Brumbies v Hurricanes - Ardie to 2nd 5
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The ponies have already named their team for the quarter final:
1 Scott SIO, 2. Josh MANN-REA, 3. Allan ALAALATOA, 4. Rory ARNOLD, 5. Sam CARTER (c), 6. Scott FARDY, 7. Chris ALCOCK, 8. Jordan SMILER
9 Joe POWELL, 10. Wharenui HAWERA, 11. James DARGAVILLE, 12. Andrew SMITH, 13. Tevita KURIDRANI, 14. Henry SPEIGHT, 15. Tom BANKSReplacements:
16 Robbie ABEL, 17. Ben ALEXANDER, 18. Leslie LEULUA’IALI’I-MAKIN, 19. Blake ENEVER, 20. Jarrad BUTLER, 21. Tomas CUBELLI, 22. Jordan JACKSON-HOPE, Christian LEALIIFANOLealiifano to make Plus500 Brumbies return
Christian Lealiifano will make his long-awaited return for the Plus500 Brumbies after being named amongst the replacements for Friday night’s do-or-die Quarter Final against the Hurricanes at GIO Stadium. Lealiifano, who has been out of Super Rugby since being diagnosed with leukaemia ten months ago, had originally made his return in Brumbies colours during the team’s Austbrokers Cup win over the Asia Pacific Dragons in Singapore in June and will be on the bench for the knockout tie. Head Coach Stephen Larkham has reverted to most of the side that played against the Reds in Brisbane a fortnight ago with two enforced changes from that starting XV. Season ending injuries to Kyle Godwin at inside centre and Aidan Toua on the left wing, mean a start for James Dargaville out wide and Andrew Smith. Smith showed some good form in the away game against the Chiefs last weekend and will partner Tevita Kuridrani with the back-line offering plenty of pace and movement. Outside backs Tom Banks and Henry Speight are deadly strike-runners, of which the Hurricanes will be all too aware. Up front, Sam Carter is back to lead the side in a pack that contains six Wallaby internationals with only dynamic back-rowers Chris Alcock and Jordan Smiler having not pulled on the Gold jersey. Carter is partnered by Rory Arnold in the second row with Scott Fardy named alongside Alcock and Smiler in the back-row. The forward battle is likely to be key in the contest and the front row clash should set the scene. With Scott Sio, Josh Mann-Rea and Allan Alaalatoa, the Brumbies have strength, speed and great scrummaging technique. On the bench, alongside Lealiifano, there is a spot for utility back Jordan Jackson-Hope, who made his first start of the season at full-back in Hamilton. Larkham has opted for a 5-3 split with Tomas Cubelli back to the replacements bench and youngster Joe Powell continuing in the half-back role he has grown into throughout the campaign. The Brumbies meet the Hurricanes on Friday 21 July at GIO Stadium with kick-off at 19:35. -
Hurricanes:
1 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 4 Mark Abbott, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Vaea Fifita, 7 Ardie Savea, 8 Brad Shields,
9 TJ Perenara (c), 10 Beauden Barrett, 11 Julian Savea, 12 Ngani Laumape, 13 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 15 Nehe Milner-SkudderReserves:
16 Dane Coles, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Reed Prinsep, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Otere Black, 23 Cory Jane.
BEAUDEN BARRETT, DANE COLES RETURN FOR QUARTERFINALThe return of first five Beauden Barrett and hooker Dane Coles are the features of the Hurricanes squad named to play the Brumbies in Friday's Investec Super Rugby quarterfinal in Canberra. Barrett will wear the No.10 jersey after missing the final match of the regular season against the Crusaders due to a sinus infection in the only change to the starting fifteen. Barrett's replacement against the Crusaders, Otere Black, moves to the reserves, but the rest of the Hurricanes backline remains unchanged. Jordie Barrett will again start at centre with Vince Aso ruled out for the second match in a row due to a groin strain. Coles will play his first match in four months via the reserves bench. The Hurricanes hooker has not played since he suffered concussion against the Highlanders on March 18. In Coles' absence Ricky Riccitelli has been the preferred hooker with halfback TJ Perenara leading the side out and they will continue those roles against the Brumbies. Coles takes James O'Reilly's place in the reserves, while Black bumps wing Ben Lam out of the match day 23. Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd said his squad was preparing for a tough battle in Canberra. "The Brumbies are a quality side and we're not reading anything into their results this season. They have a proven record in Investec Super Rugby over a long period and will be hard to beat at home." The Brumbies finished the 2017 regular season as the Australian Conference champions with a record of six wins and nine losses including a 56-21 loss to the Hurricanes in Napier in week nine. Overall the Hurricanes have played the Brumbies 23 times with the men from Canberra holding a 13-10 overall win-loss advantage. The Brumbies hold an 8-4 advantage at GIO Stadium. The two clubs have played twice before in playoff matches with the Brumbies winning 33-20 in Canberra in 1997 and the Hurricanes winning 29-9 in Wellington in 2015. -
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Yay for Dane Coles!
