The Brumbies play their last trial match of the pre-season this Thursday night against the Waratahs in Canberra, before opening their campaign against the Force next Friday night. The team named for the Tahs game SHOULD be a pointer towards their line-up come the real thing out west. It SHOULD be the chance for coach Andy Friend to see how is number one team combines and performs.
But will it be? There are combinations there, but will this game provide more questions than answers? Let’s look at the team and decide.
Brumbies v Waratahs
1 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 4 Ben Hand, 5 Mark Chisholm, 6 Rocky Elsom, 7 George Smith, 8 Stephen Hoiles (c),9 Josh Valentine, 10 Matt Toomua, 11 Pat McCabe, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 14 Andrew Smith, 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Reserves: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 John Ulugia, 18 Justin Harrison, 19 Mitch Chapman, 20 Henry Vanderglas, 21 Patrick Phibbs, 22 Tyrone Smith, 23 Francis Fainifo.
I’m going to do something unheard of here and start, hmmm, let’s see. At the top. Number 1 is Salesi Ma’afu. Now the Brumbies have been racked by injury in the front row losing Wallaby Tight Head Prop Ben Alexander, loose head prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa and Academy prop Jono Owen. Accordingly Friend was always going to have to come up with a loose head prop from somewhere.
The issue, from an Australian rugby perspective, is that the Brumbies are overflowing with Tight Head Props. Alexander is undoubtedly the best in Australia, but Ma’afu toured with the Wallabies last year (and is listed by the Brumbies themselves as a specialist tight head) whilst it wasn’t that long ago that Shepherdson was our best 3. Look, I’ve said this all before here, in my Brumbies preview, but from this team we can now hazard a guess that Ma’afu will be the Brumbies loose-head prop when the season starts next week. But what will happen when Alexander returns, which should be in week 2 against the Bulls? Will he play at 3 where he does for the Wallabies, or will he revert to loose-head where the Brumbies played him last year? Much will come down to Shepherdson and Ma’afu themselves.
From a Wallaby perspective? It’s probably best that Ma’afu makes his mark for two reasons. (1) We need Alexander, still relatively inexperienced as a THP, to spend as much time on that side of the scrum as possible to continue his education, and (2) we need to develop another prop that can play both sides of the scrum, to sit on the Wallaby bench. Ma’afu may develop into that man.
The rest of the pack seems predictable enough, and is as you would expect with Wallabies George Smith, Mark Chisholm and Rocky Elsom (dodgy hamstring permitting) returning to the field.
Our next big question comes in the inside backs. In their big loss to the Canes last week (yes, I know. The Brumbies always lose trials) we saw Christian Lealiifano play at flyhalf with Tyrone Smith outside him in 12 and Mat Toomua running out at fullback. This week we see the backline shuffle. Lealiifano moves out a spot, Toomua moves into flyhalf and Smith drops down to the bench. Although, interesting, Tyrone will start at outside centre for the Brumby Runners in their match against Sydney University prior to the main game.
With Matt Giteau out injured, but still hopeful of a return for next week’s game, this lineup seems a pointer to the fact that Smith will not feature in the starting side. I would suggest that the Brumbies are getting into their structure for this game and the two play-makers, in Toomua and Lealiifano, allow them to play the same game they will play once Giteau returns.
By where oh where will Gits play when he returns? My thoughts are that he must play 10, the most critical position in the team. But is Andy Friend, having given both of his young stars a start at flyhalf in the trials, indicating that Giteau will play in the 12 jersey, allowing Toomua or Lealiifano a chance to remain in the comfort their ‘preferred’ position with the security of having Giteau lending a hand outside?
With Wallaby stars Stirling Mortlock and Adam Ashley-Cooper returning at out-centre and fullback respectively, the last position of question is on the wings. Last week we saw Alfi Mafi and Francis Fainifo, my suggestion as the front runners for the position, starting on the flank. This week, however, we see new boys Andrew Smith and Pat McCabe starting out wide. It is an exciting development for the new boys to the club and a reward for their excellent club form in 2009 as well as their play on the Brumbies Development tour to France last year. Where does it leave Fainifo and Mafi however?
“I’ll give you one good reason to pick me!”
Well again, like Tyrone Smith, both will appear in the ‘curtain raiser’ against Sydney Uni however whilst Mafi will play wing, Fainifo will play fullback. Fainifo will double up on the bench for the main game as well. So why this?
The Brumbies need to find some fullback depth. Ashley-Cooper’s utility value means he’s usually the next best option in every back line position (although Patrick Phibbs should feel safe), so the Brumbies need to know they have someone to step into the fullback spot. Fainifo’s counter attack last year was thrilling at times, which will excite Friend. Whilst Toomua and Lealiifano will remain options for the back, perhaps Fainifo may prove an attacking weapon in 15.
Despite being a trial only, this match should prove to be an absolute cracker. With 14 Wallabies, or Wallaby tourists, in the Brumbies side and a similar number set to be named in the Waratahs (plus a former All Black) it should be a match of high quality. Expect the intensity to be high to as both teams play tough local derbies the following week in the first round of the 2010 Super 14 season.
The Waratah team named for the trial is:
Waratahs v Brumbies
15 Sosene Anesi,14 Lachie Turner, 13 Tom Carter, 12 Daniel Halangahu, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu,7 Phil Waugh (c),6 Dean Mumm, 5 Cam Jowitt, 4 Kane Douglas,3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau,1 Benn Robinson.
Reserves: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Hendrik Roodt,19 Chris Thomson, 20 Brendan KcKibbin,21 Ben Seymour, 22 Locky McCaffrey, 23 Dan Palmer, 24 Ben Mowen, 25 Josh Holmes, 26 Alex Rokobaro, 27 Dave Dennis, 28 Rory Sidey, 29 Peter Betham, 30 Adam D’Arcy.
By the way, the Brumbies Runners team to take on Sydney University is:
Brumby Runners v Sydney University
1 John Ulgia, 2 Anthony Hegarty, 3 Steven Noriega, 4 Justin Harrison, 5 Sitaleki Timani, 6 Colby Faingaa, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Ita Vaea, 9 Patrick Phibbs, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Alfi Mafi,12 Ed Stubbs, 13 Tyrone Smith, 14 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 15 Francis Fainifo.
Reserves: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Chris Barbaro, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Hugh Pyle, 20 Liam Winton, 21 Jesse Parahi, 22 Anthony Dawes, 23 Rod Esekia, 24 Kurt Mulcahy,25 Tyler Stevens,26 Jesse Mogg.
