Brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua has been rushed straight back in to the starting 15 ahead of his side’s must-win clash with the Lions in Johannesburg.
The Brumbies hold a slim lead in the Asteron Life Super Rugby Australian conference and a defeat could see them slip to third by the end of the round.
Toomua only flew to South Africa midweek and has been immediately called in at inside centre after recovering from an ankle injury.
‘We needed another week to get the ankle right and we had the facilities back at home at the AIS so the ankle is good to play this weekend,” Toomua said.
Discipline has been a key focus at training this week for the Brumbies, after conceding a whopping 19 penalties during last weekend’s loss to the Stormers.
Toomua is keen to cut that number right down, especially against the Lions who are third in the competition for penalty goals.
“They have two blokes who could kick for their country, in Boshoff and Jantjies, so we have to be smart. Our discipline was very poor last week so we have to be better.
They are probably unorthodox for a South African team. They are far less reliant on the set-piece and actually enjoy playing a bit of rugby.”
The Brumbies have re-shuffled the front row in one of two changes to the top of the table side, with Allan Alaalotoa in for JP Smith.
