Brumbies depth to be tested
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The Brumbies injury list continues to grow with coach Stephen Larkham ruling out Wallaby prop Scott Sio and lock Leon Power for Saturdays match up with the Stormers.
Sio limped off during the second half of the victory over the Waratahs on the weekend and he has been seen wearing a moon boot to protect his damaged ankle following inconclusive scans.
Leon Power's knee injury seems set to keep the big lock forward out of Saturday's game aswell.
This comes after Henry Speight went under the knife on Monday and is expected to miss six weeks of action. Speight had a double fracture to his jaw following a collision with Waratahs centre Adam Ashley-Cooper in the first half.
The Brumbies' injuries are mounting: Christian Lealiifano (ankle), David Pocock (knee), Fotu Auelua (knee) and Clyde Rathbone (hamstring) are also sidelined.
Prop J.P. Smith and flanker Jordan Smiler are potential replacements in the forward pack, with the versatile Scott Fardy able to move into the second row.
Winger Joe Tomane trained on Monday and Larkham hoped he would be a straight swap for Speight, with Japan import Harumichi Tatekawa and Stephan van der Walt a chance to come into the 23-man squad.
"Depth throughout the whole team really [is being tested] isn't it," Larkham said.
"It's always the enemy of a good season, injuries, we've just got to make sure we manage them well.
"It will [test our depth], particularly in the forwards, we've got a number of key injuries as well, but the reserves so far – and I look at Jarrad Butler, he's done a fantastic job stepping into David Pocock's shoes and we expect the same from all the reserves who get their opportunity this year."
The Brumbies face off against the Stormers who have had their own injury concerns this season, especially at lock, however the men from Cape Town are seen as a bit of a bogey team for the Brumbies, who haven't beaten them since 2010.
Source: Canberra Times
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