The Brumbies expect to face star imports Jonny Wilkinson and Sonny Billy Williams when they play French club Toulon in their final tour rugby match on Thursday.
Wilkinson, England’s 2003 World Cup-winning five eighth, is the club’s key off-season signing and could line up outside former Brumbies and Western Force halfback Matt Henjak and inside former NRL star Williams.
Captain Stephen Hoiles has recovered from a knee injury suffered in the 17-0 win over Perpignan to lead the Brumbies into the match, the fourth of their developmental tour to France.
Regular flyhalf Christian Lealiifano will start at fullback, allowing Matt Toomua to start in the playmaker’s role where he impressed while filling in for his injured teammate during the 2009 Super 14.
Toomua is joined by Australian Under 20s teammates Nic White at scrumhalf and Afusipa Taumoepeau on the wing while Andrew and Tyrone Smith continue their centre partnership for a third match on tour.
Tighthead prop Guy Shepherdson, hooker Anthony Hegarty and lock Sitaleki Timani have all been recalled to the run-on side after starting off the bench against Perpignan.
Brumbies: Christian Lealiifano, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Andrew Smith, Tyrone Smith, Francis Fainifo, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Stephen Hoiles (capt), Colby Faingaa, Henry Vanderglas, Sitaleki Timani, Ben Hand, Guy Shepherdson, Anthony Hegarty, Jerry Yanuyanutawa. Res: Nathan Charles, Salesi Maafu, Steven Noriega, Sokai Tai, Patrick Phibbs, Pat McCabe, Shaun Foley, Robbie Coleman, Josh Valentine, Ed Gower.
Jameswm
Guest
And who could blame a fringe S14 player who decides to take up a 2 month contract with an NPC or Currie Cup team?
AndyS
Guest
So what do you think will happen in a private equity world? Will the team release their high paid players to go play club rugby (risking injury for the benefit that playing against amateurs will yield), or will they attempt to create earning opportunities by, say, touring Europe, Japan, the States etc? For mine, there is an excellent chance that this year will eventually be looked back on as the golden period for Sydney club rugby in the professional era. The ARU having failed to create a viable layer below it, I would not expect to see players for the next generation of Super teams even playing in Australia during the Super off season.
mudskipper
Guest
It’s a wonderful opportunity to build a strong Brumbies team for S14 2010 without their super stars... The win against Perpignan will have the boys believing in what they can achieve together… If NSWRU approved the ACT Brumbies to have a team in the Shute Shield then the Brumbies could develop here in Australia and not travel to France. They could play in front of the local supporters and NSW supporters... Perhaps NSWRU should open a window and look out to a better broader future for the game... Their not only holding back regional rugby but holding back the Sydney clubs… And GO The Brumbies...
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
It is absolutely ridiculous that the Brumbies feel they have to take their non-Wallaby players on a tour like this in order to get the necessary level of development and tough rugby. I mean, all the equivalent players in NZ and SAf are currently involved in meaningful domestic competitions which will stand them in good stead for next year's S14. But in Australia? The sad part is that the Brumbies are probably correct. That said, by taking all these players out of Australian club rugby, the notion of these competitions being too weak becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I mean, shouldn't Hoiles be captaining Randwick, Yanuyanutawa propping the Sydney Uni scrum, etc.?