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Brumbies unleash twin towers for final round clash
By Online Editors
Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar has made two changes to his starting side for their trip to Sydney to take on the Waratahs this weekend.
McKellar has selected Scott Sio at Loosehead prop, and paired Richie Arnold with twin brother Rory for the first time in Super Rugby, as the Brumbies go looking for a bonus-point win that would give them a chance of playing finals rugby.
Sio will team up with fellow Wallabies international Allan Alaalatoa either side of the impressive hooker Folau Fainga’a in the heart of the engine room in what is sure to be a colossal front-row battle with the club’s perennial rivals from New South Wales.
Blake Enever shifts from lock to flanker to compensate for the inclusion of Richie Arnold, with Tom Cusack unavailable, after the flanker suffered a head-knock in Hamilton against the Chiefs in Round 18. David Pocock and Isi Naisarani join Enever in the backrow.
The backline remains unchanged for the sixth straight game having crossed for a combined total of fifteen tries in that time-frame between them.
Joe Powell and Christian Lealiifano maintain their partnership, as do centre pairing Kyle Godwin and Tevita Kuridrani.
Leading scorers Tom Banks (eight tries) and Henry Speight (seven tries) are joined by Andrew Muirhead - who has crossed for three tries in his last four outings - in the back three.
BRUMBIES
1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Faunga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Richie Arnold, 6. Blake Enever, 7. David Pocock, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Andrew Muirhead, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Tom Banks.
Reserves: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19. Sam Carter, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Lausii Taliauli.
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Go to commentsYes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.
They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).
That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).
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