Lachlan Lonergan’s Return and the Brumbies’ Challenge
Lachlan Lonergan has expressed his excitement about potentially returning to the Wallabies setup, but he emphasizes that his immediate focus is on enjoying the game he once took for granted. The ACT Brumbies are set to face the Queensland Reds in a crucial Super Rugby Pacific match, with both teams aiming to secure their positions within the top six.
Canberra will benefit from the return of Lonergan, who has been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury against the British and Irish Lions last year. This will be his first start of the season, marking a significant milestone in his recovery journey.
Despite his aspirations for the national team, Lonergan is more focused on relishing the moment at Suncorp Stadium this Saturday. “I just took it (rugby) for granted … having a couple of injuries puts it in perspective,” he shared with reporters. “I’m just focusing on trying to get some good footy in for the Brumbies. If that opportunity (Wallabies) arises, I’d be absolutely stoked with it.”
Lonergan also highlighted the importance of being back among the team after his rehabilitation. “But I’m just so pumped to be playing out of rehab and just back among the team.”
The Brumbies have struggled with form recently, suffering a heavy 45-12 defeat to the Hurricanes last Saturday. This loss continues a challenging run for the team, which has now lost five of their past seven games. They currently sit fifth on the ladder, with the seventh-placed Highlanders closely following.
Brumbies rookie Kadin Pritchard spoke about the team’s mindset following recent setbacks. He mentioned that they are in a reset mode and are determined to bounce back. Additionally, Kadin has a personal stake in the match as he will face his 19-year-old brother Treyvon, who aims to defeat him for the second time this season.
“Last week I caught up with him in Christchurch, and we were actually just reflecting on this a little bit,” Kadin said. “From little kids in the backyard just mucking around with a little footy to now out here, it’s a pretty surreal moment for both of us, and we’re still pinching ourselves.”
Queensland, currently sitting at 23 points, is just three points ahead of the Highlanders (20). The Reds recently faced a tough loss to the Blues, going down 36-33 in a golden-point match.
Reds captain Fraser McReight emphasized the need for improvement ahead of the upcoming clash. He noted that the team has learned valuable lessons from their previous game and is determined to perform better this time around.
“We had some really good lessons against the Blues,” McReight stated. “Both starts to the halves weren’t great. We can be a lot better and come out ready to go.”
