The ACT Brumbies will be looking to consolidate their lead on top the Australian Conference when they take on conference rivals the Queensland Reds on Saturday night. The Brumbies are aiming to make it ten straight wins against Conference rivals while the Reds will be looking for their first road win since 2015.
This match also marks the return to Canberra of one the Brumbies greatest players in George Smith as he plays his first match since 2013 at his former stomping ground. Stephen Moore will also be making his return after heading north following the 2016 season.
The Brumbies are coming off the bye, which has allowed most of their squad to rest up bumps and bruises following the Highlanders game. Captain Sam Carter has been rested for this game as he overcomes a rib niggle with Rory Arnold back in his lock spot and that change sees Scott Fardy take over the captaincy.
Scott Sio makes his first start of the year and the other change to the starting side is in the backline with former Reds member Tom banks given a chance on the left wing in place of James Dargaville, who drops back to the bench.
Jarrad Butler is in line to make his first appearance off the bench in 2017 and would be his 50th in Brumbies colours.
The Reds had a disappointing loss to the Hurricanes and coach Nick Stiles has followed through with his threat to make changes to the underperforming bench and dropped Nick Frisby and Andrew Ready back to club rugby to redeem themselves. They both had a night out after last weeks loss, although it appeared the decision had already been made before their ill timed session on the mangos.
A selection surprise at scrum half?
There are also changes to their starting side with Karmichael Hunt ruled out with concussion that sees new recruit Lachlan Maranta given his starting debut.
In the forwards, Sef Fa’agase returns from a calf injury to bolster the pack at loosehead. Sam Talakai switches back over to tighthead as a result.
The bench has three potential debutants with Alex Mafi, Moses Sorovi and Hamish Stewart named as part of Stiles’ reshuffle. Izack Rodda returns from injury in place of Lukhan Tui.
If the Reds are to be in with a shot in this match, they will need to sort out their discipline. The Reds are equal top (with the Force) in the most penalties conceded (64) in the competition and come up against a side that everyone knows will use their rolling maul more often than not if awarded a penalty in their opponents half. It’s one thing knowing it’s coming but it’s another being able to stop it. The inside knowledge from Stephen Moore will be crucial in attempting to stop something he knows so well and benefitted from so many times.
The Brumbies are the least penalised side (41) so the Reds will need to be on their game and look to their senior players to make sure they make the most of the possession they get and help take the pressure off the new faces expected to come on later in the game.
MATCHUPS
Rory Arnold v. Rob Simmons/Kane Douglas
Arnold has come on in leaps and bounds and formed a nice combo with Adam Coleman before injury hit Coleman on the Spring Tour. Simmons and Douglas have been on the outer at Wallaby level and will need to step up and put their names forward for selection for the upcoming Test series.
Tevita Kuridrani v. Samu Kerevi
It’s an obvious one but a good one with Kerevi looking to earn back his Wallabies 13 jersey from Kuridrani who had a very good Spring Tour with some crucial tries scored. Kerevi leads the charts in defenders beaten in 2017 so with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika in attendance, it will hopefully give him something to think about with the Test season just around the corner.
PREDICTION
The Brumbies have had the benefit of the week off and have made minimal changes to their side which will give them a bit of momentum. The Reds off field business during the week will not have helped them as they try to get their season back on track. The bench players will be key in this one and the Brumbies look more stable with the Reds inexperience likely to be telling in the end.
Brumbies by 12.
TEAMS
[one_half last=”no”]
BRUMBIES
1. Scott Sio
2. Robbie Abel
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Rory Arnold
5. Blake Enever
6. Scott Fardy (C)
7. Chris Alcock
8. Jordan Smiler
9. Joe Powell
10. Wharenui Hawera
11. Tom Banks
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Henry Speight
15. Aidan Toua
RESERVES
16. Saia Fainga’a
17. Nic Mayhew
18. Ben Alexander
19. Tom Staniforth
20. Jarrad Butler
21. De Wet Roos
22. Andrew Smith
23. James Dargaville
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
REDS
1. Sef Fa’agase
2. Stephen Moore (C)
3. Sam Talakai
4. Rob Simmons
5. Kane Douglas
6. Adam Korczyk
7. George Smith
8. Scott Higginbotham
9. James Tuttle
10. Jake McIntyre
11. Eto Nabuli
12. Duncan Paia’aua
13. Samu Kerevi
14. Chris Kuridrani
15. Lachlan Maranta
RESERVES
16. Alex Mafi
17. Kirwan Sanday
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Izack Rodda
20. Hendrik Tui
21. Moses Sorovi
22. Hamish Stewart
23. Izaia Perese
[/one_half]
Stats by Opta Sports
For those who get to the game early, there will be a Brumbies legends match against a Reds Barbarians side from 6pm. There will be a couple of big name former Brumbies players including current coach Steve Larkham and Andrew Walker looking to recreate some flick pass magic down the left wing again.
The ‘Super Sub’ Ipolito Fenukitau will also be taking part alongside a number of other local players. Unfortunately, George Smith won’t be taking part as he has other commitments on the night.
Ruaidhri Murphy (Brumby#145)
James McCormack (Brumby#94)
John Langford (Brumby#7)
Tom Boidin (Brumby#139)
Jone Tawake (Brumby#81)
Ipolito Fenukitau (Brumby#6)
Tamaiti Horua (Brumby#69)
Matt Henjak (Brumby#75)
Jeremy Paul (Brumby#38)
Danny Flannery (NSW Country Cockatoo)
Tim Cornforth (Canberra Vikings)
Franky Fainifo (Brumby#103)
Jon McGrath (Canberra Vikings)
Andrew Walker (Brumby#49)
John Ross (Brumby#16)
Paul Brown (Brumby#27)
Stephen Larkham (Brumby#13)
Peter Ryan (Brumby#55)
Craig Sweeny (Brumby#5)
Franky Condi (Kookaburra)
