The Brumbies have bolstered their tight five for their highly-anticipated Super Rugby clash against the Waratahs on Saturday night, bringing Scott Fardy and Scott Sio back into the starting line-up.
Brumbies coach Jake White has made just two changes to the side that lost against the Crusaders 30-23 in Canberra two weeks ago in preparation for a Wallabies-studded Waratahs forward pack with some serious momentum.
Fardy hasn’t been seen in Brumbies colours for almost a month following an ankle injury, but has since proved his fitness after playing a club game for Wests in Canberra’s John I Dent Cup on Saturday.
He’ll return to the second row alongside Sam Carter, pushing Peter Kimlin back to blindside flanker and Fotu Auelua to the bench.
The 110kg, 198cm-tall lock says he’s been doing extra fitness sessions to ensure he’ll last the full 80 minutes at ANZ Stadium.
“We’ve got to step up, they (Waratahs) have been playing some great footy and have some big powerful locks, so we’ll just have to stick to our strengths,” Fardy said.
“I don’t want to reveal too much, but we’ll work on our low tackles and our work rate is pretty high.”
Meanwhile, Sio returns to loosehead prop at the expense of tighthead Dan Palmer, while Ben Alexander slides across the front row back to his preferred position in the No.3 jersey.
Brumbies coach Jake White said they wouldn’t lose any impact with the loss of Palmer, who is being rested from the match-day 22 for precautionary reasons due to a foot niggle.
“We played against the Sharks, (Sio) started, we got the four-try bonus point and then he started against the Force and we got the four-try bonus point,” White said.
“He definitely adds something to our pack.”
Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ben Mowen (capt), George Smith, Peter Kimlin, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Dan Palmer, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander. Res: Siliva Siliva, Ruan Smith, Fotu Auelua, Colby Faingaa, Ian Prior, Robbie Coleman, Pat McCabe.
