Wallabies Tevita Kuridrani and Nic White have returned to the Brumbies’ starting lineup for Saturday’s clash with the Reds in Brisbane.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has also welcomed back some star power in the form of Kuridrani and White.
Kuirdrani returns at outside centre in place of Solomone Kata and White comes in for Joe Powell, who drops out of the squad altogether to be replaced by Ryan Lonergan.
Up front, there’s a couple of minor changes, with Scott Sio rotating to the run-on side for Wallabies teammate James Slipper, while Folau Fainga’a will start ahead of Connal McInerney at hooker.
Darcy Swain comes in for Murray Douglas in the second row, as does Rob Valetini for Lachie McCaffrey.
Reds coach Brad Thorn has welcomed the return of a couple of key backs from injury while there’s a tweak to the forward pack, too.
Hamish Stewart is fit to keep his spot at inside centre, but he’s joined in the midfield by Jordan Petaia who comes off the bench to wear the No 13 jersey. Chris Feauai-Sautia returns on the right wing.
Harry Hoopert returns to the starting side at loosehead prop. His inclusion is the only change to the forward pack, which has been bolstered by the experience of the Smith brothers – JP and Ruan – on the bench.
Reds – 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright (c), 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Hoopert.
Subs: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Hunter Paisami.
Brumbies – 15 Tom Banks, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Tom Wright, 10 Bayley Kuenzle, 9 Nic White, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Will Miller, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 James Slipper, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Lachie McCaffrey, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Len Ikitau, 23 Solomone Kata.
Photo: Mark Noble/Getty Images
