The Brumbies are beefing up their back-row ahead of their vital clash against Melbourne Rebels on Saturday, naming 120kg strongman Fotu Auelua at No.8 to make his Super Rugby debut.
It’s one of six changes coach Jake White has made to the side that went down last week to the defending champions Queensland.
Auelua’s inclusion has pushed captain Ben Mowen to blindside at the expense of Peter Kimlin, who will start from the bench, while Scott Fardy has been brought back into the starting line-up to combine at lock with Sam Carter.
Tevita Kuridrani has also claimed his first run-on start after being named at outside centre over the hard-working Andrew Smith.
Smith will warm a place on the bench along with Ita Vaea, who has been replaced at No.7 for the Rebels game by the promising Michael Hooper.
The match – the Brumbies’ last at home before a two-week trip to South Africa – also signals the much-awaited return of Robbie Coleman, who went down with a groin injury in the ACT franchise’s season-opening win against Western Force.
He will start on the bench, with White saying he could be brought on in a variety of positions in the backs.
White has also chosen to rest Wallabies prop Ben Alexander, which gives Ruaidri Murphy his second run-on start of the season.
Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Joe Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani, Pat McCabe, Henry Speight, Christian Lealiifano, Nic White, Fotu Auelua, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Dan Palmer, Stephen Moore, Ruaidri Murphy. Res: Anthony Hegarty, Ben Alexander, Peter Kimlin, Ita Vaea, Ian Prior, Robbie Coleman, Andrew Smith.