3 hours Ago By The Roar
The clash of rivals Brumbies and Waratahs is the key fixture for Australian fans in round 12. See all the team news as its revealed below. (All times are AEST) Friday Blues vs Force, 5.
05pm Kurtley Beale will play his first match in ten months, with the Wallabies veteran named in the No.15 jersey to take on the Blues on Friday. Beale ruptured his Achilles for Randwick days after being named in Joe Schmidt’s extended Wallabies squad last June.
But the 35-year-old has made a quicker than anticipated recovery and Simon Cron hasn’t wasted any time in recalling him. His return sees Mac Grealy shift to the wing, with Bayley Kuenzle moving to outside centre in place of Sio Tomkinson. Henry Robertson keeps his spot at No.
9 despite Nic White’s return from a concussion, with the Wallaby returning via the bench. There’s a couple of changes up front, with captain Jeremy Williams recovering from a minor calf niggle to replace Sam Carter in the second-row. The other change sees Reed Prinsep return to the starting side at No.
8, with Will Harris dropping back to the bench. BLUES (1-15): Joshua Fusitu’a, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Laghlan McWhannell, Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Taufa Funaki, Beauden Barrett, AJ Lam, Xavi Taele, Rieko Ioane, Cole Forbes, Stephen Perofeta Replacements: Kurt Eklund, Mason Tupaea, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Beehre, Cam Christie, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Corey Evans FORCE (1-15): Ryan Coxon, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep; Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson, Mac Grealy, Hamish Stewart, Bayley Kuenzle, Harry Potter, Kurtley Beale Replacements: Albert Alcock, Atu Moli, Josh Smith, Josh Thompson, Will Harris, Nic White, Max Burey, George Poolman Referee: Ben O’Keeffe Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw TMO: Richard Kelly Saturday Drua vs Reds, 12.05pm Les Kiss has bucked the trend of leaving his big names behind for their trip to Fiji, naming several Wallabies regulars in his Reds side for Saturday’s clash against the Drua in Suva.
With a home quarterfinal still a possibility, the fourth-placed Reds have named as close to a full-strength squad as possible for the game. While Tom Lynagh and locks Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Josh Canham will come off the bench, the Test trio could easily have been left behind to prepare for a crunch fortnight against the Waratahs and Brumbies. Instead, they will be injected into the match from the bench as a means to try and drive the Reds home to victory.
Starting ahead of Lynagh will be Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, with the Junior Wallabies playmaker returning from a hamstring injury to return to the No.10 jersey. He will play alongside an otherwise unchanged backline from the one that beat the Blues 35-21 in Brisbane last week.
The front-row is unchanged, while Ryan Smith and Angus Blyth start ahead of Salakaia-Loto and Canham. The back-row is also unchanged, with Fraser McReight picked alongside Seru Uru and Joe Brial. “The boys lifted and really focussed on the things that matter.
It is up to us to continue the momentum into Fiji this weekend,” Kiss said. George Blake’s injury has seen Kiss turn to Junior Wallabies hooker Max Craig to make his debut. The 21-year-old will have plenty of experience around him though, with internationals Alex Hodgman and Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen also named on the bench.
Uru said he was looking forward to the challenge of returning to Fiji. “I’m always excited to go back to the homeland to play against the Drua. It’s always a big challenge, a tough one,” Uru said.
“For me, it’s always a special moment. It’s the only time that family get to watch me close up because it’s watching me behind a screen otherwise. “We are well prepared as a team and looking forward to the game.
” DRUA (1-15): Peni Ravai, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Doge (c), Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Etonia Waqa, Isoa Tuwai, Kitione Salawa, Simione Kuruvoli, Kemu Valetini, Taniela Rakuro, Inia Tabuavou, Vuate Karawalevu, Selestino Ravutaumada, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula Replacements: Tevita Ikanivere, Haereiti Hetet, Samuela Tawake, Leone Rotuisolia, Joseva Tamani, Elia Canakiavata, Philip Baselala, Isikeli Rabitu REDS (1-15): Sef Fa’agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Seru Uru, Fraser McReight, Joe Brial, Tate McDermott (c), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Dre Pakeho, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell Replacements: Max Craig, Alex Hodgman, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Kalani Thomas, Tom Lynagh, Heremaia Murray Referee: Marcus Playle Assistant Referees: James Doleman, Fraser Hannon TMO: Glenn Newman Hurricanes vs Chiefs, 5.05pm HURRICANES (1-15): Tevita Mafileo, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brayden Iose, Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Kini Nanolo, Riley Higgins, Billy Proctor (co-c), Ngatungane Punivai, Callum Harkin Replacements: Raymond Tuputupu, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi, Zach Gallagher, Brad Shields (co-c), Ereatara Enari, Riley Hohepa, Bailyn Sullivan CHIEFS (1-15): Ollie Norris, Bradley Slater, George Dyer, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Kalyum Boshier, Luke Jacobson (c), Cortez Ratima, Josh Jacomb, Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson Replacements : Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross, Reuben O’Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi, Xavier Roe, Gideon Wrampling Referee: Nic Berry Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Jordan Way TMO: Brett Cronan Brumbies vs Waratahs, 7.35pm BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Declan Meredith, Ollie Sapsford WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, Ethan Dobbins, Daniel Botha, Hugh Sinclair (co-c), Ben Grant, Rob Leota, Jamie Adamson, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (co-c), Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly, Joey Walton, Lalakai Foketi, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii Replacements: Mahe Vailanu, Tom Lambert, Taniela Tupou, Miles Amatosero, Leafi Talataina, Teddy Wilson, Tane Edmed, Henry O’Donnell Referee: Angus Gardner Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, Graham Cooper TMO: James Leckie Sunday Highlanders vs Moana Pasifika, 1.
35pm HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Soane Vikena, Saula Ma’u, Fabian Holland, Oliver Haig, Te Kamaka Howden, Sean Withy, Hugh Renton (co-c), Nathan Hastie, Cameron Millar, Jonah Lowe, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Sam Gilbert, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Replacements: Jack Taylor, Josh Bartlett, Rohan Winghan, Mitch Dunshea, Veveni Lasaqa, Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson, Jake Te Hiwi PASIFIKA (1-15): Tito Tuipulotu, Millennium Sanerivi, Chris Apoua, Tom Savage, Samuel Slade, Miracle Faiilagi, Ardie Savea (c), Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, Jonathan Taumateine, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Kyren Taumoefolau, Danny Toala, Lalomilo Lalamilo, Tevita Ofa, William Havili Replacements: Tomasi Maka, Monu Moli, Pone Fa’amausili, Ofa Tauatevalu, Sione Havili Talitui, Melani Matavao, Julian Savea, Patrick Pellegrini Referee: Paul Williams Assistant Referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter TMO: Richard Kelly.
