The Brumbies head back to Japan top open their 2018 season against the Sunwolves, the location of where it all started for them as they played their first matches together way back in 1996.
The Brumbies will be wary of the Sunwolves who have a new look to them this year with a new coach in Jamie Joseph who is also the Japanese national coach. He’s brought in another face from Otago in Tony Brown so there is some big match experience in that department.
The hosts are a bit like how the Brumbies started with a bunch of players from various places including Aussies Ed Quirk and Sam Wykes alongside South Africans Grant Hattingh and Willie Britz but the key will be getting the players on the same page, especially with a number of injuries and form keeping key players out including Michael Leitch and Akihito Yamada.
The Brumbies head into this game with a pre-season record of one win over the Rebels and loss against the Chiefs with the Brisbane 10’s thrown in the middle. With a number of starting spots up for grabs with 37 of the 39 squad members available for selection, coach Dan McKellar has gone with the backrow trio of Rob Valetini, Tom Cusack and Isi Naisarani indicating that they will target the breakdown in a physical manner.
In the second row Richie Arnold gets the nod ahead of his twin brother Rory who is in on the bench. Ben Alexander gets a start as he edges closer to 150 Super Rugby games with Scott Sio missing out he rests a slight injury niggle.
In the backline, co-captain Christian Lealiifano starts his first match for the Brumbies for some time and his experience will be vital in leading his team around the park. His time with Ulster in the off-season has kept him match fit.
New recruit Chance Peni claims one starting wing spot and last seasons midfield combo of Kyle Godwin and Tevita Kuridrani is retained. Tom Banks starts at 15 and his speed will be important for the Brumbies in this match.
Prediction
The Brumbies will be looking to get their season off to good start and they should do so against a side they have only played once before and toweled them up 66-5 in that clash. It will be important to get the season off to a good start and show if the new attacking platform is working. Brumbies by 15.
TEAMS
[one_third last=”no”]
BRUMBIES
1 Ben Alexander
2 Josh Mann-Rea
3 Allan Alaalatoa
4 Richie Arnold
5 Sam Carter
6 Rob Valetini
7 Tom Cusack
8 Isi Naisarani
9 Joe Powell
10 Christian Lealiifano
11 Chance Peni
12 Kyle Godwin
13 Tevita Kuridrani
14 Henry Speight
15 Tom Banks
Replacements
16 Robbie Abel
17 Faalelei Sione
18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin
19 Rory Arnold
20 Lachlan McCaffrey
21 Matt Lucas
22 Wharenui Hawera
23 Lausii Taliauli[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
SUNWOLVES
1 Keita Inagaki
2 Ho Shota Horie
3 Jiwon Koo
4 Sam Wykes
5 Grant Hattingh
6 Kazuki Himeno
7 Pieter Labuschagne
8 Willie Britz
9 Yutaka Nagare
10 Robbie Robinson
11 Hosea Saumaki
12 Ryoto Nakamura
13 Timothy Lafaele
14 Lomano Lava Lemeki
15 Jason Emery
Replacements:
16 Jaba Bregvadze
17 Craig Millar
18 Asaeli Ai Valu
19 James Moore
20 Edward Quirk
21 Fumiaki Tanaka
22 Hayden Parker
23 Sione Teaupa[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
MATCH DEETS
Kick off: 3:15pm (AEDT)
Saturday 24 Feb
Ref: Paul Williams
AR1: Egon Seconds
AR2: Shuhei Kubo
TMO: Minori Fuji[/one_third]
