Brumbies welcome back White

 

White has been out of the squad for the last month after suffering an ankle sprain at training. Both he and Arnold return to bolster the side which fell agonizingly short of the Waratahs last week. 

 

“It’s a crucial week for both our seasons the winner gives themselves a chance at finals while the loser will have a hard time from here on in,” White said. 

 

“They’re playing at home and their playing with a lot of confidence. Any time you get a big game at home it helps you lift and I’m guessing they’ll use that extra boost on Saturday.

 

"They’ve always been very strong at the set pieces, their scrum and their line-out have always been at the top of the competition.

 

"But this year I think they’ve added an attacking flair which we haven’t seen a lot of and that’s going to be something we need to contain.” 

 

Arnold was left out of the 23-man squad last weekend, but returns as a line-out option against the Stormers, who are rated as South Africa’s best set-piece mechanics. 

 

The Brumbies got one over the Stormers in Canberra last season, but they haven’t won in Cape Town since 2010. 

 

Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 JP Smith.

Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 James Dargaville, 23 Nigel Ah Wong.

 

Date: Saturday, May 8

Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

 Kick-off: 17.05 (01.05, Sunday, May 9 AEST, 15.05 GMT)

Referee: Stuart Berry 

Assistant Referees: Jason Jaftha, Quinton Immelman

TMO: Shaun Veldsman