MAKIN & TALIAULI MAKE FIRST START OF SEASON

Wed, Mar 13, 2019, 8:45 AM
Brumbies.rugby
by Brumbies.rugby
Taliauli was superb in last seasons National Rugby Championship.
Taliauli was superb in last seasons National Rugby Championship.

Prop Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin and wing Lausii Taliauli will make their first Super Rugby starts of the season as the Plus500 Brumbies welcome the Waratahs to GIO Stadium on Friday in Super Rugby Round 5. 

The duo will take to the field as the two teams meet for the Dan Vickerman Cup, the trophy presented to the winner of the games between the pair during the campaign, with the Brumbies aiming for a repeat of their last home match when the Chiefs were put to the sword in stunning fashion. 

There’s also an opportunity for two local Academy products to make their Brumbies debut, with the Gungahlin Eagles duo of Tom Ross and Mack Hansen named in the matchday twenty-three for the first time. 

Leuluaialii-Makin slots into the front-row in place of the injured Allan Alaalatoa, having played all four games this season from the replacements bench, and will bring his indomitable scrummaging skills to a trio of forwards who have been in exceptional form. 

Scott Sio is the other bookend, propping hooker Folau Fainga’a who crossed for his fourth try in successive matches against the Rebels, equalling a club record held by six other players, all backs. Rory Arnold and Sam Carter continue in the second row with Lachlan McCaffrey restored to the backrow alongside Tom Cusack and Rob Valetini. 

Behind the pack, Joe Powell and Christian Lealiifano form the halfback partnership once more with Taliauli on the left wing forming an attacking trident alongside right wing Henry Speight and the hard-running fullback Tom Banks.

With Irae Simone, returning from a rib injury, and Tevita Kuridrani in the middle, the Brumbies will be looking to continue their try-scoring form. 

With eighteen tries to their name already in 2019, the Australians are the second highest try-scorers in the Super Rugby competition behind the Crusaders and have been particularly effective up front with the trademark rolling maul accounting for seven of those scores. 

There is no shortage of try-line hunters in the finishers as well with young Hansen having plundered six in two matches for the Brumbies Runners in 2019 and Jordan Jackson-Hope and Junior Wallabies Captain Ryan Lonergan regularly amongst the points at club level. 

The Waratahs clash is always a highlight of the season for both clubs and, with both teams fielding a stack of talent, the stage is set for a huge encounter at GIO Stadium.

 

TEAM

1. Scott SIO

2. Folau FAINGA’A

3. Leslie LEULUAIALII-MAKIN

4. Rory ARNOLD

5. Sam CARTER

6. Rob VALETINI

7. Tom CUSACK

8. Lachlan MCCAFFREY

9. Joe POWELL

10. Christian LEALIIFANO

11. Lausii TALIAULI

12. Irae SIMONE

13. Tevita KURIDRANI

14. Henry SPEIGHT

15. Tom BANKS

 

REPLACEMENTS

16. Josh MANN-REA

17. James SLIPPER

18. Tom ROSS

19. Murray DOUGLAS
20. Pete SAMU

21. Ryan LONERGAN

22. Jordan JACKSON-HOPE

23. Mack HANSEN

 

PLAYERS UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION: Allan ALAALATOA, Ben HYNE, David POCOCK, Toni PULU

 

MATCH DETAILS

Friday 15 March 2019

Plus500 Brumbies v Waratahs

(GIO Stadium, Canberra, 19:45)


PRE-MATCH

Friday 15 March 2019

Brumbies Runners v Waratahs ‘A’

(GIO Stadium, Canberra, 17:05)

 

Gates Open: 16:45

Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au

 

 

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