Brumbies announce side for Bulls clash

May 5 • General News, Super Rugby • 1220 Views • Comments Off on Brumbies announce side for Bulls clash

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The Aquis Brumbies will welcome back co-captain Stephen Moore and veteran prop Ben Alexander, while Matt Toomua will miss Friday night’s matchup against the Blue Bulls at GIO Stadium.

Moore and Alexander missed last week’s 23-10 loss to the Highlanders in Invercargill but will rejoin the starting side, along with Scott Sio who came off the bench last week. Sio replaces Allan Alaalatoa who returns to the reserve’s list.

Lock Rory Arnold, who also started last week’s match from the bench, returns to the starting XV alongside Sam Carter, while the backrow trio of Scott Fardy, David Pocock and Jarrad Butler remains unchanged.

Tomás Cubelli and Christian Lealiifano remain the halves pairing while the versatile Robbie Coleman gets his first start at inside centre with Toomua ruled out with a knee injury.

Toomua left the field in the 73^rd minute of the Brumbies loss to the Highlanders last week and has not recovered in time for this week’s match.

Matt Toomua has been ruled out of this week’s match against the Bulls with a knee injury.

Tevita Kuridrani will start at outside centre while Nigel Ah Wong and James Dargaville are the new starting wingers. It will be Dargaville’s first start in 2016 after featuring in four matches this season from the bench. Aidan Toua will start the match at fullback.

Last week’s starting front row of Alaalatoa, Josh Mann-Rea and Ruan Smith will all start from the bench along with Tom Staniforth, Blake Enever, Jordan Smiler, Joe Powell and Lausii Taliauli.

The Brumbies have won three of their last four matches against the Bulls including last year’s 22-16 win at GIO Stadium.

A brace of matches against New Zealand opposition leaves the Brumbies with a streak of two losses going into this fixture, the last time they lost more than two matches in a row in Super Rugby was in Round 13, 2011.

Aquis Brumbies v Bulls – 6 May 2016, GIO Stadium

Starting side