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Lealiifano poised for Super Rugby finals return

Brumbies co-captain Christian Lealiifano

Brumbies co-captain Christian Lealiifano is “ready to play” a Super Rugby fixture for the first time in almost a year after his cancer diagnosis.

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The Wallaby back was diagnosed in August 2016, but revealed he was in remission in February this year after a bone-marrow transplant.

The Brumbies will play the Hurricanes in Friday’s quarter-final, having topped the Australian Conference, but they are without a win against New Zealand opposition since a 52-10 victory over the Wellington club at the very start of last season.

With the odds stacked against him, coach Stephen Larkham does not view Lealiifano’s possible return in Canberra as a risk, with a previous comeback delayed by a hamstring strain.

“It would be a gamble if I thought he wasn’t right to play so we’ll wait and make that assessment after we see how he trains,” Larkham said.

“We’ll name the team Tuesday but the way he’s trained within the team over the last three months gives me a fair indication that he’s ready to play.”

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Nickers 30 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.

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