Moore comeback on track

Veteran hooker Stephen Moore looks set to make a full comeback in time for the start of the Super Rugby season.

Moore, who captained the Brumbies, returned to full training with the Brumbies this week – as he continued his comeback from a knee reconstruction.

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham told The Canberra Times that Moore was still on track to be ready for their Super Rugby season opener against the Reds on February 13.

Scott Fardy is yet to fully rejoin the main group after he had off-season knee surgery, but Larkham thought he, too, should be ready to face the Reds.

"They're close now, Steve trained with the team for the first time in this pre-season and looks the goods," the coach told the Times.

"Fards started to be a little bit more involved with the team, he's not quite ready, but they're on track, which is pleasing, everyone's on track to be available for that first game."

Moore tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the opening minutes of his debut as Wallaby captain.

It meant he missed the back end of the 2014 Super Rugby season as well as Australia's European spring tour.

But the nine Brumbies who were on that tour all rejoined their provincial squad a week early with the first pre-season trial less than two weeks away.

Larkham said it was a clear sign of intent ahead of a massive year of rugby.

Not only are they desperate to try to end the Brumbies' Super Rugby title drought, but also to press claims to be included on the flights to London as part of Michael Cheika's Wallabies World Cup squad in September.

"There's a big focus for Australian rugby at the moment on this World Cup and a number of Brumbies guys are in that frame, certainly all the guys who toured at the end of the year last year," Larkham said.

"There's no doubt that will be in their thoughts this year, they'll be very keen, they've all bought into it to ensure they have a really good year for the Brumbies.

"They know if they play well for the Brumbies in Super Rugby there will be more opportunities after that."

Source: The Canberra Times