Brumbies rush their Puma back

The return of Cubelli is one of two changes to the starting side for Friday's Super Rugby Round 16 clash against the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland.

Cubelli, who played off the bench in the win over the Reds last week because of his late return from Test duty with the Pumas, replaces Joe Powell – who started his first Super Rugby match last Friday.

Powell returns to the replacements bench, after playing 57 minutes against the Reds.

Former Australian Sevens representative Michael Wells has been named to start his first Super Rugby match, replacing the injured Ben Hyne.

Hyne suffered a season-ending ankle injury just four minutes into his Super Rugby debut last Friday.

Scans this week have revealed the 22-year old has suffered a syndesmosis injury and will be sidelined for an extended period.

Wells has been used as a replacement in four matches for the Brumbies in 2016 since making his debut against the Stormers in Round Four in Cape Town.

He played 76 minutes last Friday, after replacing the injured Hyne and has been named to start against the Blues at No.8.

With Wells moving into the starting XV, Tom Staniforth has been named as a reserve, after playing club rugby for Canberra Royals in the John I Dent Cup last weekend.

The rest of the Brumbies starting side will remain the same.

Wing Joe Tomane will play club rugby in Canberra this weekend as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury suffered in round nine.

David Pocock is also still recovering from a fractured eye socket suffered in the Wallabies first Test against England in June.

These two teams met at Eden Park last April, with the Blues kicking a late penalty goal to seal a 16-14 win.

The Brumbies have won two out of the last three meetings between the two sides.

The Brumbies last won at Eden Park in 2013, with a hard-fought 20-13 victory.

Brumbies: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Scott Sio.

Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Lausii Taliauli.

Date: Friday, July 8

Venue: Eden Park, Auckland

Kick-off: 19.35 (17.35 AEST; 07.35 GMT)

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill (NZ), Jamie Nutbrown (NZ)

TMO: Shane McDermott (NZ)