sport, brumbies

ACT Brumbies back Kyle Godwin has been linked to a move to Ireland as the one-Test Wallaby weighs up his Super Rugby and international future. Fairfax Media understands Godwin is close to finalising a decision on whether he will stay in Australian rugby beyond the end of the year or take a chance in Europe. It's likely Godwin will move his career abroad after being on the fringes of Wallabies duties in recent years and having his rise hindered by injuries. The Brumbies are locked in contract negotiations with several players as coach Dan McKellar keeps one eye on beating the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night and the other on his squad for the coming seasons. Fullback Tom Banks is believed to be keen to stay in Canberra while Henry Speight and Christian Lealiifano are also retention targets. Cashed-up European and Japanese clubs are keen to poach Brumbies stars and Godwin, who made his Test debut on the spring tour in 2016, is near the top of the list. The 25-year-old has shown he is nearing a return to his best in the opening two games of the Super Rugby campaign after injuries ruined his hopes of playing in the finals and for the Wallabies last year. He will go head to head with Wallabies utility Reece Hodge in Melbourne in what looms as a massive Australian conference battle. The Brumbies have been bolstered by the return of Test prop Scott Sio, while Lolo Fakaosilea has been added to the back row to give the ACT more physical punch. The Rebels have been hit by and injury to skipper Adam Coleman, but have added firepower to the bench with the return of Marika Koroibete and Richard Hardwick. The Brumbies were belted by Queensland Reds forwards at scrum time last week and McKellar has called on his players to make amends this week. Hooker Folau Faingaa could make his debut from the bench and Faalelei Sione will be a back-up prop. "[Sio] is a world-class loosehead prop, we need to be realistic. He's coming back from injury," McKellar said. "We just want him to do the basics really well there and that starts with the scrum. We were really disappointed with how scrummaged against the Reds, it wasn't at our standard. "We need to understand we need to be better. It's going to be a physical game [against the Rebels], we need to turn up and that's what Lolo brings." Wallabies coaches were in Canberra this week to work with McKellar and his staff and they would have been delighted to see David Pocock starting to ramp up his training load. Pocock is on track for a return either against the NSW Waratahs on March 31 or against the Reds on April 7. Richie Arnold will return to the Brumbies bench after being rotated out for Blake Enever last week. The Rebels are undefeated after the first two games of the season, scoring two bonus-point wins against the Reds and the Japan Sunwolves. "The Rebels have gelled well. They've hit the ground running," McKellar said. "Their roster is strong and they've started the season really well. So credit to the guys down there, they've got things humming early and they're going to be a challenge for us. "For our boys, we've shown up this week, [done a review] and been honest with each other ... we'll be ready to play." SUPER RUGBY ROUND FOUR Friday: Melbourne Rebels v ACT Brumbies at AAMI Park, Melbourne, 7.45pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports. Brumbies: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Chance Peni, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Isi Naisarani, 7. Lolo Fakaosilea, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Rory Arnold, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Folau Faingaa, 17. Faalelei Sione, 18. Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Richie Arnold, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Andy Muirhead. Rebels: 15. Dane Haylett-Petty, 14. Jack Maddocks, 13. Tom English (c), 12. Reece Hodge, 11. Sefa Naivalu, 10. Jack Debreczeni, 9. Will Genia, 8. Amanaki Mafi, 7. Angus Cottrell, 6. Lopeti Timani, 5. Ross Haylett-Petty, 4. Matt Philip, 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 2. Jordan Uelese, 1. Tetera Faulkner. Reserves: 16. Anaru Rangi, 17. Ben Daley, 18. Sam Talakai, 19. Colby Fainga'a, 20. Richard Hardwick, 21. Michael Ruru, 22. Billy Meakes, 23. Marika Koroibete.

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