The Test season is over and it’s back in to Super Rugby mode for the Brumbies and Reds on Friday night.
Team mates last week and opponents this week, both sides haven’t had much time to dwell on the series loss to England before embarking on three match sprint to the end of the regular season.
The Brumbies currently sit on top of the Aussie conference and before the break it looked like they had the easier draw for the remainder of the season.
Injuries to the Brumbies squad of David Pocock with a fractured eye socket from the first Test and a knee injury to Jordan Smiler at the World Club 10’s in Mauritius have depleted their back row stocks somewhat.
Those injuries give rookie Ben Hyne a start at 8 after a solid season with the Tuggeranong Vikings in the local Canberra competition against a team he knows well after being involved with Brisbane City in the NRC. It’s a big jump for Hyne who hasn’t been involved during the Super Rugby season but did get some time in the pre-season trials.
Scrum half Joe Powell gets his chance to start at 9 after missing out any game time during the Test series and also missing the Brumbies junket trip to sunny Mauritius during the break. Tomas Cubelli is on the bench after only arriving back from the Argentina Test series against France meaning limited preparation for this match.
The Brumbies have received a huge boost with Matt Toomua back after a two month injury layoff and played about 60 minutes in the 3rd Test against England and his combination with Christian Lealiifano will be crucial as the Brumbies come up against a powerful Reds backline.
The Reds come to Canberra looking to score a try against the Brumbies in Super Rugby for the first time since 2014. They have a chance to play spoiler for the make up of the Aussie Conference but have their own injury concerns with lock Rob Simmons suffering a shoulder injury against England which comes just after Ben Matwijow left the squad to cover Kane Douglas who makes his return to Super Rugby from the bench.
Australian Under 20 representative Lukhan Tui will have to shake off the jet lag and has been thrust into the starting side to replace Simmons.
Also missing from the Reds is Karmichael Hunt who has a groin injury and have called in rookie Jack Tuttle to take over at fullback who will no doubt be in for a tough initiation to Super Rugby.
In line for a debut is the ‘Tongan Thor’, Taniela Tupou and he has a chance to put his youtube highlights into practice against a big Brumbies pack. After recently signing with the Reds, Leroy Houston is on the bench and his impact at the back end of the game will be crucial.
Key Match Ups
Jarrad Butler v Liam Gill
It was pencilled in to be Pocock v Gill but due to Pocock’s injury, Jarrad Butler has been given the task of taking on Gill in an area that could very well decide the winner of this game.
Tevita Kuridrani v Samu Kerevi
They played alongside together as the centre pairing for the first two Tests against England with many suggesting it will be one or the other who suits up in the starting XV for the Wallabies in The Rugby Championship. Kuridrani hasn’t been in his best form in 2016 and will need to put in a big one to keep Kerevi quiet who has been one of Queensland’s best in 2016.
Prediction
The Brumbies have a lot to play for as they head towards the finals competing with the Waratahs for top spot in the Aussie conference. The big question for the home side is how they will start the match as they get back into Super Rugby mode after the Test window with the Reds knowing they have a chance to catch the Brumbies napping.
But I think the Sub-Antarctic weather conditions out at ‘Kelvinator Castle’ will be too much for the Reds and the Brumbies will get home by less than 10.
TEAMS
[one_half last=”no”]
Brumbies
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore (c)
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rory Arnold
5. Sam Carter
6. Scott Fardy
7. Jarrad Butler
8. Ben Hyne
9. Joe Powell
10. Christian Lealiifano (c)
11. James Dargaville
12. Matt Toomua
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Nigel Ah Wong
15. Aidan Toua
RESERVES:
16. Josh Mann-Rea
17. Allan Alaalatoa
18. Ruan Smith
19. Blake Enever
20. Michael Wells
21. Tomás Cubelli
22. Andrew Smith
23. Lausii Taliauli
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
REDS
1. James Slipper (C)
2. Andrew Ready
3. Greg Holmes
4. Cadeyrn Neville
5. Lukhan Tui
6. Hendrik Tui
7. Liam Gill
8. Curtis Browning
9. Nick Frisby
10. Jake McIntyre
11. Eto Nabuli
12. Henry Taefu
13. Samu Kerevi
14. Chris Kuridrani
15. Jack Tuttle
RESERVES:
16. Saia Fainga’a
17. Sef Fa’agase
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Kane Douglas
20. Leroy Houston
21. James Tuttle
22. Duncan Paia’aua
23. Campbell Magnay
[/one_half]
