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Brumbies set to unleash rookie 2.05m ex-Crusaders prospect on Rebels
The Brumbies have made one injury-forced change in their team to face the Melbourne Rebels in round two of Super Rugby at Canberra Stadium on Friday.
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Second-rower Darcy Swain has been ruled out, allowing veteran Cadeyrn Neville to make his Brumbies starting debut against one of his former teams.
That opens up a vacancy in the reserves for former Australian schoolboys and Junior Wallabies lock Nick Frost, who has been named on the bench for a potential Super Rugby debut.
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The 20-year-old hit the headlines in October 2017 when he made the unorthodox decision to spurn offers from local Australian clubs to move to New Zealand and join the Crusaders on a development contract.
The move drew criticism on Rugby Australia for failing to lock down one of Australia’s brightest young talents, but the 2.05m lock – who represented provincial side Canterbury at an under-19 level in 2018 – has returned to his homeland after signing a two-year deal with the Brumbies last May.
The @Highlanders have tinkered with their new-look squad for their opening match of the 2020 campaign. #SuperRugby https://t.co/2ilBvWSpe4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 4, 2020
Rookie No.10 Noah Lolesio holds onto the playmaking reins after leading the Brumbies to a season-opening win against Queensland Reds.
Reserve fly-half Bayley Kuenzle could make his Super Rugby debut after spending all 80 minutes on the bench last week.
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The Brumbies have won nine straight games at home and are gunning for the club record of 13 which they set 22 years ago.
The Rebels have won their past four games against the Brumbies and are looking to bounce back from a shock loss to the Sunwolves in Japan.
Brumbies team to play Rebels at Canberra on Friday: Scott Sio, Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa, Murray Douglas, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Tom Cusack, Pete Samu, Joe Powell, Noah Lolesio, Tom Wright, Irae Simone, Tevita Kuridrani, Solomone Kata, Tom Banks.
Reserves: Connal McInerney, Harry Lloyd, James Slipper, Nick Frost, Will Miller, Ryan Lonergan, Bayley Kuenzle, Andy Muirhead.
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– With AAP
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