sport, brumbies

ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says it's unfair players have been dragged into a tug of war with the Wallabies, adamant David Pocock, Allan Alaalatoa and Scott Sio want to play Super Rugby before joining the Test squad. The Brumbies turned the pressure back on to Rugby Australia on Friday when McKellar named the trio in his side to play against the Japan Sunwolves on Sunday, despite a Wallabies request to rest them. Rugby Australia is yet to respond to the Brumbies' suggestion of a compromise after the Canberra club offered to modify training loads this week and could include limiting game time. It is understood RA does have the power, under medical guidelines, to demand the trio be rested, but that this option will not be taken up. The most likely scenario is that they play 40 minutes instead. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said resting the Brumbies was a "commonsense decision". The Brumbies argue commonsense would have been making the request months ago instead of nine days before the game. "We want to work with Rugby Australia and the Wallabies ... this isn't about diminishing those relationships," McKellar said. "We just felt the scheduling and the timing of it was a little bit off, and at this point in time we need to do what's best for the Brumbies. We both understand each other's positions, in this instance we can't come to an agreement. "It's not great [for the players to be involved], it's far from ideal. That's the learning out of this, the players are being pulled from both sides and we need to make sure moving forward this doesn't happen again." Asked if the trio wanted to play against the Sunwolves, McKellar said: "100 per cent. I wouldn't pick anyone who doesn't want to play. "They're professional footballers who love the club and understand we're a team that's developing. They want to be a part of that." Cheika was still hopeful of reaching a positive outcome for the Wallabies given a Sunday afternoon kick-off will give Brumbies players a six-day turnaround before the first Test against Ireland in Brisbane next weekend. The Brumbies are the only Australia team asked to rest Wallabies stars, while the Melbourne Rebels agreed not to rush Will Genia's return from injury. "I've left it with the higher powers. I understand where the Brumbies are coming from, totally," Cheika said on Macquarie Sports Radio. "I'm trying to make a commonsense decision and hopefully we can work it out between us for the benefit of [Pocock, Alaalatoa and Sio]. I'm just keen that some of those guys have the proper preparation for a Test match." McKellar and Brumbies chief executive Michael Thomson hoped there was no backlash from Rugby Australia after taking a strong stance on player availability. The Brumbies are still hopeful of striking a deal that will suit their Super Rugby plans and the Wallabies, but said no one had responded to their suggestions to meet in the middle. "It's really up to Rugby Australia. We've tried to work with them and do what's in the best for our team and rugby in general. We'll wait and see what response we get," Thomson said. "We'd certainly hope [there's no backlash], we believe we've behaved appropriately and we'd hope Rugby Australia recognises the challenges they've placed on us." Cheika said collaboration in Australian rugby needed to improve for the Wallabies to be one of the top teams in the world. "In the last couple of years we've worked hard [on collaboration]. It hasn't been a strength of Australian rugby at all," Cheika said. "But over the last couple of years, I think we've built really good relationships with the [Super Rugby] coaches and the CEOs and performance managers. "This year we've had more input than ever around fitness and pre-season load ... everyone says there's angst with the Brumbies, but they're just doing the best for them. That's totally understandable. "They've been excellent in working with us to get to the level we want with our players. That's something we want over another couple of years, we normalise ... we're all working together to get a good outcome for the player." The Brumbies have struggled on and off the field this year, with the team winning just four of 12 games this season and average crowd numbers dropping to their lowest point since the franchise started in 1996. They are targeting a crowd of 15,000 for the clash against the Sunwolves and have pledged to donate $15,000 to charity if they hit that mark. "It's about winning a football game [this week], but making sure our members, supporters and stakeholders get to see the best version of the Brumbies every week," McKellar said. "We don't play 15 or 20 home games. We play eight, and people pay to see Pocock, Sio and Alaalatoa, they want to see them week in and week out. Hopefully [the fans] see that we've stuck strong and we're making a decision on we think is the best interests of the club." McKellar has made just one change to the starting XV that beat the Pretoria Bulls in South Africa last week, with rookie Connal McInerney stepping into the hooker role to replace suspended Wallabies rake Folau Faingaa. The Brumbies are still sweating on the fitness of Robbie Abel to be the back-up hooker on the bench, with prop Les Leuluaialii-Makin on standby to fill the role if needed. Eight Brumbies were picked in the Wallabies 32-man squad for the Test series against Ireland. Faingaa and fullback Tom Banks were the bolters, while Joe Powell has also been included as the back-up scrumhalf. Suspended lock Rory Arnold will miss the first Test, but the towering 208 centimetre second-rower will be available for Wallabies selection for the last two Tests. Pocock, Alaalatoa and Sio are expected to be contenders for Wallabies starting spots next week and Tevita Kuridrani rounds ou the Brumbies in the national side. SUPER RUGBY ROUND 16 Sunday: ACT Brumbies v Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm. Tickets available from Ticketek. Fans will be allowed on to the field after the game. * The Brumbies will donate $15,000 to charities if they reach their crowd target of 15,000. The money will be divided evenly between Lifeline Canberra, OzHarvest and Give me five for kids. Brumbies: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Andy Muirhead, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Isi Naisarani, 7. David Pocock, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Connal McInerney, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel/Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Ben Alexander, 19. Richie Arnold, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Andrew Smith.

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