The Brumbies Runners have named a strong team to tackle the Auckland Contenders in a Challenge Match at David Campese Field in Queanbeyan this Friday.
The side contains twelve of the Plus500 Brumbies contracted squad and is added to by eleven members of the flourishing Brumbies Academy in a group that will be coached by Brumbies Academy Coach Dan Hooper and Brumbies Scrum, and Junior Wallabies Assistant Coach, Ruaidhri Murphy.
Vunipola Fifita, Connal McInerney and Tom Ross pack down in a formidable looking front row, with Hooker McInerney already having earned a Super Rugby cap during the 2018 season, making his debut against the Sharks from South Africa.
Murray Douglas provides a wealth of experience in the second row, the lock forward signed from the Hurricanes in the off-season, paired with young star Darcy Swain, whilst the backrow will see Lachlan Osborne, Jack Farrell and Jahrome Brown provide pace and power.
Behind the scrum Ryan Lonergan will be tasked with directing the team around the park from scrum-half in tandem with flyhalf Noah Lolesio, the pair having been in impressive form during pre-season.
Outside of the Lonergan-Lolesio partnership, new signing Bayley Kuenzle is selected at inside centre with Len Ikitau outside of him, a combination that looks enticing on paper and promises much.
Out wide there is heaps of pace with the elusive Mack Hansen on the left-wing, the jet-heeled Lincoln Smith on the right and the creativity, vision and all-round skill-set of Jordan Jackson-Hope looking to join the line and create havoc at any given opportunity from fullback.
Several youngsters from the Academy ae named on a ten-player replacements bench with all likely to see significant minutes in what looks like being an entertaining contest.
Following this encounter, Runners will have matches with the Rebels in Albury on Saturday 9 March and the Waratahs A on Friday 15 March as a curtain-raiser to the Plus500 Brumbies Super Rugby match with their old foes at GIO Stadium.
They then welcome the Sunwolves Wolfpack on Sunday 12 May as a curtain-raiser to the Super Rugby clash with the Sunwolves from Japan at GIO Stadium.
TEAM
- Vunipola FIFITA
- Connal MCINERNEY
- Tom ROSS
- Darcy SWAIN
- Murray DOUGLAS
- Lachlan OSBORNE
- Jack FARRELL
- Jahrome BROWN
- Ryan LONERGAN
- Noah LOLESIO
- Mack HANSEN
- Bayley KUENZLE
- Len IKITAU
- Lincoln SMITH
- Jordan JACKSON-HOPE
- Fred KAIHETP LUTERU
- Angus WAGNER
- Ben LOVE
- Rory SCOTT
- Seamus SMITH
- Will GODDARD
- Brendan JIMENEZ
- Billy CARBERRY
