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'Something has happened nearly every week with a new challenge but you've just got to adapt.'

Allan-Alaalatoa. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

The Brumbies are preparing for an unpredictable Sunwolves outfit when the Super Rugby sides meet in Wollongong on Friday afternoon.

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The ACT-based Brumbies have had a winning but tumultuous start to the year after being impacted by bushfire smoke, hail storms, mumps and now coronavirus.

The week six fixture against the Sunwolves was relocated from Osaka due to coronavirus concerns in Japan, while Brumbies players were quarantined after a mumps outbreak last month.

The Brumbies have overcome their distractions to be top of the Australian conference but skipper Allan Alaalatoa said they’ll have to work to stay there.

“We’ve spoken a lot about being resilient, something has happened nearly every week with a new challenge but you’ve just got to adapt,” Alaalatoa said.

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“In the first four-week block we’ve overcome some battles as a team and that’s just a testament to the way the boys are and how tight we are as a group.

“We’ve got to go out there and put in a good performance and make sure we put all the distractions aside and just get the result.

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“We’re expecting anything from the Sunwolves, they’re a side that has so much spark in their backline and are always physical in the forward pack.”

Alaalatoa said the next six-week block would define their season and he was looking forward to playing against former teammate Ben Hyne.

Hyne was on the Brumbies’ books for four years but didn’t play in the past two seasons as he was plagued by injuries.

He’ll play his first Super Rugby game since 2017 on Friday.

“Hyney is a quality team man. To lose him was sad, he had a bad run of injuries but he would always do everything for the team where he could,” Alaalatoa said.

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“The Sunwolves have gained a quality person on and off the field and what a story it is for him to make his comeback against us.

“When he was fully fit he was putting shots on everyone at training.

“Another opportunity has arisen for him and I know he’s itching to get out there.”

– AAP

WATCH: Former Super Rugby star Nemani Nadolo is set to join Leicester ahead of the 2020/21 season.

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J
JW 31 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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