'He'd be my 10' - Christian Lealiifano tipped for Wallabies World Cup first-five spot
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar believes Christian Lealiifano should be recalled to wear the Wallabies No.10 jersey at the World Cup later this year.
The 31-year-old has been in sensational form this Super Rugby season and has helped guide the Brumbies to the top of the Australian conference.
Lealiifano played 19 Tests before he was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and last week was invited to his first Wallabies camp since beating the illness.
He continued his stellar season with another complete performance against the Bulls on Friday and McKellar believes Lealiifano deserves a Wallabies recall after he orchestrated the 22-10 win.
"He’s been outstanding, just consistently good every week and off the back of his defence, his leadership and direction," McKellar said.
"There was a key point in the game there with 10 or 15 minutes to go and he just had the boys connected and we do a lot of work on that, just delivering a key message, his leadership has been outstanding.
“He’d be my 10 (at the World Cup), but I’m a little bit biased."
Lealiifano was one of the final players cut for the 2015 World Cup and is determined to finish is remarkable comeback story in a gold jersey.
He was one of four playmakers invited into Wallabies camp last week and will compete for a World Cup berth against NSW's Bernard Foley and Melbourne duo Matt Toomua and Quade Cooper.
Seven-Test Wallaby Pete Samu was a surprise omission from the Australian camp but McKellar believes it will the last one he misses after a strong performance against the Bulls.
"Pete is a pretty cruisy guy and was disappointed no doubt, but if he keeps playing well for the Brumbies and we go deep into the competition, selection will sort itself out," McKellar said.
AAP
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Everywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
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