Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has made a massive nine changes to his starting XV for Saturday night’s match against the Waratahs, and will also give Nic White his first Super Rugby AU game off the bench.
After being comprehensively outclassed by the Rebels in their last outing before the bye, McKellar has shaken his side up for the rivalry match against NSW. Scrumhalf Joe Powell, outside centre Tevita Kuridrani and lock Nick Frost are all out of the matchday squad, with Ryan Lonergan starting at no.9, Solomone Kata coming into the centres and Caderyn Neville returning from injury to start in the second row alongside Murray Douglas. Darcy Swain has been dropped back to the bench.
Captain Allan Alaalatoa is the only front-rower to keep his place in the run-on team, with James Slipper pushing Scott Sio to the bench and Folau Fainga’a another omission. Connal McInerny starts at hooker with Junior Wallaby Lachlan Lonergan named in the reserves.
There are also two changes to the back row, Will Miller and Lachie McAffrey starting on the flanks for Rob Valetini and Tom Cusack, both of whom will come off the pine. And Tom Wright, fresh off signing a one-year extension to keep him in Australian rugby and the capital, will return to the starting XV on the wing.
The biggest addition to the squad, though, is White. Having jostled with Will Genia to be the Wallabies’ starting scrumhalf last year, he’s the frontrunner for Dave Rennie’s no.9 jersey this year and, having returned to Australian rugby after his contract with Exeter finished, is set for his first game with the Brumbies since 2015.
The Waratahs, on the other hand, have opted for a far more stable side for Saturday night. Rob Penney has picked the same 23 which beat the Force last week, but has moved Harry Johnson-Holmes, Ned Hanigan and Joey Walton into the starting side in place of Te Tera Faulkner, Tom Staniforth and Lalakai Foketi respectively.
In the early Round 8 game, Western Force coach Tim Sampson has brought Andrew Ready into the starting side against his former club, and Heath Tessman will take Ready’s usual spot as reserve hooker. Ollie Atkins replaces Fergus Lee Warner in the second row, and Henry Taefu returns to the team on the bench.
The Reds will be without the injured Hunter Paisami but have not moved Jordan Petaia from the wing into his preferred position at outside centre, instead keeping the youngster out wide and handing regular winger Josh Flook the no.13 jersey.
The starting XV is otherwise unchanged, although Harry Hoopert will make his return from injury among the reserves. Moses Sorovi has replaced Scott Malolua as backup halfback and Jack Hardy is the reserve outside back.
Friday, 7:05pm (AEST), Cbus Super Stadium
Force
1. Pek Cowan, 2. Andrew Ready, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Ollie Atkins, 6. Fergus Lee-Warner, 7. Kane Koteka, 8. Brynard Stander, 9. Ian Prior (c), 10. Jono Lance, 11. Brad Lacey, 12. Richard Kahui, 13. Kyle Godwin, 14. Byron Ralston, 15. Jake Strachan
Bench: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Tom Sheminant, 19. Johan Bardoul, 20. Ollie Callan, 21. Nick Frisby, 22. Jack McGregor, 23. Henry Taefu
Reds
1. Jack Straker, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angus Blyth, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Liam Wright (c), 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. James O’Connor, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Josh Flook, 14. Jordan Petaia, 15. Jock Campbell
Bench: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. Harry Hoopert, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20. Angus Scott-Young, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Jack Hardy
Saturday, 7:15pm (AEST), GIO Stadium
Brumbies
1. James Slipper, 2. Connal McInerney, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Murray Douglas, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Solomone Kata, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks
Bench: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Darcy Swain, 20. Rob Valetini, 21. Tom Cusack, 22. Nic White, 23. Len Ikitau
Waratahs
1. Tom Robertson, 2. Tom Horton, 3. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4. Ned Hanigan, 5. Rob Simmons (c), 6. Lachie Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Jack Dempsey, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Will Harrison, 11. Alex Newsome, 12. Karmichael Hunt, 13. Joey Walton, 14. James Ramm, 15. Jack Maddocks
Bench: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Te Tera Faulkner, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Hugh Sinclair, 21. Mitch Short, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Lalakai Foketi
Clifto
Roar Pro
Oh yeah that's right. Thanks for the reminder!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Hunt no longer playing. Walton into 12, Foketi to 13 and Nick Malouf onto the bench
Markus
Roar Rookie
During pre-season Brett was saying Kuenzle was very much on par with Lolesio and whoever got the first shot to start was going to be a coin toss. But he has struggled pretty badly since starting in Lolesio's absence, doesn't spark the attack or manage the game, it has fallen to Simone to take up a lot of the first receiver duties. Good goal kicking but needs a lot more. Hopefully with the forwards who have returned, the Brumbies will have a stronger platform for him to attack from.
