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How the Brumbies plan to topple a Waratahs side bolstered by returning Wallaby

By AAP
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Blunting the NSW Waratahs’ beefed-up back row is Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa’s primary focus as the Super Rugby AU defending champions get comfortable in Canberra.

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The Brumbies will play their next four games at home, beginning with Saturday’s second-round clash against the depleted Waratahs.

A 41-7 loss to the Queensland Reds last Friday was compounded by serious ankle injuries to captain Jake Gordon and centre Joey Walton, while fellow centre Izaia Perese was suspended for a dangerous tackle.

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Lachlan Swinton speaks to media

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Lachlan Swinton speaks to media

But in a huge boost for Rob Penney’s young side the Waratahs will welcome Wallabies enforcer Lachie Swinton back from his own suspension.

Swinton will join a new-look back-row alongside his Australia teammate Jack Dempsey and Junior Wallabies graduate Carlo Tizzano, who was among the best of a losing side at Suncorp Stadium.

A fit again Tepai Moeroa returns straight into the starting side at inside centre – replacing Walton – while newly named captain Alex Newsome moves in from the wing to play outside centre.

The Brumbies are wary of the wounded Waratahs.

“Physicality is going to be a big point of the game. They’re bringing Lachie Swinton back in and Tepai in the centres,” Alaalatoa said

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“They’re two of their dominant ball carriers so we need to be physical up front and the backline needs to be on like they were last week (in a 27-11 defeat of the Western Force).

“Just thinking of it from their perspective, they’d be disappointed and looking to rectify (the defeat to the Reds) by doing a job on us, so we need to make sure our intent from the start of the game is on.”

Thanks to a midweek fixture change, the Brumbies will play the next three weeks with no COVID-19 crowd limits at GIO Stadium before a bye and then another game at home.

Dominant at home last season they will begin relatively unscathed, with hooker Folau Fainga’a (toe) replaced by Connal McInerney in the only change to the starting side.

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“That’s the goal (four wins at home) in the short term, but you’ve got to look at tomorrow first,” Alaalatoa said.

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Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
How Leinster neutralised 'long-in-the-tooth' La Rochelle

Hey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂

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