Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa will miss the start of the Super Rugby Pacific season as he continues his rehab from last year's devastating Achilles injury.
The injury ruled the prop out of the Rugby World Cup but Alaalatoa is already eyeing a possible return to the Test captaincy.
Alaalatoa spoke to Wide World of Sports ahead of Friday night's Rebels vs Brumbies season opener in Melbourne.
Watch the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season on the home of rugby, Stan Sport, kicking off on February 23. Every match ad free, live and on demand in 4K UHD
WWOS: How soon will we see you back on the park?
Alaalatoa: Maybe around March/April. That's best case and depending on all the targets that need to be hit from now until then.
It's a long process but heading in the right direction at the moment.
WWOS: How is the club filling that on field leadership void?
Alaalatoa: We've got some great leaders at the Brums. Ryan Lonergan has got great respect among the group and has been a great leader for us over a period of time. Guys like Slips (James Slipper) as well, everyone just looks towards naturally. Tom Wright, we've got a handful of boys and I think we're in good hands.
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WWOS: What was your reaction to Eddie Jones signing with Japan?
Alaalatoa: The boys were quite devastated. There was definitely belief in the group that he was going to be with us until the end of his contract. Very disappointing but the World Cup boys have been training with a chip on their shoulder. We have to improve and we understand that we're playing for something bigger than ourselves here. We need to fight and bring rugby back in Australia.
WWOS: It's a bit of a reset for everyone involved in rugby, isn't it?
Alaalatoa: Yes, the boys who went to the World Cup were obviously devastated with the result and the boys who didn't get selected have a point to prove as well.
For the Brumbies, we'll just continue to be a good club and that's something that we spoke about as a team. We've been good for a while now over the years, but we also haven't won, you know.
So now it's about us taking that next step and trying to find small gains in and around our program and the way that we're playing, to try and get that ultimate result.
WWOS: The Crusaders have been pretty greedy winning silverware over the years, but they've had a changing of the guard. Do you feel like there's a bit of an opportunity there?
Alaalatoa: Yeah, they've lost some great, experienced players, who they probably can never replace. What they've done for their club and their country as well.
But it gives them an opportunity for the next person to bring their best version of themselves. And as we've seen, they've rotated their squad quite a bit over the last few years. So the boys who will be stepping into their jersey won't necessarily be making their debut.
They would have got a taste of Super Rugby over the last couple of years. And I know from my brother's (Michael) experience playing there, they've got a strong program in Canterbury.
I'm sure that the next person to step up is going to be ready for their job and they've got quality coaches there as well.
The lack of experience, yeah, might hurt them but they're still going to be very strong and consistent, for sure.
WWOS: You've had a taste of it but do you aspire to the Wallabies captaincy longer term?
Alaalatoa: I'll definitely step into that role if that's the way that the coaches want to go and the team wants to go.
I've always been someone that when I was coming through, I wanted to have a captain that I respected and that I trusted and if that's what the boys want then, yeah, I'll definitely be happy to step in that role and continue to grow.
I just love being myself. If the boys want me to be the leader of the team then yeah, I'd love that. All this stuff (media) is probably the hardest. I was never a natural talker so it's something that I'm continuing to work on behind the scenes.
WWOS: How did your first meeting with Joe Schmidt go?
Alaalatoa: He was a really good man with a great vision. He's got a lot of work to do with staff appointments but I think we're in good hands... it was awesome, man.
Like, a lot of the media have been talking about him but it was great just to meet him behind doors and have a conversation.
He was just asking questions, what's been happening, what are the changes that we need to make and what his focus is over the next couple of months. He's a really good man, really down to earth and very approachable.
WWOS: What are the Brumbies expecting from the Rebels?
Alaalatoa: It's going to be massive. They've recruited nicely with experienced players like Lukhan (Salakai-Loto) and Taniela (Tupou) in the forward pack and guys like (Matt) Proctor and Filipo (Daugunu) in the outside backs.
And everything that's going on behind the scenes, they've got a lot to play for now. They want to be playing for their jersey and their state and they want to prove a point to the competition and to Rugby Australia. We understand that as a team, we know what's coming and there's going to be a great game for our competition to start.
ROUND ONE FIXTURE
REBELS vs BRUMBIES: Melbourne's AAMI Park, Friday 7.35pm AEDT
REBELS (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Lachie Anderson, Filipo Daugunu, David Feliuai, Glen Vaihu, Carter Gordon, Jack Maunder, Rob Leota (c), Brad Wilkin, Josh Kemeny, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Sam Talakai, Jordan Uelese, Matt Gibbon
Reserves: Alex Mafi, Isaac Kailea, Taniela Tupou, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Vaiolini Ekuasi, James Tuttle, Jake Strachan, Nick Jooste
BRUMBIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Andy Muirhead, Len Ikitau, Ollie Sapsford, Corey Toole, Noah Lolesio, Ryan Lonergan (c), Charlie Cale, Luke Reimer, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Rhys van Nek, Lachlan Lonergan, James Slipper
Reserves: Billy Pollard, Blake Schoupp, Sefo Kautai, Cadeyrn Neville, Jahrome Brown, Klayton Thorn, Declan Meredith, Tamati Tua
Referee: Angus Gardner
BRUMBIES 2024 SQUAD
Props: Allan Alaalatoa (c), James Slipper, Fred Kaihea, Sefo Kautai, Blake Schoupp, Rhys Van Nek, Harry Vella
Hookers: Lachlan Lonergan, Connal McInerney, Billy Pollard
Locks: Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Darcy Swain, Lachlan Shaw
Loose forwards: Rob Valetini, Charlie Cale, Jahrome Brown, Tom Hooper, Rory Scott, Luke Reimer, Ed Kennedy
Halfbacks: Ryan Lonergan, Harrison Goddard, Klayton Thorn
Five-eighths: Noah Lolesio, Jack Debreczeni, Declan Meredith
Centres: Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau, Ollie Sapsford, Hudson Creighton, Austin Anderson
Outside backs: Tom Wright, Corey Toole, Ben O'Donnell, Andy Muirhead
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