The ACT Brumbies and Western Force have named their teams for Saturday night’s Super Rugby AU qualifying final in Canberra.
The Brumbies welcome back the seasoned duo of Pete Samu and Irae Simone for the must-win match. Both missed the side’s Round 9 win over the Rebels, and their inclusions bolster what is a formidable-looking home side.
Samu comes straight back into the back row at number eight, meaning Rob Valetini shifts back to his regular position on the blindside. Rory Scott starts at openside after making his debut two weeks ago, and there’s a potential debutant on the bench in the form of local product Luke Reimer.
Simone, meanwhile, takes up his spot at inside centre in place of Bayley Kuenzle, who drops out of the matchday squad.
Nic White returns to the starting lineup after coming off the bench against the Rebels, with Ryan Lonergan reverting to the pine. Props James Slipper and Scott Sio have done a similar swap at loosehead.
While the Force have gone with a settled line-up for their first-ever Super Rugby final, coach Tim Sampson has made a surprise selection at the back, naming Jake Strachan in the number 15 jersey for his first start of the year. Irishman Rob Kearney is still unavailable due to injury, while Jack McGregor has moved back to the reserves after starting at 15 last week.
“Jake’s a very talented player, he has the ability to create something out of nothing. His nickname is ‘Silky’ for a reason,” Sampson said.
With Tevita Kuridrani suspended due to his tip-tackle on Hunter Paisami last week, the Force have brought Richard Kahui into the starting side to replace his fellow veteran. Kahui made a major impact in his cameo off the bench against the Reds last week, setting up Jordan Olowofela for the game-winning try with a deft kick.
Henry Taefu has been added to the matchday 23 with Kuridrani unavailable, and Santiago Medrano will start in the front row as Greg Holmes moves to the bench.
Saturday, 7:45pm (AEST), GIO Stadium
Brumbies
1-15: James Slipper, Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Pete Samu, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Tom Wright, Irae Simone, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Banks
Bench: Lachlan Lonergan, Scott Sio, Tom Ross, Nick Frost, Luke Reimer, Ryan Lonergan, Reesjan Pasitoa, Mack Hansen
In: Pete Samu, Irae Simone, Luke Reimer
Out: Will Miller, James Tucker, Bayley Kuenzle
Force
1-15: Tom Robertson, Feleti Kaitu’u, Santiago Medrano, Jeremy Thrush, Sitaleki Timani, Fergus Lee-Warner, Kane Koteka, Brynard Stander, Tomás Cubelli, Domingo Miotti, Jordan Olowofela, Kyle Godwin (c), Richard Kahui, Toni Pulu, Jake Strachan
Bench: Andrew Ready, Angus Wagner, Greg Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Tim Anstee, Ian Prior, Henry Taefu, Jack McGregor
In: Henry Taefu
Out: Tevita Kurdrani
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Ok 2 selection errors from Sampson imo. Anstee on bench – error – he’s the best forward attacking weapon Force have. Their other 3 backrowers are just grinders. So again this is more -ve policy from Samson and he’s intent on being boring again ???? Jake Strachan at FB for a 2021 debut – expect Brumbies to dump high balls on him all night and they have Australia’s best kicker to do it (ie White). If Brum’s do not engage in an arm wrestle with dogged Force they’ll win by 20 plus imo. If they do it’ll be close…………
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Absolutely......at least TK stayed in Australia, he could easily have been lost overseas. Mind you having spoken with him at a couple of Brums functions, that was always unlikely, as he is very family oriented.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yes I think TK going to the Force and Ikitau getting solid game time for the Brums has been a win-win.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Thanks for the valuable contribution.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I thought Anstee was starting with FLW on the bench? Sorry you’re right, I just checked and I had them the wrong way around. I like Anstee – a real athlete for a backrower.
piru
Roar Rookie
Looking at McGregor and Anstee on the bench, he's got fresh, fast legs to come on when the others start to flag
Tommy
Guest
Who doesn`t love a final series without the tahs in it.Love my rugby.Hate the Tahs.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Piru do like many think the Force's bench is strong or stronger, giving them an advantage? I think Ready and FLW definitely add off the bench, Prior and Holmes are experienced and will do the basics well. But the other 4 I wouldn't have thought are super strong. On the Brumbies side, the Lonergan brothers have a few games under their belt now, Pasitoa is pretty green but Hansen has a fair bit of playing time this year. Reimer is on debut and Ross not super experienced, Frost has played a fair bit this year but they have Sio. I'd say overall an edge to the Force on experience, but several Brumbies have a fair bit of game time this year. No doubt if the Force are within a score with 20 to go they will lift - there is no doubt the team has ticker.
piru
Roar Rookie
Looks like Samson is hoping to come home with a wet sail, good bench. If we can stay in touch to 60 mins it's anyone's game.
piru
Roar Rookie
Yep - still a rugby pitch but
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
He wasn’t actually discarded, he was offered a one year deal by the Brumbies, but chose to take a better offer from the Force.
jameswm
Roar Guru
True. But this game’s in Canberra.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I highly doubt it. The Force players are human too.
pm
Roar Rookie
Force's defence looked porous in the first half last week. Obviously they did find a way to compete anyway. But they're going to have be switched right on defensovely from the get go. The Brumbies will be more methodical in probing for those weakspots, I'd think, than the Reds were
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I think people outside Canberra are rooting for you guys mate. I think you guys are the underdogs without doubt, and everyone loves that kind of story. How ever it turns out, the Force has done them selves proud. And there season would make a great movie. A ragtag bunch of ‘has-beens’ and ‘never-was’, coming together in the western wasteland of the country (I’m not knocking Perth - it’s poetic license), to march East and out a scare up those latte sipping, Gucci wearing pretty boys from the East Coast (again poetic license). I’d watch that.
Harry Jones
Expert
David v Goliath ... on paper, the shepherd boy was a goner. But he was accurate. Force gonna have to nail all they kicks.
piru
Roar Rookie
Yep. So was last week
Harry Jones
Expert
On paper ... a mismatch
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
No doubt they are favourites. But.....they're only human, and in the middle of the night I'd bet my car it crosses their mind how dangerous the Force are in the last 10 minutes :happy:
jameswm
Roar Guru
I doubt it. I think brumbies by 10+ at home