Brumbies bank on rookie in final run-in
The Brumbies will welcome back Matt Toomua and Andrew Smith from injury, while rookie Ben Hyne has been named to make his Super Rugby debut against the Reds in Canberra on Friday.
Toomua made a successful return from a knee injury during last week's third Test for the Wallabies against England and had a hand in two tries for the home side.
He has missed the Brumbies' last three matches through a knee injury which required minor surgery.
Hyne has been named to make his debut after moving to Canberra to link with the Brumbies pre-season training squad without the guarantee of a contract.
The Rockhampton-product, who is now on a development contract, was part of the 2015 National Rugby Championship-winning Brisbane City side.
He has been playing for Tuggeranong Vikings in the 2016 John I Dent Cup and has taken out the competition's Player of the Round award on three occasions.
He is also second on the competition's try scoring list with seven.
The versatile 22-year old travelled with the Brumbies to South Africa earlier this season as a shadow player following injuries to Ita Vaea and Jarrad Butler.
Hyne has been named at No.8 for Friday's match – joining Butler (No.7) and Scott Fardy (No.6) in the back row. He will become Brumby No.185.
In another first for the Brumbies, young scrumhalf Joe Powell has been named to make his first Super Rugby start.
Powell was a bolter for the Wallabies recent training squad for the Test series against England after playing in eight Super Rugby matches over the past two seasons, all of which have been as a reserve.
Tomás Cubelli has been named as reserve scrumhalf after returning to Canberra from Argentina only on Tuesday, following Los Pumas test series with France.
In another boost for the side, Andrew Smith returns to the bench for the first time since round two after recovering from a serious foot injury.
Smith has played two matches for the Queanbeyan Whites in the John I Dent Cup to return to match fitness.
Joe Tomane has not been named in this week's squad as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury. Nigel Ah Wong and James Dargaville maintain their spots on the wing.
Ruan Smith has been named as a reserve and could potentially rack up his 50th Super Rugby cap in the match. Smith made his Super Rugby debut for the Western Force in 2012 and played two matches for the West Australian outfit before linking with the Brumbies where he has made 47 appearances since 2013.
The Brumbies have won four of their last six matches against the Reds, including the last three encounters between the two sides.
In 2015 the Brumbies won both matches, including a 47-3 victory over the Reds at GIO Stadium in round one.
Brumbies: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Nigel Ah Wong, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Christian Lealiifano (co-captain), 9 Joe Powell, 8 Ben Hyne, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (co-captain), 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Lausii Taliauli.
Date: Friday, July 1
Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.40 (11.40 GMT)
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
