McCabe back for Brumbies
Wallaby Pat McCabe has been named at inside centre for the Brumbies in his Super Rugby comeback game against the Southern Kings at Canberra Stadium on Friday.
The 18-time Wallaby has been out of action thanks to a series of injuries, including a small fracture to his neck and a strained hamstring.
Now fully fit, McCabe will fill the No.12 jersey outside Christian Lealiifano – who has been named at flyhalf.
With Lealiifano at No.10, Matt Toomua is out of the matchday 22.
"Matt [Toomua] could have played this week if I really wanted to push him through, as he's not injured, as in ruled out. It's more just making sure we get him 100 percent spot-on going forward," Brumbies coach Jake White said.
White resisted the temptation to completely overhaul the side with rotational changes for the second-to-last-placed Kings.
Fotu Auelua comes off the bench to start No.8, Ben Alexander starts at loosehead prop and run-on debutant Siliva Siliva is at hooker for Stephen Moore in the only other changes to last week's starting line-up.
White said it was nice to have players returning from injury to full strength.
"With guys like Patty [McCabe] and Siliva [Siliva] starting it's a credit to our medical staff and athletic performance department. Both those guys are in top condition after lengthy periods of rehab," White said.
"The Kings have been able to score plenty of points this season and were right with the Hurricanes last week until the last 20 minutes of the game so there's no doubt they'll provide a big test for our team.
"This is a tough game for us, we need plenty of support from Brumbies fans ."
The Brumbies have started the season nicely winning six of their seven games, but need a win over the Kings to stay on top of the Super Rugby table.
Brumbies: 15 Robbie Coleman, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Fotu Auelua, 7 George Smith, 6 Ben Mowen (captain), 5 Etienne Oosthuizen, 4 Peter Kimlin, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Siliva Siliva, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Sam Carter, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Andrew Smith, 22 Zack Holmes.
Date: Friday, April 5
Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.40 (10.40 SA time; 08.40 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
