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Brumbies name injured trio of stars to face Force
ACT Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher has named his strongest side possible for Friday night's season opener against the Western Force in Perth.
Fisher named injured players Steve Larkham, Jeremy Paul and Matt Giteau in the side but said all three would have to prove their fitness at training tonight.
In the major selection surprise Julian Salvi has been named at open side flanker with George Smith at number eight.
Radiki Samo has missed selection in the squad of 22.
Brumbies
1 Bill Young
2 Jeremy Paul
3 Nick Henderson
4 Al Campbell
5 Mark Chisholm
6 Daniel Heenan
7 Julian Salvi
8 George Smith
9 George Gregan
10 Stephen Larkham
11 Mark Gerrard
12 Matt Giteau
13 Stirling Mortlock
14 Clyde Rathbone
15 Adam Ashley Cooper
Originally Posted by Burgs
Fischer is playing ducks & drakes.Wonder what the starting XV really will be
Force team not announced till thursday.I have been reliably informed that there will be a couple of suprises
A bit more detail from ARU:
CA Brumbies Head Coach Laurie Fisher has today named a full-strength lineup for Friday night's historic Tooheys New Super 14 Week One clash with the Western Force at Subiaco Oval.
Wallaby stars Jeremy Paul (calf), Matt Giteau (knee) and Stephen Larkham (knee) have been named in the team after completing yesterday's training session.
The star trio did not participate in any of the Brumbies three pre-season trial matches whilst rehabilitating from injuries, but are likely to take their place in the starting team for the Friday night blockbuster.
"We've got a session tonight at 6 o'clock so hopefully they'll train well and come through that and be able to take their place in the team on Friday night," said Fisher.
"We'll make a decision one way or another on each of them after tonight's session," he added.
Larkham will play his 99th Super 14 match for the Brumbies and will pair with World test record holder George Gregan in the halves.
201cm lock Alister Campbell has won a place in the starting fifteen after an impressive pre-season and will be paired with Mark Chisholm in the lock position, while Wallaby Spring Tour forward Adam Wallace-Harrison has secured a place on the reserves bench.
New recruit Daniel Heenan will make his debut for the Brumbies in his 24th Super 14 match and will line up alongside Australian Under 21s star Julian Salvi on the flanks.
For Salvi, it will be just his second appearance in the starting lineup after making his debut at openside flanker against the Chiefs at Canberra Stadium in Week Eleven last year.
"I've been looking forward to (this opportunity) for a while now and to play in the first round of the Super 14 will certainly be a great experience," said Salvi.
"It's a special occasion; the first Super 14 match and a new Australian derby against Perth.
Everyone is really looking forward to it," he said.
George Smith will lock the back-row at Number 8, the position he played for the Wallabies throughout the Spring Tour.
"George Smith is one of the best number sevens in the world and it will be a big task to fill his shoes, but it's a great opportunity for me to try and lock myself into that position with George playing at Number 8," added Salvi.
Nic Henderson, who will test out his new 118kg frame at tighthead prop, will pack down with veteran Bill Young in the front row, who is entering the season in the best physical shape of his career after his first full pre-season of training since 2000.
Outstanding 21-year-old back Adam Ashley-Cooper has been named at fullback, while the 2004 championship-winning wing pairing of Clyde Rathbone and Mark Gerrard will be re-united.
"It is important we get away to a good start and put in some strong performances on the road before we get back to Canberra Stadium," said Fisher.
"Ideally we would like to return from South Africa with three wins from three. Our record on the road, particularly in South Africa, is a strong focus for us this season and we would like to get over there with a first-up win over the Force under our belt."
Tooheys New Super 14 Week One
Emirates Western Force v CA Brumbies
Subiaco Oval
Friday 10 February 2006
Kick off: 7.05pm (Perth time) 10.05pm (AEDT)
1 Bill Young
2 Jeremy Paul
3 Nic Henderson
4 Alister Campbell
5 Mark Chisholm
6 Daniel Heenan *
7 Julian Salvi
8 George Smith
9 George Gregan
10 Stephen Larkham
11 Mark Gerrard
12 Matt Giteau
13 Stirling Mortlock (c)
14 Clyde Rathbone
15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
16 David Palavi - reserve
17 Guy Shepherdson - reserve
18 Adam Wallace-Harrison - reserve
19 Jone Tawake - reserve
20 Patrick Phibbs - reserve
21 Gene Fairbanks - reserve
22 Joel Wilson - reserve
* On debut for the Brumbies
Force defence unknown element
By Wayne Smith, The Australian
February 7, 2006
THE critical factor in Friday's historic Super 14 match between Western Force and the ACT Brumbies might very well be which team has most problems with the newcomer's unique defensive pattern.
While the NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and the Brumbies, from which Force has drawn most of its recruits, all defend in roughly the same way, the Perth side, under former All Blacks coach John Mitchell, will be doing things differently.
Captain Nathan Sharpe, although enthusiastic about it, admits the new system is taking some getting used to, as was evident when Force was trounced by the Blues at Eden Park late last week.
"It was a case of new defensive structures and old ideas and we got caught between systems," Sharpe said. "We're getting better and better at it at training but we just lost a bit of detail and precision.
"It's not a New Zealand-style defence. This is John Mitchell's own brand and we've got to be able to execute that under pressure."
Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher has named a side that should apply plenty of pressure, even if no fewer than three senior Wallabies - Steve Larkham, Matt Giteau and Jeremy Paul - will run onto Subiaco Oval on Friday night not having played in a pre-season trial, while another three - George Gregan, Clyde Rathbone and Mark Chisholm - have seen no other live action but an internal scrimmage last Thursday.
All six players came through critical fitness tests last night although Larkham will be given extra defensive work today to prepare him for what shapes as a very physical encounter in front of a crowd that is expected to break the old record for a Super 12 match in Australia.
Fisher admits he still does not have a handle on the Mitchell defensive pattern, despite having travelled to Melbourne recently to watch Force's trial against the Canterbury Crusaders.
"Around the ruck they certainly defend differently, but having watched just that one trial, it's hard to say precisely what they're aiming at," Fisher said.
Spearheading Force's close-to-the-ruck defence will be former Brumbies backrower Scott Fava, who is adamant the West Australia side must take full advantage of the rustiness in the ranks of his former ACT teammates.
Fisher, however, has opted for shiny, new metal in key positions, installing Australia under-21 star Julian Salvi at openside flanker to allow George Smith to continue in the number eight role he filled for the Wallabies in the last five Tests of the 2005 season.
"For the balance of the game, we think it's best to start with two on-the-ballers," said Fisher, who clearly expects Mitchell to continue with the expansive game he employed so well with the All Blacks.
For the same reason, Adam Ashley-Cooper, a Test debutant on the wing against the Springboks at Subiaco last season, has been named at fullback ahead of Mark Gerrard, who has only recently returned to full training after an arduous campaign with Australia.
"You've really got to be on your bike for this game," Fisher said.