Brumbies vs Hurricanes, Friday February 26, 7:40pm GIO Stadium Canberra
The Brumbies have named their team to face the Hurricanes on Friday night featuring 11 Wallabies and three uncapped players.
Argentinian halback Tomas Cubelli will make his Super Rugby debut while Aidan Toua will make his first Super Rugby appearance since 2014.
In a huge surprise Stephen Larkham has called on young loosehead prop Allan Alaalatoa to start his first Super Rugby match on home soil, named ahead of incumbent Wallaby Scott Sio who is on the bench.
Stephen Moore will captain the side in his 150th Super Rugby match alongside experienced playmaker Christian Lealiifano.
BRUMBIES
1. Allan Alaalatoa
2. Stephen Moore (c)
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rory Arnold
5. Sam Carter
6. Scott Fardy
7. David Pocock
8. Ita Vaea
9. Tomás Cubelli
10. Christian Lealiifano
11. Joe Tomane
12. Matt Toomua
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Henry Speight
15. Aidan Toua
Reserves
16. Josh Mann-Rea
17. Scott Sio
18. Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin
19. Jordan Smiler
20. Jarrad Butler
21. Michael Dowsett
22. Andrew Smith
23. Nigel Ah Wong
Queensland Reds vs NSW Waratahs, Saturday February 27, 7:40pm Allianz Stadium
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Daryl Gibson has named three Waratahs debutants in the starting XV for their round one clash against the Queensland Reds on Saturday night.
Former All Black Zac Guildford is set to play his first Super Rugby match since early 2014 after moving to Australia late last year.
Angus Ta’avao impressed in the pre-season and will make his club debut in the front row, while former Australian U20s star David Horwitz will run out for his first Super Rugby cap at inside centre.
The Tahs starting team features 10-capped Wallabies led by team captain Michael Hooper.
1. Paddy Ryan (62 caps)
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (130 caps)
3. Angus Ta’avao (NSW Waratahs debut – 48 caps)
4. Dean Mumm (86 caps)
5. Will Skelton (39 caps)
6. David Dennis (VC – 92 caps)
7. Michael Hooper (C – 81 caps)
8. Jed Holloway (4 caps)
9. Nick Phipps (82 caps)
10. Kurtley Beale (115 caps)
11. Zac Guildford (NSW Waratahs debut – 79 caps)
12. David Horwitz (NSW Waratahs / Super Rugby debut)
13. Rob Horne (89 caps)
14. Matt Carraro (40 caps)
15. Israel Folau (45 caps)
Reserves
16. Tolu Latu (28 caps)
17. Benn Robinson (144 caps)
18. Jeremy Tilse (48 caps)
19. Sam Lousi (4 caps)
20. Jack Dempsey (3 caps)
21. Matt Lucas (12 caps)
22. Bryce Hegarty (potential NSW Waratahs debut – 33 caps)
23. Reece Robinson (potential NSW Waratahs / Super Rugby debut)
REDS
Star flanker Liam Gill is set to miss the Super Rugby opener against the Waratahs with a back injury, the Reds confirmed on Thursday morning.
Gill, a runaway winner of the club's Stan Pilecki Medal last year after playing in every game, will be replaced by Curtis Browning in the starting side for the Reds.
Former Dragons winger Eto Nabuli will start on the wing in his Super Rugby debut, one of three debutants in the Queensland side for the opener.
Lock Caydern Neville and inside centre Henry Taefu will also make their Reds debuts in the match.
Reds coach Richard Graham has stuck to his pre-season view that Karmichael Hunt is best suited to the fullback position, with the 29-year-old starting at 15 over Japanese recruit Ayumu Goromaru.
1. Ben Daley
2. Saia Fainga’a
3. Greg Holmes
4. Cadeyrn Neville (Queensland debut)
5. Rob Simmons (C)
6. Hendrik Tui
7. Curtis Browning
8. Jake Schatz
9. Nick Frisby
10. Jake McIntyre
11. Eto Nabuli
12. Henry Taefu
13. Samu Kerevi
14. Chris Feauai-Sautia
15. Karmichael Hunt
Reserves
16. Andrew Ready
17. Sef Fa’agase
18. Sam Talakai
19. Ben Matwijow
20. Michael Gunn
21. Scott Gale
22. Sam Greene
23. Ayumu Goromaru
Western Force vs Melbourne Rebels, Saturday February 26, 9:50pm AEDT nib Stadium
Jono Lance has pipped former Springbok Peter Grant for the Western Force's starting flyhalf spot in their opening match of the season against the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday night.
Lance and Grant are two of five club debutants along with Ben Tapuai, Jermaine Ainsley, and Semisi Masirewa.
“It’s an exciting time for those five players,” head coach Michael Foley said.
“They’ve all worked hard to earn their places in the match squad for Saturday.”
Foley has also named an experienced forward pack led by Matt Hodgson who will enter his 11th season with the Force.
Ben McCalman is unavailable for the opening rounds of Super Rugby after returning from Japan with Angus Cottrell stepping into the Number 8 position.
WESTERN FORCE
1. Pekahou Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3. Guy Millar
4. Steve Mafi
5. Adam Coleman
6. Brynard Stander
7. Matt Hodgson
8. Angus Cottrell
9. Alby Mathewson
10. Jono Lance
11. Marcel Brache
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Ben Tapuai
14. Luke Morahan
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves
16. Heath Tessmann
17. Chris Heiberg
18. Jermaine Ainsley
19. Ross Haylett-Petty
20. Chris Alcock
21. Ian Prior
22. Peter Grant
23. Semisi Masirewa
MELBOURNE REBELS
New captain Nic Stirzaker has been ruled out of the Rebels’ season opener, with flanker Sean McMahon to lead the side out on Saturday night.
Stirzaker twinged a shoulder muscle in the latter stages of preseason that has ultimately delayed his start to the 2016 season.
Ben Meehan will start at halfback in Stirzaker’s absence, while the Rebels will feature three debutants in their starting 15.
Ex-Queensland Reds James Hanson and Adam Thomson will start in their first Melbourne matches, while New Zealander Jamie Hagan will come off the bench.
Rookie Rebels winger Reece Hodge will make his Super Rugby debut on the left wing.
1. Toby Smith
2. James Hanson
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Luke Jones
5. Lopeti Timpani
6. Jordy Reid
7. Sean McMahon (c)
8. Adam Thomson
9. Ben Meehan
10. Jack Debreczeni
11. Reece Hodge
12. Mitch Inman
13. Tamati Ellison
14. Dom Shipperley
15. Mike Harris
Reserves
16. Pat Leafa
17. Cruze Ah Nau
18. Jamie Hagan
19. Steve Cummins
20. Colby Fainga’a
21. Mick Snowden
22. Jonah Placid
23. Tom English