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Five Wallabies return for Brumbies
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Wallabies Jeremy Paul, Mark Chisholm, Clyde Rathbone, Guy Shepherdson and Stephen Hoiles will play their first matches of the World Cup year in the Brumbies' home trial match against the Hurricanes on Friday night.
Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher today included 11 Super 14 regulars in his 27-man squad for the Canberra Stadium clash ahead of their opening match of the Super 14 season against the Chiefs in Hamilton on February 3.
Lock Adam Wallace-Harrison rejoins the squad after undergoing a knee reconstruction in July while Julian Huxley returns to the Brumbies line-up after four years with the Queensland Reds.
Huxley will wear the 10 jersey as veteran Wallaby flyhalf Stephen Larkham continues to rest.
"I'm really looking forward to playing on Friday," said Huxley.
"They're obviously big shoes to fill but I was fortunate to have a dry run at flyhalf during the APC [Australian Provincial Championship].
"I've enjoyed coming back to the Brumbies and I'm really excited about this year."
Fisher retained many of the younger players who impressed during the Brumbies' 12-0 loss to the Waratahs on Saturday evening in Wollongong.
Eighteen-year-old Rowan Kellam maintains his position at inside centre while fellow Brumbies Academy teammate Peter Kimlin moves to the side of the scrum after playing lock and No. 8 against the Waratahs.
Jared Barry, Anthony Hegarty, Solomona Fainifo, Jason Lagaali and Tim Wright, all members of the Academy, will start off the bench.
"Our focus will again be on our core skills and operating under fatigue," said Fisher.
"The great thing about playing trials against the New Zealand sides is that they challenge you at the point of impact and at the breakdown.
"We know these will be key areas for us so it's a great opportunity to test recycling possession, our defensive alignment, our catch-pass and our kick-chase prior to the season."
Brumbies team:
- Nic Henderson
- Jeremy Paul,
- Salesi Ma'afu,
- Alister Campbell,
- Mark Chisholm,
- Peter Kimlin,
- Richard Stanford,
- Stephen Hoiles,
- Luke Burgess,
- Julian Huxley,
- Francis Fainifo,
- Rowan Kellam,
- Natt Carraro,
- Clyde Rathbone,
- Adam Ashley-Cooper,
- Saia Faingaa,
- Guy Shepherdson,
- Adam Wallace-Harrison,
- Anthony Hegarty,
- Nick Haydon,
- Christian Lealiifano,
- Jason Lagaali,
- Tim Wright,
- Solomona Fainifo,
- John Ulugia,
- Jone Tawake,
- Jared Barry
AAP