Injured Brumby Toni Pulu added to Wallabies camp for World Cup plans
The start to Toni Pulu's Australian rugby career lasted just 10 minutes before injury disaster, but the flying winger has been called into a Wallabies' World Cup camp to fast-track his transition.
The former Waikato Chiefs flyer is one of 12 ACT Brumbies players who flew to Sydney on Saturday for the second Wallabies' planning session of the year.
Young gun Rob Valetini and 86-Test prop James Slipper, who has restarted his career in Canberra, have also been included in the extended group of Australian players.
The decision to add Pulu is a show of faith from Wallabies coach Michael Cheika after he fractured his cheekbone in the opening minutes of round one. He will miss at least two more weeks before he is available to play again.
Cheika played a key part in luring Pulu to Australia to become eligible to play for the Wallabies at the World Cup, convincing the 30-year-old to leave New Zealand and move to Canberra.
Pulu is considered one of the fastest players in Super Rugby and the Wallabies view him as another X-factor for the World Cup campaign.
Cheika has gathered a large squad in Sydney as he starts formulating plans, but it will come to the detriment of Super Rugby clubs preparing for their next regular season games.
The Brumbies and NSW Waratahs will have their players back for just two training sessions for an Australian rivalry contest in Canberra on Friday night, while Melbourne Rebels players delayed their flight to South Africa.
Cheika invited a dozen Brumbies to the meeting, including Pulu, Valetini, Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Scott Sio, Folau Faingaa, Rory Arnold, David Pocock, Pete Samu, Tevita Kuridrani, Tom Banks, Joe Powell.
Slipper has joined the Brumbies after off-field controversy led to him falling out with the Queensland Reds last year. He was suspended for two months after twice testing positive to cocaine.
But he has got his career back on track in the capital and Cheika included him in a Wallabies trial match last year to show there was a path back to international rugby.
Valetini, 20, is rated as a star on the rise and returned to the Brumbies' starting side in their three-point loss to the Melbourne Rebels in round three.
Cheika picked the back-rower as a development player for the spring tour of Europe last year to give him a taste of the Wallabies environment to prepare him for a World Cup year.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is taking a cautious approach with his development and doesn't want to put pressure on him so early in his career.
"I thought he was busy [against the Rebels]. He had some good touches on his carries and his work-rate looked pretty high," McKellar said.
"He's a young player with an enormous future ahead of him as long as he continues to work hard. He's still understanding what it takes to be a professional footballer.
"Always encouraging him to spend time with, or watch, guys like Pocock because at this age, this is where he's going to develop his habits. If he gets that learning and understanding of what it takes to be a pro ... he's going to be a dominant back-rower at Super Rugby and international level."