Brumbies lock Mark Chisholm is heading into the new Super 14 season with e new mindset © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Mark Chisholm

Teams: Australia

Brumbies and Wallabies lock Mark Chisholm is ready for the new Super 14 season after a frank discussion with Brumbies' coaches Andy Friend and Owen Finegan helped him to rediscover his form during the latter stages of last season.

Chisholm, 27, has 40 caps for the Wallabies but found himself out-of-form and out of the international picture before Friend and Finegan helped to change his role in the game.

''The chat I had with those guys, I admit it hurts, for sure because it was blunt, real blunt, especially with Owen and his assessment,'' Chisholm told The Canberra Times. ''I finished playing with Owen a few years ago but it's reassuring he can be so honest and up front about things like that. There was no sugar-coating, trust me.

''I had to take it on the chin and work up from there. I'd like to think I've stepped up as I needed to.''

Chisholm viewed his role for the side as being a ball-carrier, willing to put in the yards around the field. What his coaches wanted from him however was an increased physical presence at the breakdown, hitting as many rucks as possible.

''I initially saw myself as a ball-running forward but they saw things differently," he said. "Every chance I get I put my hand up to run the ball I don't shy away from that but they wanted me to have more emphasis on winning the breakdown, which I think I've done.

''I got back into the Wallabies squad so that was a good start.''

Friend was quick to praise Chisholm's attitude after their discussion, and is pleased with the results that were evident on-field.

''I asked him what he thought a second-rower should be doing,'' Friend said. ''We were similar in the fact he's got to win his scrum and lineout but a little dissimilar that he wanted to run the football, as I'd much prefer a second-rower to be cleaning rucks out.

''To his credit he changed his style, he got in and did the harder stuff. That doesn't mean he can't run with the footy, you still saw him run an 80m try in against Wales so if he's going into a ruck and the ball pops up, by all means run but let's use his bulk and use his physicality and make himself legally damage opposition.

Friend still wants to see further improvement from Chisholm before the Brumbies' Super 14 campaign kicks off against the Highlanders in Dunedin on February 13.

''I thought his fitness wasn't up to it then and I still think he needs to work on his fitness and just altering what he's trying to achieve out there,'' Friend said. ''He's a senior Super rugby player as well as being a Wallaby so he's somebody who is very much a key to this team.''