The ACT Brumbies will give a former New Zealand junior flanker a chance to impress in their first trial of the season, luring Jahrome Brown to Canberra for a chance to chase a Super Rugby spot.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Brown will start on the bench for the Brumbies' trial against the Melbourne Rebels at Viking Park, with the game to be broken into three 30-minute periods to combat the heat.
The Brumbies are embracing the early-year game temperature and say it will be good to blow out some cobwebs. They hope their fans feel the same, putting on an Australia Day classic of thong throwing, sausage sizzles and backyard cricket to go with January rugby.
Brown will be thrown into his own pressure-cooker after the Brumbies offered him a temporary deal as an injury replacement for Ben Hyne, who had a knee reconstruction and is out for the season.
The former Kiwi under-20s and Waikato back-rower faces a massive task to get Super Rugby game time given the Brumbies already boast David Pocock, Pete Samu, Lachlan McCaffrey, Rob Valetini and Tom Cusack.
But coach Dan McKellar wants to avoid being caught short if injuries strike early in the season, and Brown will get an opportunity to show his worth against the Rebels.
"It was sad to see Ben Hyne get injured, he's such a quality person and player," McCaffrey said.
"We were excited for that battle and him doing down ... we took a loss with that. But there are still quality back-rowers there. We've got good depth in every position."
McKellar is using the clash to help formulate a plan for the first game of the regular season, coincidentally also against the Rebels, on February 15.
None of the Brumbies' Test representatives will play in the first trial, opening the door for other players to stake their claim for vacant spots in the starting side or on the bench.
"It's a good opportunity for them to put the hard work on to the field. It's certainly not going to be perfect, but it's a chance to push for selection for round one," McKellar said.
"There aren't too many positions that are locked up, which is exciting. That's the environment we want to have, we want to make sure there's competition for positions and guys are challenging each other."
Former Wallabies skipper James Slipper, ex-Waikato Chiefs flyer Toni Pulu and centre Irae Simone will play their first games for the Brumbies when they start the match.
Brown, Vunipola Fifita, Lachlan Osborne, Angus Wagner, Bayley Kuenzle, Noah Lolesio and Tomo Wright will also get their opportunity in the Brumbies jersey at some stage during the match.
McCaffrey will take the captaincy reins to start the match before Sam Carter comes on to the field, but McKellar is yet to make an announcement about the long-term leadership plan.
The players will also have to beat the high temperature, which is expected to hit 40 degrees less than two hours before the 6.30pm kick-off.
The players might have to get used to the early-year heat though as Super Rugby officials consider shifting the regular season forward to start in January as part of a competition overhaul from next year.
The decision to scrap the June Test window is set to see round one of the 2020 season start in January to accommodate a new international schedule and ensure Super Rugby is not hindered by a four-week break.
That is of little concern to the players, who have their sights set on blowing out the cobwebs against the Rebels and then fine-tuning their plan for the regular season.
The Brumbies have trained just twice this week after spending the first half of the week at the Snowy Mountains on a pre-season camp.
McCaffrey is still expecting good things from the Brumbies and is also bracing for perhaps the biggest year of his career as he plans for a wedding with partner Tash and the couple await the birth of their first child.
"I can't wait. When you work really hard since late October, the last thing you want to do is another week of pre-season [training]," McCaffrey said.
"We're super keen to get out there and express ourselves, and have some fun. This year is great, there's so much competition in every spot. The [new guys] have added so much.
"There's not much pressure [for the Rebels game], it's just about putting into practice what we've learnt the last few months, having a crack and we'll look at the footage next week to work on that."
BRUMBIES PRE-SEASON
Saturday: Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Viking Park, 6.30pm. Entry is free.
Brumbies: 1. James Slipper, 2. Josh Mann-Rea, 3. Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Rob Valentini, 7. Tom Cusack, 8. Lachlan McCaffrey, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 11. Lausii Taliauli, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Toni Pulu, 15. Jordan Jackson-Hope. Reserves: Jahrome Brown, Sam Carter, Murray Douglas, Vunipola Fifita, Connal McInerney, Lachlan Osborne, Tom Ross, Angus Wagner, Mack Hansen, Len Ikitau, Bayley Kuenzle, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Matt Lucas, Andy Muirhead, Chance Peni, Tom Wright.
Rebels: 1. Mees Erasmus, 2. Hugh Roach, 3. Pone Faamausili, 4. Luke Jones, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Esei Haangana, 8. Richard Hardwick, 9. Michael Ruru, 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Sione Tui, 12. Billy Meakes, 13. Tasi Tautalatasi, 14. Semisi Tupou, 15. Beauden Waaka. Reserves: Cameron Betham, Rhys Brodie, Matthew Gibbon, Harrison Goddard, Jack Hayson, Trevor Hosea, Archie King, Michael Koko, Feta Luamanu, Justin Masters, Jon Mokofisi, Hugh Roach, Sam Talakai, Kemu Valentini.
