Gerrard back for Brumbies
The Brumbies have made three changes to their starting line-up for the Super 14 battle against the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
The Brumbies have made three changes to their starting line-up for the Super 14 battle against the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
Full-back Mark Gerrard returns from a hamstring strain after missing the Brumbies' last round match against the Chiefs.
Gerrard will wear the number fifteen jersey with Adam Ashley-Cooper shifting to the wing, while Francis Fainifo reverts to the bench.
Gerrard, who was named man-of-the-match against the Reds and Waratahs, says he's keen to be back in the Brumbies' line-up after a week on the sidelines.
“The hamstring feels fine at the moment,” said Gerrard.
“It didn't give me any trouble during yesterday's training session and it responded really well to treatment and rehab last week so I'm very confident it won't be an issue on Saturday.”
The Brumbies forward pack has received two changes with Saia Faingaa reclaiming his hooking role from John Ulugia in the run-on side while Julian Salvi replaces Stephen Hoiles at number eight.
Hoiles injured his cheekbone in a tackle on Chiefs counterpart Sione Lauaki last weekend and sits out after failing a fitness test on Wednesday.
Salvi, who re-signed with the Brumbies for two years this week, says he's looking forward to his first run-on start for the season.
“I've been fairly pleased with how I've been going off the bench so far this season, but now it's a matter of doing that for an extended period on Saturday,” said Salvi.
“We know we need to front up against a very physical Blues side and ensure that we're going hard at the ball.”
Explosive loose forward Jone Tawake and mobile prop Ben Alexander return to the 22-man squad as part of an extended bench, alongside fellow forwards Ulugia, Salesi Ma'afu and Peter Kimlin.
Teenage fly-half Matt Toomua, scrum-half Joshua Holmes and Fainifo have been included on the bench as cover for the Brumbies' backline.
One player will be removed from the bench prior to Saturday's match.
Brumbies: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Tyrone Smith, 11Peter Playford, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Patrick Phibbs, 8 Julian Salvi, 7 George Smith, 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Alister Campbell, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Nic Henderson
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Salesi Ma'afi, 18 Peter Kimlin, 19 Jone Tawake, 20 Joshua Holmes, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Francis Fainifo, 23 Ben Alexander
Date: Saturday, April 12
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 (08:30 BST, 07:30 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Alan Riley (New Zealand)