Tah WeekIt's the games always circled on the calendar for both sides, with no bigger rivalry for the team from the nation's capital than their neighbours up north the NSW Waratahs.The latest chapter is set to be written on Friday night as the two teams face off at a the brand-new Allianz Stadium.The rivalry between the two stems back to the formation of the Brumbies in 1996, made up of local players mixed in with Waratahs and Queensland 'rejects.'Two years earlier, the then-Canberra Kookaburras defeated a stacked NSW side 44-28 off the back of a starring performance by a young George Gregan and a double to Joe RoffAs World Cup winner Troy Croker put it (via the Courier Mail): “There was this entitlement thing around NSW rugby that the Canberra boys had a real distaste for.”No one knows about this better than returning coach Stephen Larkham as one of the minor majority of ACT-born and bred players that made up the inaugural Brumbies side.Larkham returns from Ireland a more detailed and knowledgeable coach, understanding the rivalry between the two sides needs to be channelled the right way to get the best out of the side.“Traditionally it’s always been our biggest game, it’s the big brother up the road that we borrowed some players from at the start,” Larkham reflected to Rugby.com.au.“We’re traditionally regarded as the misfits and rejects from the other provinces and the bulk of our squad outside of Canberra came from the Waratahs at that stage. I guess for those players coming in, they would’ve carried that resentment of the fact they weren’t picked and that flowed into the team and we’ve kept it ever since.“We want to make sure that the game has evolved since then but we want to keep that rivalry with the Waratahs. We want to make sure we’re putting our energy and effort into the right areas, particularly in those weeks when we come against the Australian opposition.”The tradition of NSW players making the trip down the road to make a name for themselves lives on, with this year's shining example Blake Schoupp.Schoupp found himself stuck behind the likes of Angus Bell and the returning Tom Lambert, with the Southern Districts prospect impressing scrum coach Dan Palmer and the rest of the Brumbies coaching staff.After strong performances, the 23-year-old will start ahead of Wallabies captain James Slipper, relishing the moment."It's a dream come true," Schoupp said."Ever since I came down here, I wanted to play round one. That was the goal from the start, so I'm pretty chuffed to be here in this position right now."The goal now is to become a regular player and add value to the club. I try to express myself as much as I can on the field. Hopefully the Brumbies see that and continue to show faith in me and I'll continue to do the hard work there."It follows the exact same pattern as captain Allan Alaalatoa, with the former Rebel (of the Southern Districts kind, not Melbourne) excited by the opportunity that Friday presents.“It’s special. It’s a date you mark for sure and I’ve been involved in that rivalry for the past ten years," he said.“The Brumbies have always been known as those boys that travel interstate because they couldn’t get that opportunity and that’s been built since Bernie’s days.“I think that’s what the Brumbies have been known by is that ability to churn out successful players and it’s because of the quality of the coaches that have come through“That’s been an important reason why I’ve wanted to stay at Brums every contract negotiation because I knew if I stayed, I’m only going to get better.“The Tahs have recruited really well and have added a lot of experience so I think you couldn’t ask for a better game to open the Super competition.”Click Here: Thiago Silva Jersey Sale
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