The Brumbies have moved Jarrad Butler from the back of the scrum to no.7 in place of
the injured David Pocock for tonight’s clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington

Brumbies Rugby Media Release –

The Brumbies have named their team to face the Hurricanes on Friday night with a re-shuffle of the back-row and Andrew Smith at inside-centre the selection highlights.

Smith’s last start at 12 was against the Welsh national side during a tour match in 2012, where he proved to be a quality inclusion attracting a number of defenders with his hard-edged carries.

Two years down the track and back after a season of niggling injuries, Smith finds himself wedged between starting Wallabies Matt Toomua and Tevita Kuridrani as one of the Brumbies mid-field Generals.

Last week’s inside-centre, Pat McCabe, will start from the bench for the Hurricanes clash.

With Robbie Coleman (wing), Jesse Mogg (fullback) and Henry Speight (wing) all fit and ready, the back three remains the same as last week, as does the halves combo of Nic White (scrumhalf) and Toomua (flyhalf).

Jarrad Butler shifts around the scum from No.8 to open-side flanker in the absence of David Pocock, moving Captain Ben Mowen to No.8 and Scott Fardy from lock to blind-side flanker.

Leon Power will partner Sam Carter at lock in his first start since the Rebels game in Canberra last year, while the front row of Ben Alexander (tight-head prop), Stephen Moore (hooker) and Scott Sio (loose-head prop) remains the same for the third consecutive week.

Jordan Smiler, JP Smith and Josh Mann-Rea come onto the bench for Power, Ruaidhri Murphy and Siliva Siliva. Aside from McCabe the replacement list of Ruan Smith, Lachlan McCaffrey, Conrad Hoffmann and Lionel Cronje remains the same as last week’s match in Perth.

Head Coach Stephen Larkham said the Brumbies would need to lift from last week to win in Wellington.

“They’ve had a fair bit of travel like us, but they’ll be reeling after two very close losses in Africa and will most certainly be feeling refreshed at home,” Larkham said.

“The Hurricanes have a number of very good players back this year and they’ve had a few days to readjust to being back in Wellington. I expect them to be a totally different side at home, irrespective of the travel factor.”

Thursday, 6 March 2014, Hurricanes v Brumbies, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, Kick-off: 5.35pm (AEST), Referee: Craig Joubert

BRUMBIES: 1. Scott Sio; 2. Stephen Moore; 3. Ben Alexander; 4. Leon Power; 5. Sam Carter; 6. Scott Fardy; 7. Jarrad Butler; 8. Ben Mowen (C); 9. Nic White; 10. Matt Toomua; 11. Robbie Coleman; 12. Andrew Smith; 13. Tevita Kuridrani; 14. Henry Speight; 15. Jesse Mogg

Replacements: 16. Josh MannRea; 17. Ruan Smith; 18. JP Smith; 19. Jordan Smiler; 20. Lachlan McCaffrey; 21. Conrad Hoffmann; 22. Pat McCabe ; 23. Lionel Cronje