't tried to stir up his old club, Larkham suggested White would be "cautious" about distracting his team with a media circus.

"It is a difficult tour for those guys, any Australia-New Zealand tour for South African sides is very difficult, so I guess he wants to make sure it is a successful tour," he said.

"There are not many South African sides who have a successful tour, so he'd be cautious coming into this match, knowing it's not about him and it's not about the off-field. It's about what is delivered on the field, and I am sure his focus is on that at the moment."

On-field, it appears the Brumbies will go head-to-head with the Sharks in a brutal battle of field position, despite suggestion of new tactics.

Bismarck Du Plessis said in a report on Tuesday the two teams didn't play the same way but Larkham dissented.

Jake White has instilled a similar style at the Sharks to that which he brought in at the Brumbies. Source: Getty Images

"The gameplans are fairly similar. A lot of stuff that we did over the last two years, the Sharks are now doing," Larkham said.

"The Sharks are similar in the way we play, I guess, in that they don't give you many opportunities in their own half. They kick a lot of ball away, they use their forwards to get over the gainline and they take their penalties when they're available.

"They are top of the competition at the moment and are the best team in Super Rugby, so they're a bit more advanced than we were two years ago. They are playing some good football. It is a typical South African style of football that they're playing."

Larkham said the Brumbies had changed their style this season, however; and statistics show the new ACT strategy is to push for tries more often. Points from tries are up from 45 per cent last year to 56 per cent in 2013, and penalty goal points are down from 42 per cent to 28 per cent.

Strong contributions from Pat McCabe off the bench in recent weeks have increased pressure on Lealiifano to hold his spot at inside centre, but Larkham appears set to stick with he and Toomua in the midfield.

Pat McCabe's form off the bench is putting Lealiifano under pressure to hold his inside centre spot. Source: AAP

"We are not sure exactly the combinations for this weekend but we have some options there. Christian is playing some good football. He started a bit slowly coming off the bench but since he has been starting he is playing very well," Larkham said.

"And Patty hasn't put a foot wrong all year, so whether he's starting or coming off the bench he's adding good impact to the team."

Lealiifano said the pressure from McCabe was positive.

"That's a healthy thing for the team, and obviously having someone of that calibre sitting behind me, is keeping me on my toes to try and perform well and play consistently. If I don't, obviously he is going to take that spot, so yeah, it's good competition there," the Brumbies No.12 said.

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