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Super Rugby round 15: Brumbies v Reds
The Brumbies take on the Reds in round 15 of the Super Rugby competition at Canberra Stadium. Photo: Jay Cronan
The ACT Brumbies are scrambling to find back-rowers after Ben Hyne suffered a heartbreaking ankle injury less than five minutes into his Super Rugby debut. It brought back heart-breaking memories of Christian Lealiifano's Wallabies debut, which lasted just 37 seconds before he was knocked out against the British and Irish Lions in 2013. Already missing David Pocock and Jordan Smiler, Hyne's injury depletes their stocks even further. Coach Stephen Larkham pulled Hyne out of Canberra's club competition and upgraded his development contract to give him a chance against the Reds. But he fell awkwardly and may not be fit enough to make the trip to New Zealand to play the Auckland Blues next week. How do the Brumbies fill the hole? There's the left-field option of moving Nigel Ah Wong to the bench as a versatile back-rower or winger if Joseph Tomane makes his comeback from a knee injury. Ah Wong has filled the role this year in games earlier in the season but the move comes with obvious risks. Another option is to turn to Tuggeranong Vikings' No.8 Dean Oakman-Hunt or ask former Viking Rowan Perry to come back to Canberra for the last two weeks of the regular season.
Tee up the Wallabies for Christian
It's time for Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to give Brumbies playmaker Christian Lealiifano the boot. The Wallabies kicking duties that is. The kicking of Owen Farrell led England to their first ever 3-0 sweep of the Wallabies on Australian soil. Farrell slotted them from everywhere while NSW Waratahs kicker Bernard Foley struggled from the tee. Meanwhile, Lealiifano showed he's clearly the best kicker in Australia with another clinical display. He nailed six from seven for an 86 per cent success rate. He could easily slot in at either flyhalf or No.12 for the Wallabies, but regardless of where it is he just has to be there.
Ben Hyne is assisted from the field after his injury. Photo: Jay Cronan
No jetlag, just jets
Argentina scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli provided a breath of fresh air when he came off the bench in the second half. His running game split the game wide open as he set up Christian Lealiifano for one try and then darted across for one of his own as well. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham opted to put him on the bench with concerns he may have been jet-lagged after playing for his country during the international break. But he looked as fresh as a daisy when he came on and will play a crucial role if the Brumbies are to make the Super Rugby finals. Now if only we could find a way to naturalise him before the Bledisloe Tests.
Rusty resumption to Super Rugby
Who said a month-long break in the middle of a competition was a bad idea? Unfortunately nobody at SANZAAR. It was an awful resumption to the competition in Canberra with both the Queensland Reds and the ACT Brumbies making a resounding case for canning the international break. Both teams looked like not only hadn't they played for a month, but had also been on holiday in Mauritius. Knock-ons, stray passes, fumbles, failing to find touch it had it all. Even the referee got in on the act, missing several infringements from Reds flanker Liam Gill at the breakdown. Luckily the teams have a couple of weeks to rediscover their mojo before the home-and-away season ends and the finals begin. Let's hope it's enough.
Canberra day games please
Hey SANZAAR, there's a reason why the Brumbies asked for all of their home games to be played during the day. It's because it gets cold in Canberra, very cold. Fresh off the back of frost after frost, a crowd of just 9830 turned up to experience brass monkey weather. The powers that be should be thankful the Reds turned up as well. In stark contrast, it was a fantastically sunny afternoon in Canberra that would've been far more inviting for fans, especially families, to make the trek out to Canberra Stadium. It's time for SANZAAR to show some common sense and schedule more day games than the one the Brumbies were given this season. Ironically, the NSW Waratahs get more afternoon games despite the Sydney weather being far more forgiving than in the nation's capital.
