Wallabies winger Joe Tomane admits he might not have the same impact as injured flyer Henry Speight as the Brumbies are forced to and “fro” between their star wingers.
The ACT side’s bruising victory over the Waratahs now threatens to derail their three-match winning streak, with Wallaby-in-waiting Speight (jaw), Test prop Scott Sio (ankle), and lock Leon Power (knee) all set to miss Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the Stormers after being ruled out for up to six weeks.
Wallabies outside centre Tevita Kuridrani will also miss the Canberra Stadium match to return to Fiji for a funeral, but the Brumbies will have good cover with underrated centre Andrew Smith promoted to No.13.
And it’s a further indication of just how deep their backline stocks run when an incumbent Wallabies winger is describing his injured teammate’s boots as big to fill.
“We lose Henry … and some 24-year-old, with a smaller ‘fro than him comes back,” said Tomane.
“We’re missing a big part of our team in Henry, I can’t say I’ll have the same impact as him but I’ll try my best.”
Modesty aside, Tomane’s confident his round one ankle injury will no longer hinder plans to rediscover the form that made him a mainstay in the Wallabies line-up after his stellar 2013 Super Rugby season.
“It’s lucky I’ve come back healthy,” the former NRL player said.
“I had a grade two tear in some ligament that has a thousand letters in it. Something-helexus-plexus-Nexus- Texas… I’m not too sure what it’s called, but I’ve recovered well.”
With the other Brumbies winger Robbie Coleman a left-footed kicker, Tomane will get the opportunity to line up on his preferred right hand-side and mark dangerous Stormers winger Sailosi Tagicakibau.
“I use to watch him play for Samoa when I was younger, I’m really excited about this match-up, he’s a great player,” he said.
In the forwards, Sio’s injury has given Cape Town-raised Jean-Pierre Smith his first professional starting debut, while Wallaby Scott Fardy will slide from the back row to lock to cover Power, and Jordan Smiler has been promoted to No.6.
Meanwhile, Wallabies inside centre Christian Lealiifano is expected to make his return from ankle surgery in the ACT first-grade competition for Tuggeranong, and is on track for the Rebels match next week.