Giteau, Elsom set for first appearance in 2010

[mudskipper]

Rocky Elsom and Matt Giteau ready for a Bulls return for the Brumbies

New recruits Matt Giteau and Rocky Elsom will make their first appearance for the Brumbies this season when they run onto Loftus Versfeld this Saturday night (local time) to play the Bulls.

Both Giteau and Elsom missed the side’s season opening 24-15 win over the Western Force due to their respective quad strain and chronic hamstring irritation but have both recovered to take up their places in the starting line-up. Giteau will play his first match for the Brumbies since joining the Force prior to the 2007 Investec Bank Super 14 season while Elsom, who played with Irish club Leinster last year, will play his first provincial match in Australia since representing the Waratahs in their 2008 Investec Bank Super final loss to the Crusaders.

Elsom will take up his place on the side of the Brumbies’ scrum with Mitch Chapman reverting to the bench. Giteau replaces Matt Toomua at flyhalf with the 19-year-old pivot starting from the reserves list.

The other change to the Brumbies’ starting line-up sees tighthead prop Salesi Ma’afu replace Guy Shepherdson in the front row.

Head Coach Andy Friend says the inclusion of Elsom and Giteau is timely ahead of their fixture against the reigning Investec Bank Super 14 champions.

“The Bulls at Loftus [Versfeld] presents a significant challenge for any side in the competition,” he said. “There’s an appreciation within the side that we need to step up from where we finished last week and we’ve identified where we need to improve against a quality Bulls outfit.

“We certainly need to be more physical in the contest and I think Rocky will help us achieve that. In saying that, Mitch was one of our hardest working forwards in the Force game but given Rocky’s returning from an injury, it made sense to put him straight into the game after the warm-up without giving him a chance to cool down on the bench.

“To be honest, we’re in a very blessed situation to have four quality back rowers vying for three positions.

“Matt [Giteau] will also bring further class to our backline. It’s a tough call for Matty Toomua who’s been excellent for us this year and he’s formed a great combination with Christian [Lealiifano] at 12 but Gits is a world-class player that you can’t leave out of your side.”

The remainder of the Brumbies scrum has remained untouched with Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander joining Ma’afu in the front row. Justin Harrison and Mark Chisholm will start in the second row with Elsom, George Smith and captain Stephen Hoiles making up the all-Wallaby back row.

Scrumhalf Josh Valentine will reunite with his former Western Force teammate, Giteau, in the halves while outside centre Stirling Mortlock will look to add to his impressive career tally after surpassing 1,000 points last weekend.

Last week’s debutante Pat McCabe and Francis Fainifo have retained their places on the wings while Wallaby fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper will again control play from the back after recording his 50th Super Rugby cap against the Force last week.


Brumbies v Bulls
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Kick-off: 5.05pm local time (2.05am AEDT – Sunday, 21 February)

1. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Justin Harrison
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Rocky Elsom
7. George Smith
8. Stephen Hoiles (c)
9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Giteau
11. Francis Fainifo
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Stirling Mortlock
14. Pat McCabe
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper


Reserves
16. Huia Edmonds
17. Guy Shepherdson
18. Ben Hand
19. Mitchell Chapman
20. Patrick Phibbs
21. Matt Toomua
22. Tyrone Smith


http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-for-brumbies/

[.X.]

And this means so much to us....

[shasta]

Despite Mudskipper's annoying presence on this site, it's still great when Aussie teams win in ZA. Tipped the Bulls & Sharks tho.

[GIGS20]

Giteau straight into ten.....Matty Toomua to the bench, he has a right to be cut to pieces after the game he played in Perth.

Giteau will suck out loud in Pretoria and retain the spot. Toomua needs to sign elsewhere as soon as his contract's up....he's got the goods, he needs to play!

Brumbies will only be able to warehouse him until the end of the year won't they?

[BDAVEY]

he go to the Rebels with Mortlock

[GIGS20]

You never know, we might be able to get him signed up for us if we're lucky!

[mudskipper]

You never know, we might be able to get him signed up for us if we're lucky!

Not with Mitch as coach GIGSY...

[GIGS20]

Not with Mitch as coach GIGSY...

Of course because Andy Friend is so fantastic..........actually the Brumbies coach is our biggest threat, since all he can do is buy players who have already shown success!

[mudskipper]

On the contrary, The Brumbies have a balanced recruiting and development program and have signed many of AUS finest emerging talent... Toomua (Australian School boy Flyhalf), Alexander, T. Smith , Ben Hand (ACR Rams Captain), Franky Fianifo, Alfi Mafi (Australian School boy), Pat McCabe, Peter Kimlin (Australian Schoolboy), Timani, Zippa Taumoepeau, Henry Vanderglas, Andrew Smith (Shute Shield player of the year 2009) and Jerry Yanuyanutawa (UNI Champion Prop 2007-2008).

And that doesn't even cover the academy such as Australian 7s players Shaun Foley, Clinton Sills, James Stannard, Tala Gray, Brackin Karauria-Henry and Robbie Coleman. And Michael Hooper, Steven Noriega and Colby Faingaa...

And there are many more...

They just don’t have any problem getting players down there…