Wallabies, Brumbies negotiating after Michael Cheika requests players be rested from Super Rugby
Updated
The Wallabies are at odds with the Brumbies after asking them to hold their biggest names out of this weekend's Super Rugby game.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika named his squad for the Test against Ireland in Brisbane next Saturday, with eight Brumbies making the cut.
Cheika requested the Brumbies rest stars David Pocock, Scott Sio and Alan Alaalatoa when the Brumbies play the Sunwolves in Canberra on Sunday afternoon, giving them just six days of rest, which is "not ideal".
He also said he took into account the fact that the Brumbies, who have a 4-8 win-loss record this season, were not in finals contention.
"I started discussions with them last week, just had a look at how the season's panning out," he said.
"[I] wanted to take that into consideration as well and try and make a common-sense decision around that.
Brumbies in Wallabies squad
- Alan Alaalatoa
- Rory Arnold
- Tom Banks
- Folau Faingaa
- Tevita Kuridrani
- David Pocock
- Joe Powell
- Scott Sio
"I [also] took into consideration the Sunwolves will be resting all their Japanese players for the match and I think the Brumbies, the form they're in and the players they've got, think they're going to beat the Sunwolves regardless."
Whether that is true or not, the Brumbies' interest in having their biggest names play is not solely based on their chances of beating the last-placed team in the competition.
This weekend's game at Canberra Stadium is the centre of the club's "15 for 15" promotion. They were hoping for a 15,000-strong crowd and in return the club would donate $15,000 to a local charity.
Brumbies and Wallabies star David Pocock said it was "a tough one" but it would likely come down to a discussion between the coaches — Cheika and Dan McKellar.
"The Brumbies have been very supportive of the national program," Cheika said.
"I've certainly not had any complaints around that."
Brumbies chief executive Michael Thomson said he understood where the Wallabies were coming from with the request, but he had to do what was best for the Brumbies and they wanted to keep their best players on the field.
"We're always supportive of the Wallabies and the national interest, but this is one we're just working through at the moment," he said.
"We haven't made a decision and we're still in discussion with Rugby Australia on it."
Topics: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, canberra-2600, brisbane-4000
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