Planet Sport

Brumbies coach Andy Friend is committed to playing attacking rugby in the Super 14, to better their try rate.

Despite finishing fifth on the try-scoring list in 2008 with 36, the Brumbies will be looking to improve on that in 2009.

"Our goal is to play to our players' strengths, have them back their skills and allow them to play some entertaining rugby," Friend said. "The CA Brumbies have a great reputation for playing an attractive, spectator-friendly style of football and we're giving the players a license to thrill in '09.

"We've set ourselves some key goals in attack for next season - we want to be a team that can score from anywhere on the park, we want to be physical and effective and we want to play a brand of effective football that's attractive to watch and fun to play.

"We've got some of the world's best attacking players in guys like Stirling Mortlock, Clyde Rathbone, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Mark Gerrard, and we want to give these guys a chance to back themselves and give them every opportunity to show what they've got."

The coach should have a full team to choose from come Round 1, and has backed his side to implement the new game plan with aplomb.

"With everyone in the squad likely to be available from Week One [of the competition], we're already ahead of where we were this time last year," he said. "We've also got guys like Christian Lealiifano and Matt Toomua who have a season of Super 14 under their belt and will play with increased confidence as a result.

"We're very fortunate that we'll boast a number of world-class ball players across the side in 2009. While we're renowned for the strike power in the backs, guys like George Smith, Stephen Hoiles, Stephen Moore, Mark Chisholm and Peter Kimlin will also be causing some headaches for opposition defensive lines."

The Brumbies begin their Super 14 campaign in Dunedin against the Highlanders on February 13.