The Brumbies have defied Wallabies coach Michael Cheika by naming three star players at the centre of a tug-of-war between club and country to play this weekend.
David Pocock, Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa are in the starting XV for Sunday’s Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves at GIO Stadium.
The ACT team has been firm about having their best available side for the clash since the request to rest came through from Cheika last week.
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It’s a different approach to Melbourne with Rebels coach Dave Wessels admitting Will Genia could have returned from injury against the Blues on Saturday.
“Will could have played but there’s a bigger picture here that if the Wallabies go well that’s good for everybody in Australian rugby,” Wessels said.
The Brumbies are desperate for the trio to play, mainly to boost slumping crowd figures in the nation’s capital.
An email was sent to members last week, warning the club “may no longer exist” if attendances don’t pick up.
The club has promised to donate $5000 each to three Canberra charities if they reach their targeted crowd of 15,000.
But Cheika has insisted the national team needs to be put first, saying he had made a “common-sense” request, and the Brumbies will draw a big crowd no matter what.
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The first Test against Ireland is six days after the Brumbies take to the field and Cheika believes the short turnaround will affect preparations to play the second ranked team in the world.
Tom Banks, Joe Powell and Tevita Kuridrani were all named in the 33-man Test squad but Brumbies coach Dan McKellar wasn’t asked to pull them from the team.
Lock Rory Arnold and promising young hooker Folau Fainga’a are missing the game through suspension but were still picked in the Australian squad.
Brumbies squad: Tom Banks, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Kyle Godwin, Andrew Muirhead, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Powell, Isi Naisarani, David Pocock, Lachlan McCaffrey, Sam Carter, Blake Enever, Allan Alaalatoa, Connal McInerney, Scott Sio.
Res: Nic Mayhew, Ben Alexander, Richie Arnold, Tom Cusack, Matt Lucas, Wharenui Hawera, Andrew Smith.