Plus500 Brumbies props Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa will pack down together this weekend as the Wallabies head to Auckland, and the Eden Park fortress, to tackle New Zealand in Game 2 of the Rugby Championship.
The pair are two of six Brumbies picked for the match with David Pocock also starting and Tom Banks, Folau Fainga’a and Pete Samu on the bench, Fainga’a and Banks in line to win their maiden caps.
Following the much-publicised struggles that the Wallabies endured at scrum time in Sydney, the selection of the talismanic Brumbies front-rowers is testament that Head Coach Michael Cheika has realised that the pack needs to be stable, and the set-piece, spot-on, if the visitors are to succeed.
New Zealand in Auckland is the ultimate litmus test for the experienced Super Rugby duo as they aim to help Australia achieve do what no one since France in July 1994 have done, win a Test match against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
It’s been 41 matches since New Zealand were downed at their spiritual home having won 39 and drawn 2 of those fixtures and have a daunting record of winning seventeen on the bounce against Australia at the venue.
Sio will win his 47th cap in the clash, edging ever closer to the magical half-century, while his book-end partner Alaalatoa will pack down in Wallaby Gold for the 24th time having come off the bench at ANZ Stadium last weekend.
The pair packed down together for the Brumbies eleven times last season and will, no doubt, be a hugely effective part of the Super Rugby campaign which will be back with a vengeance on Friday 15 February 2019 when the Rebels head to GIO Stadium for the opening round of the new season.
A wide variety of Memberships for the 2019 campaign are now on sale and purchasing a season membership is always the best way to ensure that you get your Brumbies fix every home matchday in Canberra.
For further information regarding memberships, and how you can see stars like Alaalatoa and Sio in action in the flesh, visit www.brumbies.com.au.
