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Why Brumbies star needs to be in Eddie Jones' RWC plans
By Finn Morton
With this year’s Rugby World Cup just around the corner, Brumbies halfback Ryan Lonergan may have given Wallabies coach Eddie Jones something to think about.
Lonergan is in career best form at the moment, and it all started with a player of the match performance against the Waratahs in Round One.
The halfback stole the show at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium as he steered his side to a 31-25 win on the back of a 16-point haul, and also a try assist.
Lonergan’s purple patch continued throughout the opening four rounds of the season – and he could be set for higher honours if his form continues.
Having been on the cusp of Wallabies selection before – having captained Australia A last year – this might be the year the 24-year-old dons the famous gold jersey.
Former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles called Lonergan the “best bench halfback in the country” as he explained why the Brumbies star should go to this year’s World Cup.
“What he’s doing now, he’s actually showing he’s becoming the best bench halfback in the country and that’s an important role, especially moving forward into Test season,” Hoiles said on Between Two Posts.
“It works perfectly. It is one of the harder positions to play 80 minutes. You start to watch a game and you start to watch every good No. 9 around the 60 minute mark and watch them start to slow up.
“The Brums all said it post-game – the whole bench was fantastic, but he looked like he was the guy that led the charge for the bench.”
“You need people that are experienced in that role.
“In a World Cup the issue with players coming off the bench is a lot of them are chasing more minutes and they’re talking to the coach each week because naturally, players have egos.
“The want more time in the middle, they all think about this, but to get a World Cup-winning side… I always pose this question: are you willing to be sitting, in the World Cup final, as a squad member in your suit to watch your team win the World Cup?
“That’s the sign of a true team man. He’s a guy that will go there, and if he knows his role, he’s not going to try and make an immediate impact, or give away a penalty or be offside because he’s trying to make an impact straight away.
“He’s seasoned in his performance off the bench.”
Lonergan will captain the Brumbies in their trans-Tasman blockbuster against the champion Crusaders on Friday night.
The halfback will partner Noah Lolesio in the halves.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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