Brumbies flanker David Pocock hopes familiarity will play in his side’s favour in 2016.
Pocock said the experience that the side’s combinations have built would give them a good chance to compete but the side hadn’t set their sights too far ahead.
“I think in terms of team a lot of guys have played in those combinations for a few years now so hopefully we can build on that,” he said.
“You work as hard as you can to give yourself your best shot in round one and take it from there,” he said.
“We haven’t looked too much past that at this point, mainly because you're just so tired at the end of the day you just want to recover and go home and get into bed.”
One of those combinations is their back row, with Pocock reuniting with Wallabies flanker partner Scott Fardy.
Pocock dismissed the notion that this was a make or break year for the Brumbies crop, despite the looming departure of captain Stephen Moore (Queensland) and inside back Matt Toomua (Leicester), while winger Henry Speight juggles Super Rugby and an Olympic Sevens tilt.
“I don’t think it’s something we’re all talking about but I think we've got a lot of continuity from last year,” he said.
“There’s a few new faces that will add different things to our game so we’re working hard and we want to do as well as we possibly can.
“We were really disappointed to lose in that semi last year.
“All you can do is work hard in the pre-season and build from there.”
The new faces that have joined the side this year, led by Argentinian Tomas Cubelli, have slotted in fine, Pocock said.
“Tomas Cubelli is starting to learn a bit of slang and is able follow conversations a bit more,” he said.
“A couple of young guys looking to put their hand up this year.”
Pocock was today announced as an Australia Day ambassador for the ACT, giving him the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
