Matt Toomua at Wallabies training camp at North Sydney Oval this week.

By Brendan Bradford –

Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper is the firm favourite to wear the Wallabies number ten jersey in the upcoming Rugby Championship, but Brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua is nipping at his heels.

The most consistent flyhalf in Australia this season, Toomua marshalled the Brumbies to within five points of the title against the Chiefs and has the full backing of Super Rugby coach Jake White to make it at Test-match level.

“I have no doubt that Matt Toomua will play for Australia, I said that a long time ago,” said White after the final last Saturday.

“I’ve no doubt these sorts of occasions and the lessons he learns will help him play at a high level. It’s not going to get tougher than that – a final in Hamilton in front of a home crowd and a side who won last year.”

Christian Lealiifano got most of the plaudits for the Brumbies on Saturday – he scored all 22 points after all – but Toomua did his Wallabies chances no harm whatsoever. What sets the uncapped 23-year-old apart from many flyhalves is his defence. Not much got past him in 2013 and he made his presence felt throughout the final.

Brumbies coach Jake White is certain Toomua will play for the Wallabies.

 “He’s a very confrontational first-five, he likes to get up and put teams under pressure with his line-speed and we had ways to exploit that but they didn’t really come off too well tonight,” said Chiefs 10, Aaron Cruden.  

“I thought he was strong. He’s been strong all year and he really dictates the way the Brumbies like to play and he’s a pretty dangerous player, especially with all the guys outside him.”

It was Toomua’s strong running in the 78th minute against the Bulls in the semi-final that set up Tevita Kuridrani’s match-winner and it was also his tackle on Andrew Horrell near the end of the first half of the final that led to Lealiifano’s five-pointer. Horrell started with a head of steam in midfield, but Toomua’s rush defence and strong tackle stopped him in his tracks well behind the advantage line. Brumbies players were quick to the breakdown as the Chiefs rushed back from a lineout, forcing a loose pass by halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow and allowing Lealiifano to streak away and score. In fact, by the time the ball was out of the ruck, Toomua was back on his feet and ready to make another tackle. He did it all night, and that’s what you need at Test level.

It’s not just his on-field credentials that impress either. To see Toomua in the post-match press-conference last Saturday was to get a gauge on his temperament under pressure. Despite what must have been a shattering loss, he didn’t make excuses and still had eyes on the big picture.

“Travel wasn’t really a factor, we gave ourselves every opportunity to win and to be fair we played pretty well tonight against a good team and I think we can be proud of that and once we get over the initial disappointment we can celebrate a great year for Brumbies rugby,” he said.

“It’ll be better in a couple of days. We recover, that’s our job and I’m not going to complain about sore shoulders or anything. It’s what we’re paid to do and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie will whittle down his squad from 40 to 30 this Friday with Cooper, Toomua and Waratahs playmaker Bernard Foley all contenders for the number 10 jersey.