It’s round five and the Brumbies finally get to play a home game tomorrow after trips to Tokyo, Brisbane and Melbourne already in 2018.
This week they take on the Sharks and the phrase ‘must win game’ is already being thrown around as they try and get their season back on track and keep in touch with their conference rivals.
After last week’s loss to the Rebels in Melbourne, coach Dan McKellar has shaken up things with team selection with no less than six changes to the side as they strive to get back to winning ways.
The changes to the team are due to a mix of injuries and form and McKellar is showing he is not afraid to change things up. Missing due to injury are forwards Josh Mann-Rea with a hamstring injury and Sam Carter who has failed to recover from a knock to the head last week.
Folau Fainga’a makes his way into the starting side as injury has also ruled out Robbie Abel with Connal McInerney finding himself on the bench after he thought his Brumbies chances were gone and had moved to Sydney.
The other changes in the forwards see Blake Enever come into the second row and Tom Cusack back in the seven jersey for Lolo Fakaosilea.
The backs weren’t spared either with Chance Peni and Kyle Godwin out of the 23 altogether with a backline reshuffle seeing Christian Lealiifano shifted to 12 and Wharenui Hawera into 10. Lausii Talauli takes his place on the left wing and Andrew Muirhead gets the start at fullback ahead of recently re-signed Tom Banks who rides the pine this week.
The Brumbies would have had a tough week on the training paddock as they try to be more effective with the ball in hand. For all their early dominance against the Rebels they could only come up with two tries in the end with a similar result against the Reds the week before.
There could be the option of reverting to the ‘old way’ as it seems the new style of play they are attempting doesn’t seem to be working and McKellar wants to see the team take advantage of the chances they are creating.
The Sharks roll into town on the back of a big win over the Sunwolves following a draw with the Waratahs and a loss to the Lions in Johannesburg.
No doubt the Sharks will rely on their big pack but they do have some handy players in the backs and the Brumbies only have to remember the last time they played when the Sharks snatched a late win to Lukhanyo Am try and he is back again this time around.
The visitors have a couple of big boots at their disposal and Curwin Bosch will be relied upon to get the Sharks out of their end
Prediction
If the Brumbies are to get a win they will need to be better in many areas. A throwback to what has worked in the past for them could be on the cards but at the moment if that is what it takes to get a win, then so be it.
Brumbies by 1.
TEAMS
[one_third last=”no”]
BRUMBIES
1. Scott Sio
2. Folau Fainga’a
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Rory Arnold
5. Blake Enever
6. Lachlan McCaffrey
7. Tom Cusack
8. Isi Naisarani
9. Joe Powell
10. Wharenui Hawera
11. Lausii Taliauli
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Henry Speight
15. Andrew Muirhead
Replacements
16. Connal McInerney
17. Nic Mayhew
18. Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin
19. Richie Arnold
20. Lolo Fakaosilea
21. Matt Lucas
22. James Dargaville
23. Tom Banks[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
Sharks
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Akker van der Merwe
3. Thomas du Toit
4. Ruan Botha
5. Stephan Lewies
6. Wian Vosloo
7. Jacques Vermeulen
8. Tera Mtembu
9. Louis Schreuder
10. Robert du Preez
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Lukhanyo Am
14. Kobus van Wyk
15. Curwin Bosch
Replacements
16. Chiliboy Rallapelle
17. Juan Schoeman
18. John-Hubert Meyer
19. Tyler Paul
20. Jean-Luc du Preez
21. Cameron Wright
22. Marius Louw
23. Lwazi Mvovo[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
MATCH DEETS
Kick off: 7:45pm (AEDT)
Saturday 17 March
Ref: Glen Jackson
AR1: Will Houston
AR2: James Leckie
TMO: Ian Smith[/one_third]
