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Five Australians to look out for in the Heineken Cup
By RugbyPass
With the 2018 Heineken Cup looming and RugbyPass providing live coverage in Australia, we look at five of the best Aussie talents in the competition.
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MATT TOOMUA – Leicester
Wallabies playmaker Matt Toomua found himself back in the spotlight after leading the national side to victory over South Africa during this year’s Rugby Championship.
The 28-year-old has plied his trade with Leicester and will resume his partnership with England flyhalf George Ford upon his return to Welford Road.
The former Brumby has 38 Tests to his name, and his Leicester side are the only English team to have qualified for every iteration of the Heineken Cup.
WILL SKELTON – Saracens
Towering former Wallabies lock Will Skelton remains an on-pitch terror for opponents.
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After slimming down from 148kg to 135kg, the hulking Skelton will be looking to add to his trophy cabinet with a Heineken Cup win in 2018. He won the Premiership in his first season with Saracens, coming off the bench in last year’s final.
READ MORE: Skelton drops 18kg
Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall lovingly described the 26-year-old as the biggest human he has ever seen.
HENRY SPEIGHT – Ulster
Fijian-born winger Henry Speight joined Ulster after seven seasons and over 100 matches with the Brumbies.
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Possessing a perfect blend of pace and power, Speight heads north with 19 Wallabies caps to his name.
Speight will be around for the first two months of Heineken Cup competition before re-joining the Brumbies before the new year in hopes of a World Cup berth.
JOE TOMANE – Leinster
Former Brumbies utility and cross-code star Joe Tomane joins reigning champion Leinster after two years in France.
A background in rugby league makes Tomane a hard-hitting mercenary in the midfield or on the wing, where he will play outside the likes of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose.
The addition of Tomane makes Leinster’s already devastating attack even more dangerous, giving Leo Cullen’s side a player of international quality they can turn to when their seven Ireland backs go into camp.
SCOTT FARDY – Leinster
Scott Fardy has achieved cult hero status since joining the Irish province in 2017.
The 39-Test Wallaby already has a PRO14 and Heineken Cup title to his name, and last year was a nominee for European Professional Club Rugby Player of the Year honours.
Capable of playing at lock or in the back row, Fardy is part of a star-studded forward pack featuring Irish internationals Devin Toner, James Ryan, Tadhg Furlong, Sean O’Brien and Dan Leavy.
At 34 years old, Fardy will be one of the elder statesmen in the pack as he tries to lead his side to another pair of titles.
