Canberra club rugby great Craig Robberds is adamant the Pacific Nations Cup can bridge the gap between Super Rugby and amateur competitions, as the ACT XV starts its campaign on Sunday.
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ACT XV coach Robberds will inject seven Brumbies into the line-up for the match against NSW A at Allianz Stadium as the curtain-raiser match for the Super Rugby clash between the Waratahs and Western Force.
The ARU is investing in a new third-tier competition and, later this year, will start a new National Rugby Championship, in which Canberra will have a team.
''Before this Pacific Nations Cup and the NRC there's been nothing between Super Rugby and club rugby,'' Robberds said. ''You can see the speed is so much quicker compared to club footy. If you've got a lot more guys up to that standard, the step up won't be that hard if they get an opportunity.''
Fullback Robbie Coleman headlines the list of Brumbies playing to get game time to try to force their way into the Super Rugby side. The ACT XV will also boast an all-Brumbies front row of J.P. Smith, Josh Mann-Rea and Allan Alaalatoa.
But the game is also a chance for Canberra's best club players to press their claims for a spot in Canberra's NRC team.
The ACT XV shocked the Brumbies last week, holding the Super Rugby grand finalists to just one try in the first half of a trial match. A week earlier, the ACT XV was beaten 67-0 by the Brumbies.
''After our performance over the past two weeks, this is a good stepping stone for the guys,'' Robberds said. ''They can keep trying to impress the Brumbies head coaches and get their names out there.''
■SUNDAY
Pacific Nations Cup: ACT XV v NSW A at Allianz Stadium, 1.40pm
