Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Christian Lealiifano eyes World Cup berth

Christian Lealiifano of the Brumbies. Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano’s battle with cancer has been well documented, and the playmaker is hoping that tests next month will reveal that he has been free of the disease for over two years.

31-year-old Lealiifano was diagnosed with leukaemia in August 2016 but recovered and returned to playing less than 12 months later, appearing in the Brumbies’ final game of the 2017 season.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lealiifano has spent the off-season playing in the Japanese Top League with Toyota Jido Shokki and is hoping for a big year of Super Rugby with the Brumbies in 2019.

“Looking back I probably felt as good as I could have last season but I was probably a little bit off in terms of what I could produce in my playing ability,” Lealiifano said in an interview with the Canberra Times.

“Now what I’m excited about is I’m feeling as fit as I felt before I was sick and now I’m raring to go. I feel like I’m at a level where I can train and compete with everyone else again… I can’t explain enough how pleasing that is to feel.

“It’s been a long journey to get here and hopefully the fans will see a better Christian Lealiifano and the best they’ve seen yet, in 2019.

“I’m really excited for a big season, the older you get these chances don’t come around very often so I really want to make the most of every opportunity.”

A 19-Test Wallaby, Lealiifano outlined his determination represent Australia again, especially with the Rugby World Cup fast approaching.

“It’s the next level but I’m 100 per cent focused on winning a Super Rugby title here, I’ve been here for 11 or 12 seasons now and it’s eluded me,” Lealiifano said.

“So the passion is definitely still there to try and win a Super Rugby title, that’s the drive first but if I’m in form and playing my best footy then hopefully you’re knocking on the door for that next level stuff.

“It’s exciting, it’s a World Cup year, and everyone is excited to play good footy.

“Hopefully I’m able to play my best footy and that [contract] stuff can look after itself, wherever that pulls me.

“Whether it’s another season of Super Rugby or another Japan gig or a World Cup stint, there’s a lot of options… but I’m definitely passionate about playing Brumbies again and playing well and letting the rest take care of itself.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 18 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
Search