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The Samoan international set for Brumbies comeback after six years away from Super Rugby
When the Brumbies run out to face the Western Force in their sole pre-season clash of the year on Tuesday, the reigning Super Rugby AU champions will have a familiar face in their ranks.
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In addition to the seven Wallabies named in Dan McKellar’s starting lineup, the Brumbies will also welcome the return of three-test Manu Samoa international Rod Iona to Canberra’s Viking Park.
The 29-year-old has been named to start in the midfield alongside Len Ikitau, six years after he last featured for the ACT side.
Iona debuted for the Brumbies in 2014 after receiving a call-up as injury cover for a clash against the Waratahs in what proved to be his only appearance of the season.
The following year, he played a further two times for the Canberra-based franchise before departing to France to join Pro D2 outfit Beziers in 2016.
Stints in Spain, England and with the Western Force followed afterwards, but Iona now finds himself back in the Australian capital after fielding a call from McKellar at the end of last year.
“Pre-season, when I was putting the group together for the November-December block, it was just a pretty young and inexperienced group,” McKellar told reporters on Monday.
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“At that stage, Rod thought he was going to America to play for Utah, so I just offered him the opportunity to come and train. He was excellent for Gordon last year in the Shute Shield and got them to a premiership, so [we] just wanted an experienced voice.
“Worst case scenario, Rod’s headed to America nice and fit and in good shape – always knowing America might not go ahead and that injuries happen in a collision sport and he’d be a good player to have here as cover.
“The boys love him, we all enjoy having him around, he’s a very happy, gregarious character who’s good fun, so really pleased he gets to wear a Brumbies jersey again because it’s probably something he wouldn’t have thought would happen.”
To say that Iona is happy to be back in Brumbies colours is a fair assessment from McKellar, given his new recruit said it was “awesome” be back in a Super Rugby environment.
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“Spent a bit of time in the pre-season with the Brumbies and put in the hard work and it’s all come to life now,” he said.
“Worked pretty hard with the boys for nine weeks fortunately I’ll get a start.”
The Queensland Reds have been dealt a significant injury blow as their captain Liam Wright will be sidelined for most of Super Rugby AU.https://t.co/q0tEbzvkja
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 8, 2021
While it’s been some time since Iona last featured for the Brumbies, he was adamant nothing had changed at the club in the six years he had been gone.
“The place, the culture, everything’s basically the same, it’s just different players, surprisingly. It’s good to see, though.”
It should come as little surprise, then, that Iona has slotted back into the Brumbies camp seamlessly, although he has no expectations of keeping his place in the starting lineup, even if he has impressed upon his return.
“It’s always in the back of my mind, playing Super Rugby again, but just taking care of the ‘now’ and let that take care of itself in the near future.
“That is a goal of mine [getting minutes in Super Rugby] throughout the pre-season now and the game tomorrow, hopefully do a job there and do me justice there.”
The Brumbies take on the Force at 6pm AEDT on Tuesday, before taking on the Western Australian franchise in their Super Rugby AU season-opener at HBF Park in Perth on February 19.
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments