Kuenzle to captain Runners side in Melbourne

Thu, Mar 5, 2020, 1:56 AM
Brumbies.rugby
by Brumbies.rugby
Photo: Lachlan Lawson/Brumbies
Photo: Lachlan Lawson/Brumbies

Plus500 Brumbies youngster Bailey Kuenzle will lead a strong and youthful Runners side against the Rebels A in Melbourne at 2:00pm tomorrow afternoon. 

 

With the Brumbies taking on the Sunwolves at WIN Stadium in Wollongong at the same time as the Runners, the fixture serves as a chance for Kuenzle and others to push for Super Rugby selection and for those in the pathways system, to showcase their talents at senior level.  

 

The budding playmaker came off the bench for the Brumbies in their epic round four win against the Chiefs in Hamilton and he will get valuable minutes at flyhalf alongside Issak Fines, who has been in excellent form for the Runners all season.

 

Up front, Brumbies prop Harry Lloyd and Uni-Norths Owls stalwart Max Bode fill the bookend positions while Billy Pollard starts at hooker, the impressive academy prospect being a standout last time out for the Runners. 

 

Nick Frost and Ryan Smith form a dynamic looking lock pairing, Frost having seen minutes in Super Rugby over the past couple of rounds.

 

Zeph Tuinona, Luke Reimer and Rory Scott will start in an all-academy backrow.

 

Out wide, Tom Haddad has been one of the bright sparks for the Runners opening two matches of 2020, the Gungahlin Eagles speedster earning a spot on the left wing with Isaac Henry starting on the opposite flank.

 

Feeding the pace men out wide will be Len Ikitau and Guy Porter. Ikitau reverts to inside centre where he performed strongly against the Highlanders in round three, while Porter gets another chance to impress in his preferred spot at outside centre.

 

Completing the Runners starting side is Mack Hansen, who was outstanding in the reverse fixture against the Rebels at GIO Stadium in February.In the replacements, exciting prospect Davea Teoteo will look to provide impact as the finish rake.

 

His Queanbeyan Whites teammate Fred Kaihea and Eagles' Oscar Cunningham will cover the prop positions for the Melbourne trip, while Academy lock Zane Marolt and Will Sankey provide plenty of height in reserve stock for the Runners.  

 

Lachie Albert, Luke Rixon and Corey Toole are the backs finishers, completing an exciting and promising Runners side.

 

The match will be streamed live on brumbies.rugby from 2:00pm tomorrow.

 

BRUMBIES RUNNERS TEAM TO PLAY REBELS A
1. Harry Lloyd (Wests Lions)
2. Billy Pollard (TBC)
3. Max Bode (Uni-Norths Owls)
4. Nick Frost (Queanbeyan Whites)
5. Ryan Smith (TBC)
6. Zeph Tuinona (Queanbeyan Whites)
7. Luke Reimer (Easts)
8. Rory Scott (Royals)
9. Issak Fines (Gungahlin Eagles)
10. Bayley Kuenzle (c) (Royals)
11. Tom Haddad (Gungahlin Eagles)
12. Len Ikitau (Tuggeranong Vikings)
13. Guy Porter (Queanbeyan Whites)
14. Isaac Henry (Tuggeranong Vikings)
15. Mack Hansen (Gungahlin Eagles)

REPLACEMENTS
16. Davea Teoteo (Queanbeyan Whites)
17. Fred Kaihea (Queanbeyan Whites)
18. Oscar Cunningham (Gungahlin Eagles)
19. Zane Marolt (Queanbeyan Whites)
20. Will Sankey (Uni-Norths)
21. Lachie Albert (Wests)
22. Luke Rixon (Uni-Norths Owls)
23. Corey Toole (Gungahlin Eagles)

The Runners will take on the Rebels A at 2:00pm tomorrow at Harlequins Rugby Club. The match will be live streamed on brumbies.rugby.



 

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