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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.
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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.
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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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