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Lealiifano returns under 12 months on from cancer diagnosis

Brumbies fly-half Christian Lealifano

Christian Lealiifano has returned to the rugby pitch for the Brumbies less than a year after being diagnosed with leukemia.

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Fly-half Lealiifano was diagnosed with cancer last August but went into remission in February.

The 29-year-old, who has won 19 caps for Australia, started on the bench for the Brumbies in their match with Asia Pacific Dragons in Singapore on Thursday.

But he was brought on in the 49th minute and subsequently kicked five conversions as the Brumbies ran out easy 61-14 winners.

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Nickers 25 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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