“THE BEST FEELING IS IF YOU’VE KILLED THE PLAY”

THERE’S AN argument that Nic White felt the hit before it arrived, and his eyes do the heavy lifting for the prosecution.

The setting was a Brumbies visit to Suncorp Stadium in early April. With three minutes remaining, the Reds had the Super Rugby Pacific clash sewn up at 21-7, but the Brumbies had a last-crack scrum 40 metres out and were chasing a losing bonus point. From the base White fed Rod Iona at fly-half, and then sprinted around behind him and Irae Simone on a set-play loop, aiming to get a second touch. Iona’s pass was slightly wayward but it barely mattered because the Queensland No 13 had read the play, accelerated in fast on the blind angle and juussst as White came around the corner… Well, go YouTube it.

White’s fingers barely get a touch. And his eyes? Half-wincing, half-looking at the incoming maroon blur before