Friday’s rugby news has Gill and Stirzaker injured, two Brumbies on debut and Read back for the Crusaders
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Gill injured
Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham says a trip to face the NSW Waratahs without star flanker Liam Gill will be a perfect test of the new-look Super Rugby side’s resilience. In a bitter blow for the Reds on the eve of the new season, reigning club best and fairest Gill will miss the next four weeks due to a lower back stress fracture.
“It’s never ideal, losing good footballers but it’s the way it’s been dealt and you’ve just got to move on,” he said. “Once we knew we’d lost Liam we just moved forward and prepared for the side to take the field this weekend.” Curtis Browning has been named at No.7, with Hendrik Tui and Jake Schatz rounding out the back row.
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Rebels lose captain
Melbourne Rebels will open their Super Rugby season without new captain Nic Stirzaker, who could miss the first two games. The Rebels half-back was unable to prove his reconstructed shoulder was ready for the intensity of match contact so understudy Ben Meehan will start in the No.9 jersey against Western Force on Saturday night.
“We gave Nic every opportunity to prove his fitness and availability for this weekend but, unfortunately, ran out of time,” Rebels coach Tony McGahan said. “And we’re not willing to risk further injury to his shoulder in the opening round.” Wallabies and Rebels flanker Sean McMahon, 21, will assume the captaincy until Stirzaker returns.
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Brumbies add debutants
Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham has named an explosive starting backline for Friday’s Super Rugby opener against the Hurricanes at GIO Stadium. Scrum-half Aidan Cubelli, who has 45-test caps for Argentina will make his Super Rugby debut after linking with the Brumbies on a two-year deal .
Aidan Toua, whose last visit to GIO Stadium was as a Queensland Red in 2014, has been named at full-back. Allan Alaalatoa, considered a Wallaby-in-waiting by Larkham, will start his first match on home soil after being named at loosehead prop.
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Read returns
All Black No.8 Kieran Read has cut short an intended late start to Super Rugby and will run out for the Crusaders against the Chiefs in round one of the competition. Read has been confirmed in the Crusaders’ starting 15 for the match in Christchurch on Saturday night.
He had indicated earlier in the week that he would be back for the opening weekend rather rather than sit out the first few rounds as previously planned. Read will add to the experience in a pack that features a front row of Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Owen Franks, and skipper Sam Whitelock among the locks.
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