The Hux returns

[RugbyReg]

JULIAN HUXLEY will make the most celebrated return in Super 14 history this Friday night at the same venue many thought his career had ended for good.

Two years and three weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, Huxley will today be named on the Brumbies bench to play the Chiefs at Canberra Stadium.

Huxley is expected to be one of three new faces in the ACT squad for the crucial round-seven game against last year's finalists, joining Michael Hooper and teenager Colby Fainga'a.

It was only four days ago that Brumbies coach Andy Friend insisted Huxley needed ''a few more games'' before he would consider the former Wallabies centre for a return to the Super 14. But such has been Huxley's impressive form in two matches for the Brumby Runners, Friend expedited his comeback plans.

Speaking after Huxley's most recent match, in which the Runners defeated West Harbour 29-5, Friend said: ''You can see he's willing, he probably just needs a few more games. He's still got a lot of ability but some of his timing's out, [he] just needs to continue to work on that.''

But in Huxley's favour was the utility's leadership and communication skills, said Friend, which convinced the coach he was an ideal candidate to play the Chiefs.

''On review of our performance on Friday night in Auckland [where the Brumbies lost 39-34] and through the course of the year, one of the big things we've found is our lack of talk as a back line, lack of controlling things and communicating,'' Friend said. ''I look at 'Hux' and I see a bloke who is very, very good at those things. He's a good organiser and that's what we need, some structure. It's a big day for Julian Huxley, for the Brumbies, and for rugby in general.''

 

[Jethro Tah]

Good luck to you Hux! Let's hope the return is not too early.

Does he now wear headgear?

 

[the gambler]

Great stuff :thumb

 

[Lee Grant]

Good luck to you Hux! Let's hope the return is not too early.

Does he now wear headgear?

Yeah he wore it for the Runners game on his comeback. Big NN of the JWs ran right into him at full gallop early in the game and Hux's noggin jarred the ball loose. I thought: "Ouch, that's gotta hurt," but he got up OK and had a blinder.


So both Hooper and Colby Finger are going to play for the Brumbies - interesting. Colby may be the better linker but Hooper may be the better McCaw-like all rounder, though that is on a sample of just two senior games I have seen and is likely to be hogwash.

 

[Biffo]

I wish him well. No, a lot more than well.

MODS: could we please change the name attached to the "embarrassed" smiley. This bloke's resilience and courage should not be slighted in any way.

 

[Blue]

Ballsy. Good luck.

 

[Spook]

I wish him well. No, a lot more than well.

MODS: could we please change the name attached to the "embarrassed" smiley. This bloke's resilience and courage should not be slighted in any way.

Well said. Amazing story really.

 

[waratahjesus]

great news, hope he gets back to form fast and can solve the fullback problem for the wallabies.

 

[Jets]

Wish him well and I hope that he carves up for the Brumbies. I would love to see hi
at 15 AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at 13 and Gits at 12

 

[RugbyReg]

confirmed:

CA Brumbies v Chiefs
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Friday, 26 March, 2010
Kick-off: 7.40pm

Ben Alexander
Stephen Moore
Salesi Ma’afu
Ben Hand
Mitchell Chapman
Rocky Elsom
Michael Hooper
Stephen Hoiles (c)
Josh Valentine
Matt To'omua
Francis Fainifo
Matt Giteau
Stirling Mortlock
Pat McCabe
Adam Ashley-Cooper

Reserves

Huia Edmonds
Guy Shepherdson
Mark Chisholm
Colby Fainga'a
Patrick Phibbs
Tyrone Smith
Julian Huxley

 

[Scarfman]

I wish him well. No, a lot more than well.

MODS: could we please change the name attached to the "embarrassed" smiley. This bloke's resilience and courage should not be slighted in any way.

It's not the embarrassed smiley, it's the gay rainbow smiley. Hence, it is symbol of reslience and courage.

But OK, it's now the Frans. :frans

 

[fatprop]

confirmed:

CA Brumbies v Chiefs
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Friday, 26 March, 2010
Kick-off: 7.40pm

Ben Alexander
Stephen Moore
Salesi Ma’afu
Ben Hand
Mitchell Chapman
Rocky Elsom
Michael Hooper
Stephen Hoiles (c)
Josh Valentine
Matt To'omua
Francis Fainifo
Matt Giteau
Stirling Mortlock
Pat McCabe
Adam Ashley-Cooper

Reserves

Huia Edmonds
Guy Shepherdson
Mark Chisholm
Colby Fainga'a
Patrick Phibbs
Tyrone Smith
Julian Huxley

Interesting side, Harrison gone and a very mobile pack selected, I guess they plan to run the ball.

Didn't the Brumbies learn watching the Reds how to beat the Chiefs? You starve them of turnover ball and play from set piece to set piece.

 

[louie]

would rather see Andrew Smith instead of Tyrone

 

[Ash]

Gits at 12...well I never. Glad to see it.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

I imagine the majority of rugby fans will be a little choked up when Hux runs on - well done and God be with you. That's balls.

 

[Reddy!]

This game has me excited, glad to see Huxley back and ready to go, what a nice storey that turned out to be.

Also, it is good to see one of the great centre combinations of Australian rugby - Mortlock and Giteau - reunited for the first time since 2007.

 

[Viking]

What a champion. Great story. My only concern is that if he does play well, will dean's even consider him for wallabies selection?

 

[the gambler]

Chisolm being rested or dropped? Big call to play a non specialist 2nd rower and not good for Chisolm's Wallaby hopes if he has been demoted.

 

[Scotty]

Good to see him back, however everyone needs to calm down about him being the answer to the Wallaby 15 spot. There is a lot to go before then, such as being a consistent starter for the Brumbies for one and even if he does that we should also remember that at his best he was never considered a wallaby first choice for any position.

 

[Doc]

Awesome to see him make it all the way back. But if I was an opposition player or coach I'd be very unhappy to have to play against him.