Stranded Sunwolves embrace coronavirus schedule chaos

The competition's motley crew want to prove a point before they are axed at the end of the season and the latest setback has barely been a blip on the radar.

Coronavirus fears forced the Sunwolves to relocate home games from Japan to Wollongong and Brisbane for at least the next two weeks. No one knows where they'll be beyond that.

The players don't care. Their only focus, says former ACT Brumby James Dargaville, is making amends for two weeks of rugby disasters.

"As the Sunwolves we're based out of hotels anyway [in Japan], we're there 24-7. So nothing has really changed this week," Dargaville said.

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"We move around a lot and this is more of the same, just more of the same. And there's worse places to be stuck than Coogee.

"So the boys are really buying in ... It's tough enough playing Super Rugby let alone always moving. But this is a chance to just enjoy footy together."

The Sunwolves have been hemorrhaging in the past two weeks, conceding 126 points in losses to Queensland and the Hurricanes.

They see a game against the high-flying Brumbies on Friday afternoon as an opportunity rather than a burden, although Dargaville will miss the match against his former teammates.

The 27-year-old injured his shoulder last week, robbing him of a chance to test himself against the Brumbies.

Dargaville left the Brumbies at the end of 2018 and has played in New Zealand and Japan to launch the next phase of his career.

"I was definitely looking forward to this one, hopefully I'm available for when we have a crack at them later in the season," Dargaville said.

"We only had three weeks together as a team before the season started. Hopefully we can get a bit of a consistent team together and put in some better performances."

The good news is luckless back-rower Ben Hyne will get a chance to unleash almost three years of his injury frustration when he makes his comeback.

Hyne missed two years of rugby in Canberra after having two knee reconstructions, eventually leading to him leaving the Brumbies at the end of last season.

He found a new home at the thrown-together Sunwolves and he can show the Brumbies what they're missing.

"It will be great to see him back on the field," said Brumbies coach Dan McKellar. "Everyone's really pleased he's back to full fitness.

"It's sad the situation the Sunwolves are in ... we're expecting the unexpected with them."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND SIX

Friday: Japan Sunwolves v ACT Brumbies at Wollongong, 2.45pm.

Brumbies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Caderyn Neville, 5. Murray Douglas, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Toni Pulu, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks. Reserves: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Tom Wright.