Lachlan McCaffrey has declared his intention to re-sign with the ACT Brumbies as the back-rower edges closer to a shock Wallabies call up for the World Cup.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has identified McCaffrey as a World Cup bolter to add a point of difference to his squad for the tournament in Japan later this year.
His leadership and ball-playing skill has put him on the Test radar at the same time he has been speaking to the Brumbies about extending his stay in Canberra.
The 29-year-old has emerged as a future Brumbies leader this season and he has been influential in most of the games he has played this year despite the ACT side's winning struggles.
Asked if he was close to making a decision on his Super Rugby future, McCaffrey said: "I'm pretty close.
"I'm really enjoying where my rugby is at here with the Brums, so I've told the Brumbies that and I've told my manager that.
"Hopefully we can get things sorted over the next week or fortnight. As long as they're happy to keep me and happy with my game, then I'm in a really good place here in Canberra and at the Brumbies."
McCaffrey recently put contract talks on hold to focus on a block of games and trying to help the Brumbies get their season back on track.
He has taken on a leadership role in the back row, particularly in the absence of superstar No. 7 David Pocock.
Pocock has played just one full games this season after struggling to overcome a calf strain and being concussed in round one, but McCaffrey has teamed up with Tom Cusack, Pete Samu and Rob Valetini to fill the void.
He has earnt high praise from former players and Brumbies coach Dan McKellar, and Wallabies coach Cheika joined in last weekend when he nominated McCaffrey as a player to watch.
"[McCaffrey] is a different type of player but has had a really good season so far," Cheika said in Fox Sports last weekend.
"He's more a ball player, a link player, so that gives you different ways to play the guys."
McCaffrey admits the prospect of playing at the World Cup is impossible to ignore, but he has blocked out distractions to ensure hype doesn't affect his on-field form.
"As soon as you get ahead of yourself, you're not focusing on what's important and that's the 80 minutes you play every weekend," McCaffrey said.
"You've got to execute. Yeah, it's been nice mentioned by a few guys and getting a bit of support. But at the same time it doesn't matter who is talking you up because it comes down to the head coach [of the Wallabies] and his selectors.
"I'm trying to train hard to focus on my game and what I can do to put my best foot forward.
"With experience you know your strengths and weaknesses so I'm continually working on my defence, breakdown and set piece. If people see my strength as being able to read a game well and link, I have to put that forward every weekend when I play.
"If Cheik and the other Wallabies coaches think that could help during a World Cup, then I'd be honoured. But I'm not thinking about that, just concentrating on my own game."
The Brumbies will welcome back Wallabies David Pocock, Folau Faingaa, Scott Sio and Rory Arnold when they return on Saturday.
