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Brumby Allan Alaalatoa to end more than 260 day wait against Hurricanes

Allan Alaalatoa of the Wallabies comes off the ground with an injury during the The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa will make his long-awaited return from injury on Saturday afternoon after being named to start for the Brumbies against the table-topping Hurricanes.

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Alaalatoa, who missed the Rugby World Cup after suffering the injury during the first Bledisloe Cup test in Melbourne, will return to competitive rugby for the first time in more than 260 days.

The world-class tighthead prop will pack down alongside James Slipper and hooker Billy Pollard in an impressive front row, while Darcy Swain and Cadeyrn Neville round out the tight five.

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Rory Scott has been named at openside flanker for the first time this season and joins Wallaby Rob Valetini and rising star Charlie Cale in the loose forwards.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
3
Draws
0
Wins
2
Average Points scored
31
29
First try wins
20%
Home team wins
80%

Captain Ryan Lonergan is back at halfback for the second week in a row and will combine with Noah Lolesio in the halves. Lolesio has played in every match this season.

Len Ikitau returns from an injury layoff to start at outside centre, with the Wallaby set to link up with Tamati Tua in the midfield.

Speedster Corey Toole will take his place on the left wing once again, New Zealand-born Ollie Sapsford on the right, and Wallaby Tom Wright lines up out the back.

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Coach Stephen Larkham has gone with a 5-3 split on the bench.

The Hurricanes are undefeated this season but their last loss in a competitive fixture was against the Brumbies in Canberra (last year’s quarter-finals).

As for the Brumbies, they’ll be looking to put the disappointment of last year’s thrashing by the Blues behind them when they take the field in front of their home fans.

This ANZAC Round fixture at Canberra’s GIO Stadium will kick-off at 2:35 pm AEST on Saturday afternoon.

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Brumbies team to take on Hurricanes

  1. James Slipper
  2. Billy Pollard
  3. Allan Alaalatoa
  4. Darcy Swain
  5. Cadeyrn Neville
  6. Rob Valetini
  7. Rory Scott
  8. Charlie Cale
  9. Ryan Lonergan
  10. Noah Lolesio
  11. Corey Toole
  12. Tamati Tua
  13. Len Ikitau
  14. Ollie Sapsford
  15. Tom Wright

Replacements

  1. Connal McInerney
  2. Blake Schoupp
  3. Sosefo Kautai
  4. Tom Hooper
  5. Jahrome Brown
  6. Harrison Goddard
  7. Jack Debreczeni
  8. Andy Muirhead
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J
Jfp123 1 hour ago
France push All Blacks to 80th minute in narrow Dunedin defeat

I can see we’re not going to agree on this. France haven’t actually contravened the rules. The Top14 finished in June, it didn’t extend into July. If it had, no doubt there’d be people baying for penalties to be imposed, if they could.


The Top14 is actually a shining light for rugby, along with the Pro D2 and National 1, they provide professional employment for thousands of rugby players, trained by top class coaches, competing regularly with and against top class players, and Jiff isn’t limited to French, so players from around the world, as well as French, have opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have, bolstering many international teams, not just their own.


As I see it, it’s not up to rivals to dictate their opponents’ tactics, and the French are entitled to run their National squad exactly as they choose, it makes no difference what “everyone”, in your view, else does. If the French value their Top14 and choose to send out development teams, that’s their entirely their prerogative, and no concern of NZ fans and pundits. I could equally well argue that NZ are disrespecting international competitions by not playing their full A team, because they ban players who play club rugby abroad. But I won’t, because just as France rightly have the freedom to approach selection as they choose, so do NZ.


Top14 isn’t perfect - I’d like to see more concern for player welfare, but that means having time for rest and recuperation, not replacing Top14 matches with international ones, so the burden remains the same. Imo, preferably limits on playing hours and bigger squads.

262 Go to comments
t
takata 1 hour ago
Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

This is another chicken of the egg situation takata. They have the number of players available because (in part) they are subsidized for having internationals.

Nope… no subside from FFR to get LNR players (LNR is actually subsiding FFR), but LNR clubs are allowed to exceed their salary cap by a certain ammount per selectionned player. Hence, Toulouse, who is providing the highest number of player, is allowed to spend about 3 million more on top of its 10.5 limit to pay for international replacements. Those 3 million are taken from the club budget (FFR has no cash to pay that).


There is a system of bonus paid by FFR directly to players but it’s only linked to the team performance if there is tournament prize money (mostly 6N and WC).


Why are TOP14 fans bemoaning the lack of star signings these days

I didn’t hear, from where I stand, a single fan around me bemoaning about the lack of star in their championship. So I really don’t know what you are refering to. Club’s recruitment policy tend to evolve because the number of non-JIFF player allowed in their team is decreasing year after year. They are primarily aiming at youngsters (from anywhere) for their academies as they can get the JIFF status after forming there for 3 years. Of course, only a few will make it to Top 14 team sheet one day.

Last I hear, half the pack of the Pumitas (Argentina’s U20) are already signed by French clubs for next season. One of them looks very promising… and is heading to Toulouse.

363 Go to comments
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