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Sydney - Coach Michael Cheika and the
Wallabies on Monday backed their team-mate Christian Lealiifano to win his
fight against leukaemia.
The Brumbies said over the weekend that
Lealiifano had been diagnosed with the cancer that affects the blood and bone
marrow following a brief illness.
Several Wallabies visited 28-year-old
Lealiifano over the weekend to offer him their support.
"I certainly believe he's going to get
through and get through well," Cheika told reporters at the team's
training camp.
"He's a tough guy. He's shown that
over many years of playing footy and in the experience that I've had with him,
he's always shown that and I'm backing him 100 percent.
"Whatever he needs we'll be there to
provide it for him, around friendship, support, whatever it is so that he gets
through it and beats it quickly.
"He's up for it, there's no doubt
about it. The lads have been in contact with him and a fair few of the boys
have been to see him already, but he's right up for it."
Wallabies captain Stephen Moore said the players were in shock following the news of Lealiifano's illness.
"I think he knows we're all here to
support him the whole way," Moore told reporters.
"We spoke about that as a group, just
making sure we continue our support for him as he continues to go through this
treatment.
"We've got to make sure we stay
positive around him, right through his whole treatment. We don't know how long
that's going to be, so we'll make sure we're always there for him and make sure
that he knows that."
Lealiifano has played 19 Tests for Australia and 117 Super Rugby games for the Brumbies.
