The big call ex-Wallaby says may be ‘an inevitability’ for Brumbies

Former Wallabies outside back Cameron Shepherd has questioned whether the ACT Brumbies need to make a change at fly-half, believing it may be inevitable for Tane Edmed to replace Declan Meredith in the starting side.

Meredith has been retained in the First XV to face the Queensland Reds in Brisbane this weekend, despite being replaced at half-time in last weekend’s 45-12 defeat to the Hurricanes at One New Zealand Stadium.

After sending a penalty kick for touch dead for the second time that evening, both the Brumbies and Hurricanes made their way off the field for half-time. But when the Brumbies returned for the second term, Edmed was out in the middle sporting the No. 22 jumper.

Edmed spent a handful of seasons with the NSW Waratahs before making the move south to the capital. The 25-year-old had finished last year as the starting Wallabies fly-half, but playing time has proved hard to come by in Super Rugby Pacific.

Coach Stephen Larkham has named Edmed in the starting side just twice, including a season-high 50 minute shift against the Fijian Drua in round five. But as Shepherd explained, the Brums may need to consider a change deep in the regular season.

“You’re also looking at a head coach who is arguably Australia’s greatest fly-half of all-time. No one understands what a fly-half probably needs more than Stephen Larkham,” Shepherd explained on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.

“Someone like Tane Edmed played a huge amount of rugby for the Wallabies, has now had to try to make the most of short little cameo appearances that only last 15 to 20 minutes. On the weekend, gets his chance… I thought he was very good in a losing side. Do you make that major change and disrupt a team that has been playing some really good foot under Declan Meredith, or do you persist and hope things come good again?

“But the truth of the fact is that the Brumbies haven’t been very good in the last couple of weeks. It doesn’t look like the team from earlier in the season, so maybe that change is just an inevitability.”

Meredith starts alongside captain Ryan Lonergan in the halves, while Feliuai and Kadin Pritchard will again form the midfield pairing. Corey Toole and Andy Muirhead have been named on the wings, with Tom Wright rounding out a familiar back three.

Fixture

Super Rugby Pacific

Reds

02:35

2 May 26

Brumbies

All Stats and Data

Edmed joins New Zealand-born Australia A representative Ollie Sapsford on the bench, with the Brumbies going with a 5-3 split. This Australian derby sees the fifth-ranked Brumbies travel to face the Reds, who currently sit just inside the playoff picture in sixth.

Both sides are looking to bounce back after suffering defeats in Christchurch in Super Round, falling to New Zealand opposition on Saturday. The Reds were beaten 36-33 by the Blues, with Beauden Barrett kicking the match-winner.

“I thought that was the best game of Super Round,” Shepherd said.

“The interview with Fraser McReight after the game, he was the one who gave away the penalty… which eventually lost the game. He was so exhausted.

“I think they’re going to head back to Suncorp, they’re going to want this one. I think the Reds will be too strong.”