Dan McKellar has named a strong and experienced side for the Brumbies’ Super Rugby Pacific
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Dan McKellar has named a strong and experienced side for the Brumbies’ Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific Quarter Final matchup against the Hurricanes on Saturday night, 7.45pm at GIO Stadium.
Tom Hooper is named at blindside flanker with fellow Brumbies pathways product Luke Reimer selected at openside for the Capital city clash for a place in the Semi Finals.
The remaining changes to the Brumbies starting selection also come in the pack with James Slipper and Folau Fainga’a rotating into the front row at loosehead prop and hooker respectively.
Allan Alaalatoa leads the side at tighthead prop.
At lock, Cadeyrn Neville returns to the starting team to partner Darcy Swain with Pete Samu continuing at number eight to combine Hooper and Reimer in the backrow.
Nic White and Noah Lolesio continue their partnership in the halves, with Irae Simone and Len Ikitau combining in the centres.
Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright and Tom Banks form the back-three to complete the Brumbies starting side.
Lachlan Lonergan will be the finishing hooker, with Scott Sio and Sefo Kautai bringing impact to the front row.
Nick Frost will finish at lock with both Rory Scott and Jahrome Brown bringing energy and physicality to the finishing backrow.
Ryan Lonergan will have an important role to play as the finishing halfback with versatile back Ollie Sapsford completing the Brumbies’ Quarter Final matchday squad.
Brumbies head coach, Dan McKellar said: "We're in a good place heading into what will be a fantastic game on Saturday night."
"The Hurricanes have threats across the park, and we'll need to be at our best to win and we've put in a great week's prep so far to go and do that.
"We've had a big five weeks and didn't get it right last weekend, but given we were a couple seconds from beating the Blues and had been getting good results before that Crusaders match, we're confident and excited to get back in front of our members, fans and families Saturday night."
BRUMBIES TEAM FOR SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC QUARTER FINAL
1. James Slipper
2. Folau Fainga'a
3. Allan Alaalatoa (C)
4. Darcy Swain
5. Cadeyrn Neville
6. Tom Hooper
7. Luke Reimer
8. Pete Samu
9. Nic White
10. Noah Lolesio
11. Andy Muirhead
12. Irae Simone
13. Len Ikitau
14. Tom Wright
15. Tom Banks
REPLACEMENTS
16. Lachlan Lonergan
17. Scott Sio
18. Sefo Kautai
19. Nick Frost
20. Rory Scott
21. Jahrome Brown
22. Ryan Lonergan
23. Ollie Sapsford