Teams and previews via SA Rugby Magazine
Make sure to check the teams and do your homework before placing any wagers on Round 3 of Super Rugby AU!
Western Force v Reds (Friday, 11:05, Brisbane)
The Western Force have made just one change to their match 23 ahead of their game against the Reds in Brisbane on Friday.
On the back of their gritty display against the Waratahs last week, coach Tim Sampson named an unchanged starting lineup.
On the bench, though, lock Ollie Atkins replaces Johan Bardoul.
Western Force – 15 Jack McGregor, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Nick Jooste, 11 Brad Lacey, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Tevin Ferris, 6 Henry Stowers, 5 Fergus Lee Warner, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Kieran Longbottom, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 1 Angus Wagner.
Subs: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Ollie Atkins 20 Ollie Callan, 21 Jacob Abel, 22 Henry Taefy, 23 Kyle Godwin.
Chris Feauai-Sautia has replaced Bryce Hegarty as one of two changes to the Reds’ starting lineup for Friday’s Super Rugby AU match against the Force in Brisbane.
Reds Brad Thorn has stuck largely with the same team run-on XV, with the exception Feauai-Sautia coming in for Hegarty and Angus Scott-Young taking over the No 5 lock spot in the injury-enforced absence of Angus Blyth.
Feauai-Sautia will however play right wing, resulting in Jock Campbell moving to fullback.
Props Dane Zander and Jack Straker, lock Ryan Smith and Hegarty are the new additions to the bench.
Reds – 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright (c), 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Angus Scott-Young, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Hoopert.
Subs: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Dane Zander, 18 Jack Straker, 19 Ryan Smith, 20 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 21 Scott Malolua, 22 Josh Flook, 23 Bryce Hegarty.
Brumbies v Waratahs (Saturday, 11:15, Sydney)
The return of fullback Tom Banks is the only change to the Brumbies lineup for their match against rivals the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.
Banks missed his team’s round-one fixture due to a stress fracture in his foot, but the Wallaby has regained full fitness to take up position in the starting XV.
His inclusion has rookie Mack Hansen moving to the bench, where he replaces Len Ikitau.
Brumbies – 15 Tom Banlcs, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Tom Wright, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Murray Douglas, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper.
Subs: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Lachlan McCaffrey, 20 Will Miller, 21 Issak Fines, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Mack Hansen.
There are four personnel changes and two positional swaps in the Waratahs side for their clash with the Brumbies in Sydney on Saturday.
Hunt has been elevated to the starting XV following a superb cameo off the bench against the Force last week.
He will line up at inside centre, triggering a backline reshuffle with Joey Walton moving to No 13, Alex Newsome moving on to the left wing in place of Mark Nawaqanitawase, who has been relegated to the bench.
In the pack, Wallaby loosehead prop Tom Robertson comes into a new-look front row after four months out with a back injury. Rookie Tom Horton will have his first Super Rugby start at hooker, pushing Robbie Abel to the bench.
Jack Dempsey makes his return to the starting XV after two weeks coming off the bench, swapping with youngster Will Harris.
Waratahs – 15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Karmichael Hunt, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons (c), 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Tom Robertson.
Subs: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Angus Bell, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Will Harris, 21 Michael Mcdonald, 22 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 23 Ben Dondaldson.
