Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham has named seven players in line to make their debut for the Canberra Super Rugby side this weekend in Christchurch on Saturday.
Prop Nic Mayhew, Flanker Chris Alcock, Fly-half Wharenui Hawera and Centre Kyle Godwin will all pull on the jersey for their maiden appearance with Lolo Fakaosilea, De Wet Roos and Isaac Thompson named amongst the replacements.
Sam Carter will lead the team for the first time in a competitive match in a side that contains eight Wallabies in the run-on team.
Carter is part of a strong looking pack, forming an all-international second row pairing with Rory Arnold, behind a front row of Mayhew, the experienced Josh Mann-Rea and Wallaby lynchpin Allan Alaalatoa.
There’s a youthful look to the half-back pairing with 22-year-old Joe Powell lining up alongside 23-year-old New Zealand born fly-half Hawera, who will take on the playmaker role with the Brumbies newest Wallaby cap, Godwin, at inside centre.
Flyers Henry Speight, Aidan Toua and James Dargaville add pace and acceleration into the back three with the counter-attacking ability of the trio a huge plus against a Crusaders team who are always a tough assignment on their own turf.
On the bench Thompson comes into the Brumbies squad on a Supplementary Contract, after impressing during pre-season training and during the trial matches against the Australian Barbarians and Waratahs, whilst new signing Roos provides cover for Powell.
The Brumbies depart for Christchurch this afternoon with the match against the Crusaders set to take place on Saturday.
Brumbies
1. Nic MAYHEW, 2. Josh MANN-REA, 3. Allan ALAALATOA, 4. Rory ARNOLD, 5. Sam CARTER, 6. Scott FARDY, 7. Chris ALCOCK, 8. Jordan SMILER, 9. Joe POWELL, 10. Wharenui HAWERA, 11. James DARGAVILLE, 12. Kyle GODWIN, 13. Tevita KURIDRANI, 14. Henry SPEIGHT, 15. AIDAN TOUA
Replacements : 16. Robbie ABEL, 17. Ben ALEXANDER, 18. Leslie LEULUA’IALI’I-MAKIN, 19. Tom STANIFORTH, 20. Lolo FAKAOSILEA, 21. De Wet ROOS, 22. Andrew SMITH, 23. Isaac THOMPSON
