Brumbies announce opening trial team
January 25, 2005 - 2:13pm
Story by: ACTRU
Brumbies Head Coach Laurie Fisher has today announced a 26-man team to face the Queensland Reds in the Brumbies' opening trial match of the 2005 season this Saturday (29th January) at Ballymore.
A total of eight debutants have been named for their first taste of senior football, including speedy outside backs trio Adam Ashley-Cooper, Eddie McLaughlin and Eastwood Grand Final fullback Ben Batger. 2003 Australian Schoolboys co-captains Julian Salvi and Tatafu Polota-Nau will also make their first senior appearances for the Brumbies.
Promising Canberra Vikings flyhalf Sam Norton-Knight will make his return to rugby after missing the entire 2004 season with injury. The talented flyhalf played two senior matches for the Brumbies in 2003 against Fiji and Tonga and has rejoined the team in 2005 on an ARU High Performance Unit (HPU) contract.
Wallaby representatives Nic Henderson, Radike Samo and Mark Chisholm have been named to gain some important match practice after seeing limited playing time on the Wallabies Spring Tour.
New recruits Gene Fairbanks (from Queensland), Adam Wallace-Harrison (Queensland) and Alister Campbell (NSW) will each step out for their first time in their new colours.
Brumbies Academy members Anthony Faingaa and Alexander Peden could also see game time. The schoolboy stars securing the final two bench spots to cover the outside backs.
2004 Super 12 Final skipper Owen Finegan will captain the team in the absence of regular captain Stirling Mortlock.
"With the Wallaby players unavailable for this trial it gives some of the guys who have been training with the team throughout the entire preseason to show their wares," said the 81-game Super 12 veteran.
"There are a few new faces in the team and there's plenty of excitement coming up to our first trail," he said.
The giant flanker, who is one of just three remaining foundation players with the Brumbies, said that the team was confident of achieving better results in the 2005 trial season
"We were beaten in all three of our trial matches last year but I feel this year we're a bit further down the track in terms of our team play at this stage of the pre-season."
"We're looking to perform well in the trials but the emphasis is on the individual core skills of the players, not so much the score-line at the end of the game."
"The focus is on doing the simple things right and putting our plays in to practice in a game situation."
"The goal for the team is to win the Super 12 again and it starts here with the trial matches."
"We need to start the season well with some positive trial form and carry it through to the season opener against the Crusaders."
Team sheet
Trial match
Brumbies v Queensland Reds
Ballymore, Brisbane
Saturday 29 January 2005
1. Nic Henderson Loosehead prop
2. David Palavi Hooker
3. Guy Shepherdson Tighthead prop
4. Alister Campbell Lock
5. Radike Samo Lock
6. Owen Finegan (c) Blindside Flanker
7. Julian Salvi Openside Flanker
8. Scott Fava No.8
9. Matt Henjak Scrumhalf
10. Sam Norton-Knight Flyhalf
11. Lenny Beckett Wing
12. Gene Fairbanks Inside Centre
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper Outside Centre
14. Eddie McLaughlin Wing
15. Ben Batger Fullback
16. Digby Beaumont Reserve
17. Luke Burgess Reserve
18. Tamaiti Horua Reserve
19. Mark Chisholm Reserve
20. Adam Wallace-Harrison Reserve
21. David Fitter Reserve
22. Patrick Phibbs Reserve
23. Simon Hockings Reserve
24. Tatafu Polota-Nau Reserve
25. Anthony Faingaa Reserve
26. Alexander Peden Reserve
