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Pocock and Pulu missing for Brumbies in round two

David Pocock. Photo by Zak Kaczmarek/Getty Images

Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar has made three changes to the team that was narrowly beaten by the Rebels in their Super Rugby opener last weekend with Tom Cusack, Andy Muirhead and Chance Peni promoted to the starting XV.

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Cusack and Peni are included at the expense of David Pocock and Toni Pulu, both of whom suffered injuries during the first-half of the Rebels match, that ruled them out of selection, whilst Muirhead starts ahead of Henry Speight, who hobbled off in the second half.

Other than that, McKellar has shown his trust in the team that pushed the Rebels to the limit and, given better execution of the myriad opportunities they created, especially in the opening stanza, will be confident that they can gain a first win of the season.

James Slipper, who enjoyed an excellent debut in Brumbies colours last week, continues in a front row that provided two of the team’s try-scorers in Round 1, both Folau Fainga’a and Allan Alaalatoa finding their way across the whitewash.

Indeed, all four of the Brumbies tries were claimed by the pack with the lock forward pairing of Rory Arnold and Sam Carter, who continue against the Chiefs, giving the tight five a monopoly of the five-pointers.

Cusack slots into Openside flanker role with Rob Valetini and Lachlan McCaffrey completing a strong, mobile and dynamic back-row trio that are sure to be at the heart of any Brumbies success.

Joe Powell and Christian Lealiifano continue at half-back, directing the side around the park, Lealiifano passing 850 career Super Rugby points against the Rebels, with Irae Simone and Tevita Kuridrani tasked with finding any holes in the Chiefs midfield.

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Muirhead, Peni and Tom Banks round out the starting XV with all three possessing excellent pace and finishing ability.

The finishers are the same as was selected for the Rebels match except for exciting young talent Tom Wright who is drafted into the squad for a potential debut, as Muirhead starts. This means that Josh Mann-Rea will become the equal oldest Australian to play Super Rugby when he comes on.

BRUMBIES

  1. James Slipper
  2. Folau Fainga’a
  3. Allan Alaalatoa
  4. Rory Arnold
  5. Sam Carter
  6. Rob Valetini
  7. Tom Cusack
  8. Lachlan McCaffrey
  9. Joe Powell
  10. Christian Lealiifano (c)
  11. Andy Muirhead
  12. Irae Simone
  13. Tevita Kuridrani
  14. Chance Peni
  15. Tom Banks

    Reserves

  1. Josh Mann-Rea
  2. Scott Sio
  3. Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin
  4. Blake Enever
  5. Peter Samu
  6. Matt Lucas
  7. Wharenui Hawera
  8. Tom Wright

Rugby World Cup City Guides – Kumamoto:

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Nickers 29 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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