Brumbies call up 'home-grown' talent
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Canberra product Connal McInerney is set to start for the Brumbies when they take on the NSW Waratahs in Round Two of Super Rugby AU on Saturday.
The fixture between the arch-rivals will be the first time the Canberra faithful have the chance to watch their side at home this season, with restrictions lifted to allow for a full capacity crowd.
McInerney is the only change to the starting XV that defeated the Western Force in their opening fixture in Perth last weekend.
The Erindale College graduate and member of the Royals 2020 grand final winning team will pack down in the front row alongside Wallabies props James Slipper and skipper Allan Alaalatoa.
Fresh from a dominant performance in the West, Cadeyrn Neville will again lead the line-out, partnering up-and-coming lock Darcy Swain in the second row.
The bruising Rob Valetini will join the busy Jahrome Brown and dynamic Pete Samu as the loose forward trio.
Wallabies Nic White and Noah Lolesio will again steer the side from the halves with Len Ikitau and Irae Simone to combine in the midfield.
Fellow local product Mack Hansen will line up on the left wing with Andy Muirhead on the right and Tom Banks in the No.15 jersey.
Former Junior Wallaby Lachlan Lonergan will see his first minutes of 2021 as reserve hooker, alongside Tom Ross and Harry Lloyd as the front row replacements.
Tall-timber Nick Frost and vice-captain Tom Cusack will again be asked to provide impact from the pine, covering the second and back row.
Ryan Lonergan will make it a family affair as the replacement scrumhalf with young gun Reesjan Pasitoa and number nine, come wing, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa finalising the game-day squad.
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Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said: "Connal gets his first start and Lachlan Lonergan was an unlucky omission form Round One so it's really pleasing for him after an excellent pre-season."
"Connal's always very consistent and you know you're going to get good set piece, repeat efforts and physicality and he's very comfortable now at this level.
"Brumbies versus the Waratahs is always a game that's attracted a big crowd so hopefully the local rugby community gets behind it and others who might not normally go to a rugby game have an opportunity to see some really good rugby in what will be good conditions."
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 4 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Connal McInerney, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Harry Lloyd, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Tom Cusack, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa.
Date: Saturday, February 27
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.45 (08.45 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett & Reuben Keane
TMO: James Leckie