Inside Pass
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Very interesting. I can understand keeping the back 3 together will help cohesion in defence. But the o/c channel is a very specific defensive skill set. Assume Flook has demonstrated this and is being given a go. You can be sure Goodwin & Kabui will ask young Flook some questions. He is young. That can work 2 ways – confident and have a go or stay in your box and not back yourself. Hopefully Thorn has given Flim the freedom to choose option 1 – but again Goodwin & Kabui will pose a challenge. Looking forward to it.
Inside Pass
Roar Rookie
This is def why they have picked 3 tall men. QLD won’t make or win the SRAU comp without winning their own throw. Hookers are a major issue. Their throwing is average (I’m being nice) and as we know with sports psych - once a player has the yips it’s hard to shift. Miss 1 throw and your mind takes you back to the SCG match and the opposition hooker and pack will be reminding you of how rubbish you are - and the spiral down begins. Not sure how they are going to change this without bringing in fresh faces. Surely the Reds have been developing some other hookers??
GJ
Roar Rookie
Good to see White back. He should be Wallabies captain. With Toomua goal kicking at 85% White and Toomua at starting 9 / 10 for wallabies would be a great fix for the problems we've had there for so long. Good also to see O'Connor pushing for that 10 slot but goal kicking, kicking in general play and Toomua's D give him the edge.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Paisami is due back later so I suppose Qld don’t want to swap things around too much and there is a shortage of quality wingers now so leaving Petaia on the wing. Petaia was one of the shining lights from our WC campaign, but he needs game time and a run of good health so fingers crossed.
Harry Jones
Expert
What’s the Roar scouting report on the Brumbies 10? Bayley Kuenzle is quite the name.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Even Godwin himself said he was out of place at 13 with the Force, it was a major source of frustration for him. He is a far better 12. But he could have improved and good for him, I just hope he holds off showing it till after the Reds game.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
The Brumbies play for penalties, a tetchy opposition is in their interest.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Don’t agree on Godwin, Rhys. He is certainly not, imo, a weak player. He has developed while in Connacht. They would not have given him so much game time over there had he been a poor player. Partnering Bundi Aki did him no harm at all. “has done badly at 13 with the Force before”. Mmm….52 games for the Force, then 24 for the Brumbies, and one WB cap………not my take on doing badly.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
"I thought Straker went pretty well for first start actually." Sure did, AJ. Good solid NZ born prop.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Why would you stir the massive underdog though? You stir when YOU are the underdog.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Who's a "bro" ? A 135 kg THP with the power of Taniela compensates for a lot of rubbish. That's WHY BT is playing him for huge minutes. Even you cousy should have thought of that.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Haha, you are dreaming about Zander. Take Taniela out and like a house of cards.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
They aren’t but if your TH can’t hold his side you’ll struggle. And Tupou averaging 75+ mins a game indicates they have no trust in the replacement TH props.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
OK, noted. I'd based my view on his comments re looking after the young players. Perhaps I'd misread his character
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
I dare say the Reds will aim to minimise the number of own lineouts, like they did with their kicking game and opting for scrums at penalties against the Rebels. They will probably get away with it against the Force, but they won't against the Brumbies and that driving maul. Gotta sort out the lineout during the bye week.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Looks like Flook played 13 at high school, put in some big hits too. Fingers crossed that he goes well. https://youtu.be/OJGl7vms210
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
I've changed my mind and prefer Petaia on the wing now. He knows how to get to the right places and get his hands on the ball, so he is a perfect roving winger. It is actually the spot where the most the creative backs shine, all the other spots are to an extent "by the numbers" and don't need the best talent.