Under-strength Brumbies eye 'big opportunity' against Lions
The Brumbies are the strongest of Australia's four Super Rugby sides and will take heart from the Lions' struggles to grind past an under-strength NSW Waratahs 21-10 at the weekend.
They were also the only provincial team to beat the tourists when last in Australia in 2013, stunning Warren Gatland's men 14-12.
But they will take on the might of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in Canberra on Wednesday without their top players.
Eight Brumbies were in the Australia matchday squad that needed a late-gasp try to beat Fiji 21-18 on Sunday, and seven of them will not feature.
They include veteran forwards James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa, along with first-choice Wallabies backs Noah Lolesio, Len Ikitau and Tom Wright.
Only lock Tom Hooper, who came off the bench, will play.
"The boys have been back in training for a couple of weeks and they are aware of how big an opportunity this is for them to take on the Lions," said Larkham.
"We're under no illusions of the challenge that lies ahead, they are an incredibly strong and powerful side."
Hooper's brother Lachie was also included in the Brumbies squad, with the pair set to play together for the first time in a professional capacity.
Prop Lington Ieli, flanker Rory Scott, scrum-half Ryan Lonergan, centre David Feliuai and wing Corey Toole all start after recently being involved in the Wallabies training camp.
Lock Cadeyrn Neville will face the Lions for the second time, having played for the Melbourne Rebels during the 2013 tour.
ACT Brumbies (15-1):
Andy Muirhead; Ben O'Donnell, Ollie Sapsford, David Feliuai, Corey Toole; Declan Meredith, Ryan Lonergan (capt); Tuaina Taii Tualima, Rory Scott, Tom Hooper; Cadeyrn Neville, Lachie Shaw; Rhys van Nek, Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Farrell calls up Scotland trio into Lions squad
Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Pool B - Ireland v Scotland - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - October 7, 2023 Scotland's Ewan Ashman looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq MELBOURNE (Reuters) -British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell has called up Scotland's Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham into his squad as injury cover for the tour match against the First Nations & Pasifika XV. The three have been pulled from Scotland's squad in New Zealand ahead of their test against Samoa in Auckland. Winger Graham will arrive later on Monday, the Lions said, two days after he drew two yellow cards and left Scotland a man down for the last part of their 29-14 loss to Fiji in Suva. Glasgow Warriors loosehead prop Sutherland, who played in two tests of the previous Lions tour in South Africa, will join the camp in Melbourne on Sunday along with Edinburgh hooker Ewan Ashman. The First Nations-Pasifika clash is on July 22 at Melbourne's Docklands stadium. Former Australia utility back Kurtley Beale features in the Toutai Kefu-coached First Nations-Pasifika squad named on Monday along with test players Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Pete Samu. The 27-man squad has 20 players with Pacific islands heritage and five Indigenous Australians, including ACT Brumbies fullback Andy Muirhead and scrumhalf Harrison Goddard. On the Lions' side, Farrell has been busy calling in reinforcements ahead of the series-opener against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday. England hooker Jamie George was called into the squad following a head-knock for Luke Cowan-Dickie during the 48-0 drubbing of the invitational Australia-New Zealand XV in Adelaide on Saturday. Ireland tighthead prop Tom Clarkson was also called up over the weekend to provide more front row cover. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Merlier at the double as Van der Poel denied at Tour de France stage nine
CHATEAUROUX, France: Tim Merlier won stage nine of the Tour de France at Chateauroux on Sunday after a heroic long-range escape from Mathieu van der Poel was caught in the final kilometre. There was no change atop the overall standings with Tadej Pogacar now holding a 54sec advantage over Remco Evenepoel in second with French starlet Kevin Vauquelin third. This was a second win for Soudal Quick-Step sprinter Merlier who was first across the line on stage three at Dunkirk as he racked up a 12th stage win this year. On a sun drenched slog from the Chinon vineyards, Van der Poel and a teammate broke early and built up a lead of 5min 30sec on the flat roads to Chateauroux. Jonas Rickaert won the combativity award for accompanying Van der Poel to within 10km of the line before slumping over his handlebars. With his gung-ho all-in style Van der Poel grew his Tour de France legend here despite being caught with 700m to go, the plaudits will be both his and Merlier's. As Van der Poel was reeled in, it looked as though Jonathan Milan would win a second consecutive stage but Merlier got ahead with 50m remaining as Milan finished second with Arnaud De Lie completing the podium. Pogacar's Tour de France defence took a hit Sunday as his key teammate Joao Almeida threw in the towel two days after his nasty fall at the Mur de Bretagne, where he fractured a rib. Monday's stage 10 should shake up the race with eight classified climbs in the Massif Central on the July 14 French national holiday. Road signs in honour of British cycling great Mark Cavendish had been placed at entry points to Chateauroux -- reading Cavendish City -- in homage to the now-retired 40-year-old, after he won three stages there in 2008, 2011 and 2021. - AFP
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Farrell happy to have Lions selection headaches for Wallabies Test
ADELAIDE, (Australia): British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell is welcoming the selection headaches posed by their demolition of a combined Australia-New Zealand side in Adelaide, saying it was "exactly what we want." In their final assignment before next Saturday's first Test against the Wallabies at Brisbane, the Lions were clinical in a 48-0 rout, running in eight tries, three of them to Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe. After an upset loss to Argentina in Dublin, then five straight wins since arriving in Australia, Farrell must now decide who makes his starting XV for the business end of the tour. Plenty of players put their hand up on Saturday evening, with some tough calls now needed. "That's exactly what we want, people putting their hands up," Farrell said. "I just said to the players that selection is going to be unbelievably difficult. "That's how it should be. I know that we've got a group that's as cohesive as it gets and they're all rowing together, no matter what, because it takes a squad to win a series," he added. "The lads who get picked in the first Test, they'll be the lucky ones to represent the group, but they've also got to earn the right to keep that jersey for the second Test as well." While a handful of positions will be locked in, injury worries have complicated matters. Centre Garry Ringrose has been ruled out of the first Test after being placed in concussion protocols, while hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie is also a doubt after a head knock. Ringrose and Irish teammate Bundee Aki were shaping as the likely midfield pair, but it now seems Scottish counterparts Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu may get the nod. With concern lingering over a knee injury to Scot Blair Kinghorn, Ireland's Hugo Keenan did his chances no harm in Adelaide of starting at fullback against Australia. Who wears the number seven shirt is another conundrum for Farrell, with Jac Morgan of Wales, England's Tom Curry and Ireland's Josh van der Flier all in the mix. "When we get to Brisbane, we'll have a coaches' meeting like we always do and discuss how the week is going to unfold," said Farrell.
