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Cape Town - The Brumbies insist scrumhalf Nic White did not engage in unsportsmanlike behaviour in their previous outing against the Stormers.
The two teams meet in a Super Rugby qualifier at Newlands this Saturday, but White’s behaviour in their previous outing this season is still fresh in the minds of the Stormers.
The Stormers won 25-24 at Newlands on May 9 in a game characterised by a lot off-the-ball niggle.
White made a particular nuisance of himself in that game - his shove on Cheslin Kolbe after the final hooter had sounded leading to another fracas.
“Every scrumhalf is the same. We like how Nic plays the game. He is tough and very competitive. The best thing about him is that he fights hard for any possible advantage we could get. He has our full support and we want him to remain as competitive as he is in order to get us on the front foot,” White’s team-mate, Christian Lealiifano, told Netwerk24.
Lealiifano denied that they attempted to provoke the Stormers.
"It was simply a case of how the match evolved. Everyone was very competitive and it was very physical. I thought it was a terrific game.”
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham described White as a “fantastic player”.
“It’s important for a scrumhalf to be in discussion with the referee throughout the match, but the relationship needs to be a good one. Nic is very careful about what and how much he says," said Larkham.
Saturday's qualifier at Newlands kicks off at 17:05.
