sport, top-sport-stories, Brumbies, Super Rugby, David Pocock, Brumbies Super Rugby, Murray Douglas

The chance to play at a World Cup could pave the way for former ACT Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White to make a Canberra comeback and sign a multi-year deal. It's understood the Brumbies are keen to lure White back to the capital after spending the past four years playing in France and England. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has been speaking with White, who has a contract with the Exeter Chiefs until the end of next season. The World Cup, however, could prompt White to commit to a move home earlier than expected to make him eligible for Wallabies selection. The 28-year-old played 67 games for the Brumbies and 22 Tests for Australia before moving to France at the end of 2015. His lack of Test experience means White will only be available to play for the Wallabies again if he signs a multi-year deal to return to Australia. The Brumbies are the front-runner to secure his signature and it's believed the club has been in contact with the crafty No. 9. But the complication is how the Brumbies would juggle their scrumhalves given White would likely be unavailable for Super Rugby duties until at least halfway through the 2020 campaign. Joe Powell signed a contract extension last year and Matt Lucas is in negotiations to extend his stay in the capital. The Brumbies also have high regard for young gun Ryan Lonergan. White is an attractive option because he offers plenty of experience to a Brumbies team which has so far struggled to capitalise on key moments this year. The Brumbies changed their half-time routine last week in a bid to end their second-half woes, but it failed to stem the bleeding in a 22-point loss to the Canterbury Crusaders. They will be desperate to make amends and beat the Johannesburg Lions on Saturday night in what will be their only game in Canberra in a two-month stretch. Lock Murray Douglas hopes returning home - where the Brumbies have won two of three games this year - will give them a perfect boost before a two-game trip to Cape Town and Buenos Aires. But to turn around their form, they must fix pain second-half lapses which have made them the worst team in Super Rugby at conceding tries in the 20 minutes after the break. The Brumbies tried to break the shackles against the Crusaders, returning to the field earlier than their opponents to have the entire team involved in a warm-up session similar to the one done before a game starts. It didn't work, with the Brumbies conceding three tries in the 20-minute period and going from a 7-0 lead to a 19-7 deficit. "Usually we finish the first half quite well and we've spoken about trying to carry that on," Douglas said. "Hopefully against the Lions we can correct it, and go out there with the mindset that they won't cross in that period again. "We thought warming up the legs again might help focus at the start of the second half. We need to improve on that area so we're looking at different ways to be fully focused." The Brumbies are set to welcome back Rory Arnold, Scott Sio and Folau Faingaa after the trio was rested last week as per per Wallabies requirements. David Pocock will train with the team on Tuesday in a bid to prove he is fit for his comeback game. Pocock has played just two full games this year after battling a calf strain and concussion problems since round one.

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