Pocock still on ice
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar has made only one change to the starting XV that will take on the Stormers at Newlands this Saturday.
Flank Jahrome Brown will make his first start for the Brumbies, while Wallabies stalwart David Pocock has been sidelined for the fixture.
The inclusion of Brown is the only change to the starting XV that defeated the Lions 31-20 at GIO Stadium with Murray Douglas and Wharenui Hawera being included on the bench.
It’s been a tough year on the road for the Brumbies though, who’ve yet to pick up a win away from the ACT, but confidence is high in the camp ahead of the clash with the South African Province, who come into the match off a terrific win in Melbourne against the Rebels last weekend.
Brown will pack down in a mobile and physical back-row alongside Tom Cusack and Pete Samu with the front-five bringing a wealth of experience, with the all-Wallaby front-row of Allan Alaalatoa, Scott Sio and Folau Fainga’a aided by Rorty Arnold and Sam Carter at lock.
The backs will be out to maintain the excellent form they showed against the Lions with Joe Powell and Christian Lealiifano pulling the strings at half-back, allowing Tom Wright and Tevita Kuridrani to expose any frailties in the Stormers midfield.
Out-wide, wings Henry Speight and Toni Pulu are supported by Tom Banks, the latter pair both crossing for tries against the Lions and helping the team beat 41 defenders collectively, the team’s highest recorded tally since 2011.
There was huge impact from the bench in Round nine and the finishers in Cape Town will be aiming to repeat that when called upon with Josh Mann-Rea, Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin and James Slipper sure to have prominent roles to play.
Darcy Swain is in line to continue his nascent Super Rugby career with Scottish-born Douglas the other forward option. Scrumhalf Matt Lucas, Hawera and Andy Muirhead complete the matchday squad who last visited Cape Town in 2016.
The Brumbies record in South Africa in recent years has been good with the team recording five wins from their last seven matches in the Republic, scoring 25 points or more in four of those victories.
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Tom Wright, 11 Toni Pulu, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Tom Cusack, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’A, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 James Slipper, 18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Murray Douglas, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Wharenui Hawera, 23 Andy Muirhead.
Date: Saturday, April 20
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15.05 (13.05 GMT, 23:05 Australian Eastern time)
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
