ACT Brumbies look to Scott Sio to 'take a huge leap forward' in Super Rugby Pacific

Sio dusted off the cobwebs for a light training run with West Harbour last week while the Wallabies are in the UK preparing for their clash with Scotland this week.

The 30-year-old loosehead prop was a part of the Wallabies' Rugby Championship squad but was left out of the Spring Tour party by national coach Dave Rennie.

But it may be just the tonic Sio needs to rediscover his best form with Brumbies forwards coach Laurie Fisher expecting him to make a statement during the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.

"I really think Scott Sio will be back to his best next year, particularly in his ball-carrying and defence. We've been really looking for him to take a huge leap forward," Fisher said.

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The bulk of the Brumbies squad not on international duty will return to club headquarters on November 8 for the beginning of pre-season training under Fisher and Rod Seib.

The Brumbies have added more experience to their ranks leading into the new competition, with the likes of 32-year-old Jesse Mogg, 30-year-old Rod Iona and 27-year-old Chris Feauai-Sautia joining the back line.

Fisher says the decision to bring in more veterans was a concerted effort by Brumbies coaches in a bid to add more balance to a squad brimming with emerging talent, which will help them combat the depth of the five New Zealand franchises.

The Wallabies provided a blueprint for what a touch of experience can do following the addition of Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi during the Rugby Championship.

"When we copped a little bit of injury last year in a range of positions, we were light on in the backs last year for experience anyway, and when you get a few injuries, it's important to get that right mix of experienced players and developing youngsters," Fisher said.

"Rod Iona will get opportunity this year to take a bit of heat off Noah [Lolesio]. Senior players like James Slipper and Nic White, you've got the leadership of them, but then being able to drip feed young guys in, whether it's [Rory] Scott, whether it's Luke Reimer, whomever else, maybe young Harry Vella on EDS, he's a great young prospect at loosehead.

"You've got to have balance in your squad, and I think that's been shown in the Wallabies this year with Cooper coming back and being an experienced head, being able to direct the team around.

"Australia has got a load of good players coming through, good players at all the provincial teams. It's about style of play, control, playing to a plan but taking opportunities, all those sorts of things. That's where your experienced players really value-add."

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