The Brumbies kick off their 2019 Super Rugby season by hosting the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra on Friday night.
The Brumbies have gone about their off and pre-season business fairly quietly and are hoping to continue their form after two wins in the pre-season to put them on the front foot into the season proper.
This is the second time they have played each other in three weeks after playing a trial match before they face each other again in three weeks time but you can’t read too much into the last game with a host of key players rested by both sides.
For the Brumbies, they are giving starting debuts to James Slipper, Irae Simone and speedster Toni Pulu with all three having solid pre-season form.
David Pocock has shrugged off a slight injury niggle on his calf and will take his place in the starting side despite taking no part in the pre-season trials but his presence will be influential as usual as he joins Lachlan McCaffrey and Rob Valetini in the backrow with Valetini looking to put the injury curse of 2018 behind him.
The halves have a familiar look with Joe Powell and Christian Lealiifano teaming up and partnering Simone in the centres is Tevita Kuridrani who looks to have benefitted from his first pre-season in six years as he looks to re-gain the Wallabies 13 jersey after missing out in 2018 with a pectoral injury.
The Brumbies back three of Pulu, Henry Speight and Tom Banks will be hoping to get plenty of ball and if either Pulu or Banks can get into open space it could be a long night for the Rebels with both players some of the quickest in the competition.
Much has been said about the Rebels recruitment of Quade Cooper and teaming up with his old mate Will Genia as they look to rediscover their magic of the 2011 campaign with the Reds and much will rest on their shoulders as the Rebels will have to do without Adam Coleman and Reece Hodge for this game.
If they can get their mojo back, then the Brumbies could have their hands full defending the Rebels backline that also contains the likes of the reliable pairing of Billy Meakes and Tom English in midfield and a back three of Marika Koroibete, Jack Maddocks and new captain, Dane Haylett-Petty.
But it will be up to their forwards to lay a good platform for the backs to unleash their attack and the Rebels welcome back Luke Jones and his combination with Matt Philip will be instrumental in doing so.
The front row of Tetera Faulkner, Anaru Rangi and Jermaine Ainsley will be in for a tough night as they come up against an all Wallaby front row of Slipper, Folau Fainga’a and Allan Alaalatoa.
Match ups
Halves
The spotlight will obviously be on the Genia/Cooper pairing and how they fare will go a long way to determining the result but could this game be too soon for them to be back to their best?
Valetini vs Cottrell
With the Wallabies needing depth in areas like blindside flanker heading towards the World Cup later this year, these two will be keen to put their names forward with Rob Valetini given first crack here in a crowded squad in the Brumbies backrow.
Prediction
Both sides have put out solid starting XV’s so this could be settled by the bench and it’s here where the Brumbies might just edge it. Brumbies by 8.
TEAMS
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BRUMBIES
1 James Slipper
2 Folau Fainga’a
3 Allan Alaalatoa
4 Rory Arnold
5 Sam Carter
6 Rob Valetini
7 David Pocock
8 Lachlan McCaffrey
9 Joe Powell
10 Christian Lealiifano
11 Toni Pulu
12 Irae Simone
13 Tevita Kuridrani
14 Henry Speight
15 Tom Banks
Replacements
16. Josh Mann-Rea
17. Scott Sio
18. Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin
19. Blake Enever
20. Pete Samu
21. Matt Lucas
22. Wharenui Hawera
23. Andy Muirhead[/one_third]
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Rebels
1 Tetera Faulkner
2 Anaru Rangi
3 Jermaine Ainsley
4 Luke Jones
5 Matt Philip
6 Angus Cottrell
7 Richard Hardwick
8 Isi Naisarani
9 Will Genia
10 Quade Cooper
11 Marika Koroibete
12 Billy Meakes
13 Tom English
14 Jack Maddocks
15 Dane Haylett-Petty
Replacements
16 Robbie Abel
17 Matt Gibbon
18 Sam Talakai
19 Esei Ha’angana
20 Brad Wilkin
21 Rob Leota
22 Michael Ruru
23 Semisi Tupou[/one_third]
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MATCH DEETS
Kick off: 7:45pm AEST
Friday 15 February
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
AR1: Angus Gardner
AR2: Damon Murphy
TMO: James Leckie
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