Assistant coach Stephen Larkham says the Brumbies are likely to return to their surrogate backline for Friday’s Super Rugby match against the Queensland Reds following a season-ending injury to five-eighth Matt Toomua.
Toomua tore his cruciate ligament during the 29-26 loss to the Sharks on Saturday, compounding the knee injury he’d just come back from after three weeks on the sidelines.
His absence forced the Brumbies to shift Christian Lealiifano to No.10 and Pat McCabe to inside centre, a combination that has so far delivered a narrow loss to the Chiefs in New Zealand and a tight victory over the Highlanders at home.
Larkham said on Tuesday the Brumbies looked likely to return to that tried-and-tested backline for the game against the Reds.
“(The injury) came around very quickly but, lucky for us, we have the combination of Christian, Pat McCabe, Andrew Smith – 10, 12 and 13 (respectively),” he said.
“At this stage, it looks like we’re going to go with that combination again – for the near future anyway.
“We’ve worked on it and certainly made improvements and that’ll put us in good stead.”
Larkham said Toomua’s exit also clears a path for NRL convert Joe Tomane to return to the Brumbies’ starting line-up on the wing.
He was unlucky to be relegated to the bench for the Sharks match despite having delivered an impressive two-try performance in just his second Super Rugby match the week before.
The Brumbies will be looking to inflict the Reds’ third loss in a row on Good Friday, but have a daunting task ahead considering their opponents have only lost one match at Suncorp Stadium in the past 17 games.
The lone positive? The defeat was at the hands of the Brumbies when they pulled off a 22-14 upset last June.
But Larkham was wary of the Reds, who will be keen to get their title defence back on track this week and sit in second place behind the Brumbies on the Australian conference ladder.
“They’ve certainly been ravaged by injury and, by the looks of it, they’re going to get a couple of guys back this week, so it’ll be a very different side to the side that’s played over the past couple of weeks,” Larkham said.
“They’re second in our conference, so it’s a game we really want to win.”
Brisbane-born fullback Jesse Mogg plans to deliver an improved performance in front of his home crowd after five solid games into his debut Super Rugby season.
As an extended playing squad member, his opportunities have only come courtesy of injuries to Toomua and Robbie Coleman, who returned to full training just this week after injuring his groin in the Brumbies’ season-opener.
Mogg’s goal before the season was just to make the 22, but he’s since played in the starting line-up for all five Brumbies matches.
“Unfortunately for the other guys, they’ve been injured, but it’s been fortunate for my sake that I’ve been given an opportunity,” he said.
“I’m slowly improving but, at the same time, enjoying every minute being out there.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
The Crusaders could've had the ball in their attacking half with under three minutes to go. Instead, the Brumbies went upfield, earnt a penalty,…
Tom Wright even said he thought Ben O'Keeffe was "foxing" when he allowed the Crusaders to have their restart in an incredibly dramatic finish…
The Brumbies won 31-24 after a penalty try and yellow card to Quinten Strange for batting the ball dead.
The Brumbies flanker definitely thought he was a chance here. Tom Wright secured a first-half double as the Brumbies led the Crusaders 17-7 after…
"Coach's nightmare!'" Rumour has it the Brumbies fullback only has one hand. Tom Wright scored this special try against the Crusaders and left Justin…
There is a lot of hope around the country, but there's so much more work still to be done.
