Peter Playford will replace Julian Huxley in the Brumbies’ starting XV after the Wallabies utility back was diagnosed with a brain tumour on Monday.
Playford is the only change to the run-on team that belted Queensland last Saturday and will start on the wing against the NSW Waratahs at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.
Mark Gerrard will move from the wing to start at fullback.
“It’s unfortunate about Hux but you’ve got to take your opportunities, don’t you,” Playford said today.
The former NRL player came strongly off the bench against the Reds, grabbing a try late in the game.
“While we will take some confidence out of last week’s win, we recognise that there’s still a need to continue improving and we won’t be afforded the same luxuries by the Waratahs,” he said.
Playford said last week’s performance had given him plenty of confidence.
“It was probably the best game I’ve played for Brumbies and I was pretty confident in getting my hands on the ball so hopefully I can build on that.”
Coach Laurie Fisher has brought Tim Wright onto the bench to replace Playford.
“I was really pleased with the impact we got from our bench last week,” Fisher said.
“But there is still a realisation that last week’s performance won’t beat this week’s opposition.
“There is still a need to continue taking our game forward.”
The Brumbies replaced yesterday’s bad news with a dose of happiness today by re-signing No.8 Stephen Hoiles for a further two years.
“It wasn’t a tough process,” Hoiles said.
The two-year contract will leave him a free agent in the lead-up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
“In a couple of years’ time, one year before the World Cup, I’ll be off contract (and) hopefully as a player I would have improved significantly.
“Two years was perfect. I didn’t really want to do any longer.”
Brumbies chief Andrew Fagan was delighted with the early season re-signing.
“Hoilesy is a world class player,” Fagan said.
“He has established himself as a leader within this team and it’s just great to have him with the organisation for another couple of years.”
Fagan said he was confident of getting the signature of Wallabies prop Guy Shepherdson in the next fortnight, with more players to follow.
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