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Irae Simone returns for Brumbies battle with Chiefs but hat-trick hooker out with a toe injury
By Online Editors
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has made three changes to the starting side ahead of their match against the Chiefs at FMG Stadium in Waikato on Saturday evening.
Inside centre Irae Simone has overcome sickness to take his place in the side, once again partnering Tevita Kuridrani in the midfield.
Last week's hat-trick scorer Folau Fainga'a has been replaced at hooker after suffering a toe injury, with Connal McInerney earning his first start of the season.
Andy Muirhead is named on the wing for the first time in 2020 with Toni Pulu set to see his first minutes of the year against his former club from the pine.
The rest of the backline remains unchanged with Joe Powell and Noah Lolesio set to continue to build on their combination in the halves.
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Australian Under 20s representative Lachlan Lonergan is in line for a potential Super Rugby debut from the bench, named alongside older brother Ryan as a replacement.
Young playmaker Bayley Kuenzle makes his return to the side from the bench while fullback Tom Banks is set to bring up his 50th Super Rugby cap this weekend.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said: "It's great to have a guy like Irae back in the squad, he brings a lot of experience and gives the team confidence when he's out on the field."
"Connal has been performing really well for us as a finisher so it's a good reward for him to get his first start of the season. It also means we get to see Lachlan make his Super Rugby debut which is a special moment for him and his family, especially alongside his brother.
"We know the Chiefs are playing well and we respect them as the side but we've going over there full of confidence and are looking to come away with the win."
Brumbies: Tom Banks, Solomone Kata, Tevita Kuridrani, Irae Simone, Andy Muirhead, Noah Lolesio, Joe Powell, Pete Samu, Will Miller, Rob Valeteni, Murray Douglas, Cadeyrn Neville, Allan Alaalatoa, Connal McInerney, James Slipper. Reserves: Lachlan Lonergan, Scott Sio, Tom Ross, Nick Frost, Lachlan McCaffrey, Ryan Lonergan, Bayley Kuenzle, Toni Pulu.
- Brumbies Rugby
WATCH: Brumbies backs Andy Muirhead and Toni Pulu spoke to the media ahead of this weekend's match.
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Latest Comments
I think you have gone in the wrong direction here Nick. I think you need to delve down into the rules etc around Moana Pacifica’s selection policies and then you need to understand that a lot of KIWI BORN rugby players have PI heritage. It appears ok for the 4 home nations to pillage NZ born players constantly without retribution but you want to question whether NZ BORN players should be eligible for NZ? Seems a real agenda in there.
Go back and look at the actual Aims and agenda for MP becoming a entity and you see lots of things enshrined in policy that you arnt mentioning here. EG there is an allowance for a percentage of MP to be NZ eligible. This was done so MP could actually become competitive. Lets be real. If it wasnt this way then MP would not be competitive.
There also seems to be some sort of claim ( mainly from the NH ) that NZ is “cashing in” on MP, which , quite frankly is a major error. Are you aware of how much MP costs NZR Financially?
39 NZ born rugby players played at the last world cup for Samoa or Tonga. PLUS plenty for Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.
Taumoefolau is a BORN AND BRED NZer. However I very strongly doubt he will be an AB, but who do you believe he should be allowed to play for? Levi Aumua is ALSO a born and bred Kiwi.
Aumua was eligible to represent Samoa and Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup in July that year but ended up playing for neither. He IS eligible for his nation of Birth too Nick
He is a Kiwi. Are you saying an NZ born, raised Kiwi cant play for NZ now?
Sorry Nick Kiwi born and bred actually qualify for NZ.
Go to commentsYeah, Richie certainly stepped up for the ABs in 2022 and 2023 and proved he could translate his skills into the test arena. You have to understand many fans checked out at that point though, only to tune back in for a directionless WC final.
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