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Brumbies concerned with the new-look Force stack with international players even after winless season

Tom Cusack of the Brumbies. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Brumbies backrower Tom Cusack hopes the Western Force’s star-studded line-up are still ironing out some kinks when his side heads west for Friday’s Super Rugby AU opener.

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The Force have made a statement ahead of their second season back in Australian rugby, recruiting from close to home and across the globe for the five-team domestic competition.

Argentinian internationals Tomas Cubelli, Tomas Lezana, Santiago Medrano and Domingo Miotti will join Irish fullback Rob Kearney and former All Blacks Richard Kahui and Jeremy Thrush in the side.

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Dan McKellar Brumbies coach

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Dan McKellar Brumbies coach

NSW Waratahs prop Tom Robertson and Brumbies and Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani add further starch to a squad that fought hard but went winless in their re-introduction to Super Rugby AU last year.

The Brumbies won last year’s domestic competition but Cusack acknowledges the situation they’re flying into.

“It’s extremely dangerous going over there, with the calibre of players they have but we have a quality bunch as well.

“We’ve been able to build a nice team unity and they’re brought in a star-studded team over a couple of months.

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“Whether the cohesion’s there as a team or not we’re still yet to see.

“But with not much sport played and not many restrictions on crowds it’s going to be pretty loud, pretty daunting.”

The squad has been based exclusively within the ACT for the past six weeks to avoid any border restrictions complications.

Some players including captain Allan Alaalatoa even temporarily moved from their homes on the other side of the NSW border to ensure their availability for round one.

“It’s hard not to (think about the risks), especially in Perth when you hear of the cases where you fly over and whilst you’re in the air you hear announcements,” Cusack said of the chance they may be stuck in Perth or in quarantine if there is another COVID-19 outbreak.

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“That’s playing in the back of your mind, but you have to remove that and come into your own little bubble as a squad.”

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M
MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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