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'You could just see how excited he was to be back': Richard Kahui primed for Super Rugby return
By AAP
Western Force have set their sights on taking down the Brumbies' all-Wallabies front row when the two sides lock horns in Sydney on Saturday night.
The Brumbies' front row of Scott Sio (63 Tests), Folau Fainga'a (12), and Allan Alaalatoa (37) boast a combined 112 Test caps between them.
In contrast, the Force's trio of Kieran Longbottom, 25-year-old hooker Feleti Kaitu'u, and 22-year-old Angus Wagner have none, with 27-Test Wallaby Greg Holmes ruled out with a broken thumb.
Wagner and Kaitu'u didn't even have any Super Rugby experience before this year, but they've already proven they are no pushovers.
Longbottom has been impressed by what the duo have produced so far, and he's confident they will hold their own against the Brumbies.
"Their growth has been huge," Longbottom said.
"The work they did on the weekend against the Reds was massive, and you could just feel the confidence they got out of that.
"It's a very good front row (the Brumbies have), but we see it as a challenge and an opportunity to prove ourselves.
"It's a Wallaby front row. So if we can have a great day out against them, we can be super proud of that and set our team up for success."
It's not just the Brumbies' front row that poses a threat, with their backline featuring powerhouse runners Irae Simone, Tevita Kuridrani, and winger Solomone Kata.
The Brumbies are unbeaten after two games, while the Force have suffered tight losses to the Waratahs and Reds.
The Force will unleash World Cup-winning All Blacks centre Richard Kahui off the bench, with fellow Kiwi Jeremy Thrush to captain the side in the absence of Ian Prior (shoulder).
"He's been energetic and really helpful," Longbottom said of Kahui, who won the World Cup with the All Blacks in 2011.
"We had a presentation for his jersey earlier this morning, and you could just see how excited he was to be back in Super footy, to be back with a group as open and welcoming as we are.
"He brings a lot of experience to that backline."
The Force have lost 10 of their past 11 games against the Brumbies, but Longbottom says the team is confident of causing a boilover.
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You are not right, I don't know any other way to say it.
I understand you'd like to believe that the SA D system has found been somehow 'found out' and its weaknesses exposed.
It suits your agenda that it is only a matter of time before the ABs reclaim their rightful spot at the head of the world game [in all aspects].
It warps your judgment but I say, that's okay.😁
Go to commentsCL Ben targets you guys but never shows the respect you deserve because he gets paid for it! 🥲 True AB supporters will show our support always because of the incredible longevity of our mutual rugby history together as Jen alludes to below. I fondly remember hours spent in early mornings shared with Dad and my brothers in the middle of last century nothing with more than a crackling radio to share commentaries from Jo'burg or Capetown say the same as you guys would do when you Boks came to NZ on long tours with vivid memories without visuals on TV either ...WIN OR LOSE! 😍 but still keeping scores lol that's where respect was born! 😎
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