Brumbies thumb their nose at Cheika

The Brumbies have ignored a request from Michael Cheika to rest David Pocock and props Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa

The Brumbies have insisted on playing their major drawcard, David Pocock

The Brumbies have ignored a ­request from Wallabies coach ­Michael Cheika to rest David ­Pocock and props Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa from their side to play the Sunwolves in Canberra tomorrow, but the tug of war is far from over with Rugby Australia insisting that could yet change.

Under SANZAAR rules, the Brumbies were required to release their team yesterday and, true to their word, they chose the three Wallabies forwards, even though it means they will have only a six-day turnaround to prepare for the First Test against Ireland in Brisbane next Saturday.

It’s not simply a case of a club thumbing its nose at the national coach. The Brumbies crowds have been on the slide this season, to the point that club officials have warned that the team might not exist in five years unless attendances improve. Accordingly, there is a drive to attract a crowd of 15,000 tomorrow, but if the club is going to ask for a show of support from Canberra, the least it can do is play a full-strength side, including its primary drawcard, Pocock.

Nor is Cheika being draconian in asking that the trio be stood down, particularly as he has indicated the Brumbies’ other representatives in the Wallabies squad, Joe Powell, Tevita Kuridrani and Tom Banks, are free to play, which presumably does not augur well for their chances of being in the starting Test XV next Saturday. As it is, only one Brumby named in the Australian team, hooker Folau Fainga’a, is a confirmed non-starter, after he was suspended for a week for a “headbutt”.

“I understand where they (the Brumbies) are coming from, totally,” Cheika told Macquarie Sports Radio yesterday. “I tried to make a commonsense decision and hopefully we can work it out between us for the benefit of the guys. I’m keen that those guys get the proper preparation that they need going into a Test match.

“I just think it’s the right decision all round and I still believe the Brumbies have enough guns in their side to go out and beat the Sunwolves.”

But while Rugby Australia believes this matter is not yet settled and a compromise might still be reached, the Brumbies are proceeding full steam ahead with a match they hope will revive their chances of winning the Australian conference. They are in third place at present and need results to go their way, but a bonus point win would certainly help.

Said CEO Michael Thomson: “We’re very keen to support the national team. However in this ­instance, our priority has to be our club, our team, our region.”

Still, Brumbies officials will spend the match with fingers crossed that none of the contentious trio is hurt.

Meanwhile, John Manenti, who was named as interim coach of the Rio Olympics gold medal- winning Australian women’s sevens rugby team following the appointment of Tim Walsh as men’s coach, has been confirmed in the position through to 2021.

It’s a precarious time for ­Manenti to be permanently installed with Australia clinging to the top of the world rankings on 74 points, just four ahead of New Zealand, with everything to be decided at the final tournament in Paris next weekend.

He has noticed that all teams, not just New Zealand, are attempting to use physical tactics to wear down the Australians, who are the lightest, fastest and arguably the most skilful team on the world ­circuit.

“Our skill set is to avoid contact and use our speed,” said Manenti, who admits he has spent the past week concentrating on “bone-on-bone” work to get the players accustomed to the higher physicality.