Brumbies forwards steam into contention
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John-Paul Moloney, Canberra Times | May 4, 2009 - 2:33PM
There were four men aboard when the Benny Alexander Express finally came to a stop over the Queensland Reds' try line.
Three were hapless Queensland Reds defenders. The fourth was Peter Kimlin, and he was no passenger.
If a single moment in a Super 14 match can be an analogy for two players' Test hopes, ACT Brumbies loosehead prop Alexander's barging run on Saturday night with Kimlin hooked to his side, pumping his legs, was that moment.
The two Brumbies forwards are continuing their emergence from a place of near anonymity a year ago. They seem set to crash their way into Test action over the winter months with just as much force as they showed on Saturday night.
Alexander, who made his run-on debut for the Wallabies last year before he'd even started a match for the Brumbies, is threatening NSW Waratah Benn Robinson's Test incumbency with every strong performance.
And Kimlin, who won a place on last year's Wallabies spring tour but played only two minutes against the Barbarians, is forming his own very strong case for a major Test role this winter.
Since Mark Chisholm's season-ending hand injury on tour in South Africa, Kimlin has teamed up with Ben Hand in the second row and has grown in confidence.
On Saturday night he crossed for his third try of the year, taking a well-timed bullet pass from Patrick Phibbs close to the ruck to stroll through an embarrassingly weak Reds defence.
Kimlin admitted yesterday he had struggled with his own expectations at the start of the season. When forced into action as a starting player, he had rediscovered his form.
"I was a bit frustrated, coming back from the Wallabies tour expecting things when I probably shouldn't have," Kimlin said. "I've had to bide my time, but since Chiz was injured, God forbid, I've come on and done some good things for the team and hopefully I can continue that."
One of the quieter members of an understated but effective forward pack, Kimlin said he wasn't thinking where his Super 14 form might lead him.
"At the moment I'm not too worried about the exterior things, just the Brumbies and hopefully we make the finals," Kimlin said.
But teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper was less circumspect about the Test hopes of both Kimlin and Alexander.
"Benny A, he's a freak. Where'd he come from? If I can notice from the wing a prop playing so well, he must be doing something special," Ashley-Cooper said.
"I think [Kimlin and Alexander] are booming now. I've got no doubt Benny A will be starting Test rugby, he has to. And Kimmo, if he gets a chance he'll go through the roof."
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Originally Posted by The Ethicist
