Ryan Lonergan struggled to wipe the smile off his face as he watched his younger brother Lachie pack a bag for a Wallabies camp last month.
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Now the ACT Brumbies scrumhalf has a chance to press his own claims as he prepares to start alongside his brother Lachie in a Super Rugby match for the first time when they face the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday night.
The Trans-Tasman clash in Hamilton brings the brothers back to where they made their Super Rugby debuts - Ryan in 2017, and Lachie in 2020.
Ryan starts at scrumhalf for the second week in a row with a hip flexor complaint keeping Nic White sidelined, while Lachie comes in at hooker with Folau Fainga'a dropping out of the 23.
"Any opportunity you get, you want to try to take it with both hands," Ryan said.
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"To be able to do it against a country obviously ranked right up there in the world, and in my eyes the best [international] rugby team in the world, it's a great opportunity for me to test myself against them.
"To get another start this week, I'm very happy with it. I'll just go out there and give it my all."
But only this time their parents couldn't make the last-ditch trip across the Tasman like they did to watch the boys make their respective debuts.
"Apparently they're all holidayed out. They came to Melbourne, they came to Brissy for the GF. Tom's on the tools this week so no trip to beautiful Hamilton," Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said.
Connal McInerney will be the replacement hooker on McKellar's bench in his return from a broken fibula, with Fainga'a dropping out.
McKellar says the move is part of a rotation policy and says the Brumbies will very little by replacing a Wallabies hooker with emerging prospect Lonergan, because "there's nothing between them in terms of set piece".
"[Lonergan's] set piece is good, his lineout throwing is excellent, and scrum work has really improved," McKellar said.
"His knowledge and detail, and ability to problem solve at scrum time has come on a lot this year, working closely with the front-rowers he has got either side of him, as well as [scrum coach] Dan Palmer.
"Around the ground he is outstanding isn't he? Footwork, leg drive in contact, powerful with ball in hand, and a really good defender who gives you a post tackle presence as well. There's a lot to like about Noss' game."
SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN ROUND TWO
Saturday: Waikato Chiefs v ACT Brumbies at Waikato Stadium, 5.05pm. Broadcast: Live on Stan Sport.
ACT Brumbies squad: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Nick Frost, 6. Henry Stowers, 7. Rory Scott, 8. Rob Valetini, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Solomone Kata, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. Harry Lloyd, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Tom Hooper, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22. Bayley Kuenzle, 23. Mack Hansen
Waikato Chiefs squad: 1. Aidan Ross, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. Sione Mafileo, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Liam Messam, 7. Lachlan Boshier, 8. Luke Jacobson, 9. Brad Weber (c), 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Alex Nankivell, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Bailyn Sullivan, 15. Chase Tiatia. Replacements: 16. Bradley Slater, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Atu Moli, 19. Zane Kapeli, 20. Pita Gus Sowakula, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Rameka Poihipi, 23. Kaleb Trask
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
