Rugby World Cup 2019: Cancer survivor Christian Lealiifano still proving inspirational figure

Wallabies star Christian Lealiifano has beaten leukaemia yet it still means he must be vigilant on never getting too run down. And for that he’s ‘amazed and humbled’ by his teammates trust.

Christian Lealiifano poses for a selfie with fans.

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Say a daily prayer for medical marvel Christian Lealiifano. His Wallabies’ teammates do for the backline kingpin they are happy to see with a modified training load because his health is still No.1.

Lealiifano may just have nailed the role as Australia’s top choice five-eighth for the crunch World Cup quarter-final with his more polished display in Saturday’s 45-10 win over Uruguay.

Lealiifano has beaten leukaemia yet it still means he must be vigilant on never getting too run down because of his compromised immune system.

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Christian Lealiifano poses for a selfie with fans.

He does need a light training day or a freshening game off at times and he’s grateful that his teammates and strength and conditioning guru Brad Harrington are so tuned to his special case.

“Something I’ve been amazed and humbled by is how the team and medical staff have been really trusting in going off my feedback and how I’m feeling,” Lealiifano said.

“Sometimes there are days when I’m feeling too tired or a bit flat. They manage me, lighten the training load a bit and freshen me so I’m very grateful they have adjusted to me as a unique case.

“It’s just the big workloads, six-day turnarounds between games, those things where they manage me.

“I had a break last week (when missing the Wales game) to refresh and I could work to sharpen up a few things including the goalkicking stuff.”

Lealiifano has been entrusted with the goalkicking duties.

Lealiifano’s sharp five-from-seven goalkicking against Uruguay is what the Wallabies will need to beat a top opponent.

Playing their best side in the final pool game against Georgia in Shizuoka on Friday night is essential as a quarter-final dress rehearsal.

Lealiifano is still not taking a spot ahead of Bernard Foley as a done deal: “Not at all.”

Their contrasting styles have to be weighed up. When in form, Foley is a stronger controller while Lealiifano is always a job share playmaker with his halfback.

Lealiifano’s character and style to beat cancer hasn’t waned as inspiration within the Wallabies.

Lealiifano tries to get a Wallabies attack started.

“Being able to chat to guys about it has been helpful (even if) some of the boys were a bit scared to ask sometimes,” Lealiifano said.

“Guys check in and say a prayer for me every day and it helps a lot in keeping me grounded.”

One of Lealiifano’s most admired traits is being such a giver, even when he was in personal crisis, and he reached out to Tongan forward Nasi Manu.

Manu conquered testicular cancer and chemotherapy to play at this tournament.

“It’s really special to play footy but to be healthy and be around the world stage is truly remarkable. I’m really proud of that as well and I wish him a nice long life,” Lealifano said.

Tonga’s Nasi Manu has had his own health battles.

“Initially, I reached out to him just to be supportive and tell him to stay positive.”

Coach Michael Cheika was forthright in demanding an end to poor discipline, including the two high tackles that cost forward Adam Coleman and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto yellow cards in a poor 12-5 penalty blow.

“We stuck together and fought hard when we were down to 14 men and there were some really good tries, two when a man down,” Lealiifano said.

Curing the slow-start handbrake is ongoing and being more clinical early is vital.

“Obviously, we want improvement in that area and part of it is looking after possession better and not letting teams off so easily with little errors,” Lealiifano said.