The ACT Brumbies have brought in tall timber reinforcements as they head west to face the Western Force in Perth on Sunday in Round Two of the Swyftx Super Rugby AUS.
Wallaby Nick Frost and debutant Tavita Loughland have both been named to start, with the Brumbies chasing a more complete performance in round two of the all-Aussie competition.
Frost returns to the second row after missing the Brumbies’ Round One loss to the Waratahs, replacing Josh Townsend, while Loughland has been named to start at blindside flanker in place of TJ Talaileva.
The return of the Wallaby could be the ideal solution for Head Coach Stephen Larkham, as he looks to balance the exuberance of youth with the experience of his Super Rugby squad.
The remainder of the starting XV is unchanged from the side that faced the Waratahs.
The captain’s armband remains with Toby Macpherson, with the lock set to lead from the front as the Brumbies turn the page in Perth.
The pack has been given an injection of size and steel. Lington Ieli and Liam Bowron link with Rhys van Nek, named in the Super Rugby Aus team of the week, in a resolute front row. Macpherson joins Frost in the engine room. The all-colts back row of Eli Langi and Oscar Cleary combine with Loughland, bringing plenty of sting at the breakdown.
There is continuity at the controls, with Klayton Thorn and Tane Edmed steering the ship again. Winger Ollie Sapsford, and centres David Feliuai and Jarrah McLeod pack plenty of punch through the middle. Corey Toole and Triston Reilly, fellow Team of the Weekers, will look to turn on the afterburners at wing and fullback respectively.
And there is no shortage of ammunition waiting in the wings. Ewald Kruger, Finn Baxter, Darcy Breen, Tu’ukalikali Vaihu and Darcy Fogarty give Larkham plenty to work with up front, while Dan Nelson, Oscar Shaw, Dylan Bretton, Kadin Pritchard, and Chace Oates complete a 10-man bench built to finish.
The Brumbies will take on the Force at North Coast Rugby Club on Sunday, 20 September, with kick-off at 3.30pm AEST.
