Weekend of milestones for Brumbies

Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar has made three changes to his side that will take on the Reds in their week eight Super Rugby clash.

Matt Lucas, Chance Peni and Tom Banks have all been given the starting nod in place of Joe Powell, Lausii Taliauli and Andrew Muirhead respectively.

Peni returns to the left-wing after missing the last two games, while Tom Banks is in at fullback.

Lucas gets his first start of the season in the No. 9 jersey.

Co-captain Sam Carter returns to the side as one of three new faces among the reserves.

Carter was deemed fit after a prolonged absence thanks to a head knock suffered against the Rebels back in week four.

Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin returns as front row cover. He replaces Mees Erasmus who was named on the bench last week but failed to claim his first Brumbies cap.

Erasmus’ former Force teammate James Verity-Amm is in line to make his Brumbies debut, named as backs cover.

The weekend will see Wallaby winger Henry Speight bring up his 100th cap for the club, while forwards Rory Arnold and Allan Alaalatoa will reach the fifty-cap milestone.

BRUMBIES

1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Alan Alaalatoa, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 7. David Pocock, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Ben Lucas, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 11. Chance Peni, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Tom Banks.

Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel, 17. Faalelei Sione, 18. Leslie Leulaialii-Makin, 19. Sam Carter, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Kyle Godwin, 23. James Verity-Amm.