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Bit mixed feelings here. Want the Canes to destroy the Ponies, but want CL to have a magic night.
I guess just being back is a big enough gift for him. Such terrific news.
Jordie at 13. Worked against the Crusaders
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@Rancid-Schnitzel he can be magic off the bench and still have the canes destroy them!
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So saw Ardie about town town earlier tonight, he really should move to 2nd 5. Said hello to him and was genuinely surprised that he's not a big unit at all.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Brumbies v Hurricanes - Ardie to 2nd 5:
So saw Ardie about town town earlier tonight, he really should move to 2nd 5. Said hello to him and was genuinely surprised that he's not a big unit at all.
That was his extreme height making him look lightweight
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@ACT-Crusader but did you stand right next to him, cos gauging his height doesn't count unless you.
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@taniwharugby said in Brumbies v Hurricanes - Ardie to 2nd 5:
@ACT-Crusader but did you hand stand right next to him, cos gauging his height doesn't count unless you do.
Fixed
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@taniwharugby said in Brumbies v Hurricanes - Ardie to 2nd 5:
@ACT-Crusader but did you stand right next to him, cos gauging his height doesn't count unless you.
Best way of judging is by having breakfast with him - preferably with Liam Squire, Damien McKenzie and Jerome Kaino for reference as I'm sure @jegga can attest.
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@taniwharugby said in Brumbies v Hurricanes - Ardie to 2nd 5:
@rotated not convinced @jegga was entirely truthful of that encounter, I mean where were the FB, Instagram & Twitter pics to prove it?
Sometimes the guys just want to chill out without all that sort of fuss. If you were part of that scene you'd understand
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@chimoaus By 8:30pm last night the apparent temperature was -1°C Tonight is supposed to be even colder. Probably watch it at the RUC instead.
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@antipodean said in Brumbies v Hurricanes - Ardie to 2nd 5:
@chimoaus By 8:30pm last night the apparent temperature was -1°C Tonight is supposed to be even colder. Probably watch it at the RUC instead.
Yep it's bloody cold, I was over there recently taking photos of birds and my finger was struggling to press the shutter button lol.
P.s that is the flying type of bird, not the double breasted variety
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@chimoaus said in Brumbies v Hurricanes - Ardie to 2nd 5:
@antipodean said in Brumbies v Hurricanes - Ardie to 2nd 5:
@chimoaus By 8:30pm last night the apparent temperature was -1°C Tonight is supposed to be even colder. Probably watch it at the RUC instead.
Yep it's bloody cold, I was over there recently taking photos of birds and my finger was struggling to press the shutter lol.
P.s that is the flying type of bird, not the double breasted variety
I knew that intuitively. If it was the latter you'd be Queensland.
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Obviously 'canes are heavy favorites and any semblence of form from them should see them win, although if they are off and Brumbies pull thier best match of the year out of thier arses, and do the unthinkable and actually win...
There is no way the Brumbies deserve to be anywhere near the finals, or even a team like the Hurricanes at this point of the season, but playing at home in near freezing conditions, with the return of Lealiifano, the cards are lining up for the Brumbies.
As good of a shot in the arm for Aussie rugby as a victory would be for the Brumbies, we need the canes to win, and win well to continue to show SANZAR this conference system sucks sweaty balls.
