Brumbies lose playmaker but boosted by returning players
SPOTLIGHT: Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham says the return of six Wallabies, led by James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa, has given the side added energy as they look to take down Western Force on Saturday.
The Canberra-based team got their Super Rugby season off to a winning start last week in Fiji, edging Drua 36-32, but without many of their big guns who were rested.
They return this week with James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Charlie Cale, Len Ikitau and Tom Wright back to face a Force side buoyed by scraping past Moana Pasifika 45-44 to open their account.
But in a blow, Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio has been ruled out with concussion.
Larkham said the manner of the victory in hot and humid Fiji made selection this week a headache, but the Wallabies were always going to return.
“Everyone who came into the side for Fiji stepped up to the plate and delivered.
“It’s pleasing to have boys at our disposal that can come in and do a job for us,” he said.
“However, it’s obviously fantastic to have the Wallabies back in our team. They bring with them vast experience and expertise at this level.”
Slipper and Alaalatoa alone bring close to 300 Super Rugby games of experience.
“They’ve added some energy because they didn’t have to do the travel so they’ve come in buoyed by the win and how the boys played,” Larkham added.
Force coach Simon Cron admitted that playing the Brumbies in Canberra will be a “different beast” to the Moana game as his side looks to snap a long streak of away losses.
The Brumbies beat Force 45-12 in a pre-season clash a fortnight ago and Cron said his team must be better.
“Across the park, they have got talent, amazing players,” he said.
“They are experienced. It’s something for us to look forward to.
“They are a good team and our boys are raring to go. It’s what we do about it and how our boys step up.”
Loose forward Reed Prinsep and Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch move into the Force starting side after coming off the bench against Moana.
Australia hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa is in line for a debut.
