Head Coach Dan McKellar has made one change to the starting XV for the Plus500 Brumbies trip to Dunedin to take on the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday evening.
Tom Cusack comes into the starting line-up in place of the injured Lachlan McCaffrey who suffered a dislocated elbow in the convincing 45-21 victory over the Reds last weekend.
There are a further three changes amongst the replacements, the most notable being the inclusion of Tuggeranong Vikings flanker Michael Oakman-Hunt, who could become Brumby #206 if he gets onto the field at any stage.
Oakman-Hunt was a part of the Vikings National Rugby Championship [NRC] team that reached the final of the competition this season, being defeated by Queensland Country in the showdown at Viking Park.
Elsewhere, prop Nick Mayhew is recalled to the squad in place of Faalelei Sione whilst Andrew Smith is included for the first time in 2018, coming onto the bench in place of James Verity-Amm who won his first Brumbies cap against the Reds.
The starting team has a settled look to it with McKellar keeping faith with the group that scored seven tries in succession in retaining the Rod Macqueen Cup in Canberra in Round 8.
Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa pack down either side of hooker Folau Fainga’a whilst Rory Arnold and Blake Enever comprise the second-row pairing, the former having scored a superb breakaway try last week.
With Cusack coming into the team, David Pocock and Isi Naisarani continue in the backrow in a pack that scored five of the teams tries against the Queenslanders.
Behind the scrum Matt Lucas remains at scrumhalf with Wharenui Hawera at pivot. Christian Lealiifano and Tevita Kuridrani form the centre pairing for the fourth game in succession, and it’s an unchanged back three, with Chance Peni and James Dargaville on the wings and Tom Banks at fullback.
Co-captain Sam Carter, who crossed the whitewash last week as a replacement, will no doubt add impetus when called upon and he is joined by hooker Robbie Abel, prop Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, scrumhalf Joe Powell and utility Kyle Godwin as the finishers.
MATCH DETAILS
Saturday 14 April 2018
Highlanders v Plus500 Brumbies
(Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)
TEAM
Scott SIO
Folau FAINGA’A
Allan ALAALATOA
Rory ARNOLD
Blake ENEVER
Tom CUSACK
David POCOCK
Isi NAISARANI
Matt LUCAS
Wharenui HAWERA
Chance PENI
Christian LEALIIFANO
Tevita KURIDRANI
James DARGAVILLE
Tom BANKS
Robbie ABEL
Nic MAYHEW
Leslie LEULUAIALII-MAKIN
Sam CARTER
Michael OAKMAN-HUNT
Joe POWELL
Kyle GODWIN
Andrew SMITH
