The ACT brumbies are showing off their depth by leaving two of last years starters out of their game day 22. Mitch Chapman was omitted from the 22 despite being brought across the dutch where as Fairbanks was left out of the touring squad all together.
CA Brumbies v Highlanders
Carisbrook, Dunedin (NZ)
Friday, 13 February 2009
Kick-off: 7.35pm local time (5.35pm AEDST)
1. Nic Henderson
2. Stephen Moore
3. Guy Shepherson
4. Ben Hand
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Julian Salvi
7. George Smith
8. Stephen Hoiles (c)
9. Patrick Phibbs
10. Christian Lealiifano
11. Francis Fainifo
12. Stirling Mortlock
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Clyde Rathbone
15. Mark Gerrard
Reserves
16. John Ulugia
17. Ben Alexander
18. Sitaleki Timani
19. Peter Kimlin
20. Joshua Holmes
21. Tyrone Smith
22. Matt Toomua
The brumbies have kept their wallaby centre pairing of Mortlock and AAC making T.Smith one of the most exciting/dangerous of substitutus.
Wallaby selection may seem important in the backline for Coach Friend but its not in the forward pack as they have opted for a smaller faster backrow for the clash with Salvi, G.Smitch and Captain Hoiles in 6,7 and 8 respectively, thus leaving Kimlin on the bench as cover. Friend has also opted for the old scrum boys Shep and Hendo to start, leaving this years Wallaby rookie Balexander on the bench (possibly for his ability to cover 2 positions).
Phibbs more solid platform in the trail game against the Tah’s has seen him have first crack at starting 9 over J.Holmes.
What I am looking forward to in this the first game of the super14 is Mark Gerrard in fullback. The Nathan Bracken of Australian Ruby will get first crack at re-opening the door his Test Match chances. As the 1 and 2 options for Robbie Deans Mitchell and Shephard internally fight for the Force position this year. Hynes, Gerrard and (Two-Dads) Norton-Night will get a freer reign to show what they can do from that position in super rugby.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="1062 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=1062">8 Comments
phibbs and salvi are really smart ways to go. phibbs’ organisation of the forwards will help in making the forwards more solid and his presence can be match winning. and his a bit of mongrel whic is good.
salvi is fast and very very fit. the back three will be manic at the breakdown giving the brumbies the chance to attack like the old days.
very interested to see AAC and SM in the centre.
If the pack goes forward, Phibbs will play the phases and hopefully, we see some old style ball running! Go the boys!
Who is the third line-out option?….the backrow doesn’t look as if it has the right mix. Kinda like the Waugh/Smith flanker combo, never really worked.
I’m looking forward to Rathbone going around again – the Shane Watson of Australian rugby?
Good Call Coat.
I spose Symonds has to be Tiqiri.
and Dunning hit 52 dropgoals on a flight to England.
I suppose Hoiles will be the third lineout option, if he’s under 100kgs the lifters will have not trouble getting him high and he has better hands than most locks.
Bobas’s last blog post..Japan vs Australia WCQ
I’m with you on Marky Mark at FB, hope he has a blinder and wakes Robbie up!!
There is some good options and depth this year with the Brumbies, exept for the second row. Last year there were big gaps in close especialy with MC. Hope this will not be our week link. The boys look fitter then they have for years.
Go Brumbies
Good signs that Chis was reforming as a seaguller with the wallabies on the end of year tour.
One of my favourite rugby quotes of last year on what gave him the hint to HTFU:
“I asked him what he thought a second-rower should be doing,” Friend said. “We were similar in the fact he’s got to win his scrum and lineout but a little dissimilar that he wanted to run the football, as I’d much prefer a second-rower to be cleaning rucks out.”
this will be a bigger difference than most think in the brumbies this year. 8 our ten times the bumbies had a chance to attack last year the ball would go wide and a prop would be the runner.