Wed 10 Mar 2010
The Brumbies have named an unchanged 22-man squad to take on the Sharks in their 2010 Super 14 week five match against the Sharks at Canberra Stadium this Saturday (March 13). It is the third time since 2000 that the Brumbies have named an identical line-up (including reserves) for three consecutive matches. The last time the feat occurred was during the first three matches of the 2009 Super 14 season.
The Brumbies have won their past two matches with the current squad, edging out the Stormers 19-17 in Cape Town and defeating the Lions 24-13 last weekend at Canberra Stadium.
The ACT side has used the same 22 players since their week two loss to the Bulls, with the promotion of lock Ben Hand in favour of Justin Harrison the only change in four weeks.
The match will mark Patrick Phibbs’ 50th Super Rugby match for the Brumbies having made his debut against the Reds in Brisbane in 2005. Phibbs has played 38 of the past 39 matches for the Brumbies, including the last 31 consecutively.
The Sharks have not won at Canberra Stadium since their 41-23 victory in 1998.
Brumbies head coach Andy Friend says naming the same squad does give his side stability.
“It is a luxury to name the same 22 players for four matches in a row,” he said. “It gives you a chance to build combinations, it gives players confidence, and our strength and conditioning and medical staff have done a great job in ensuring we can run out the same guys week in and week out.
“Last week [against the Lions] we were a bit off. I guess part of that could be put down to travelling back from South Africa, part of it could be put down to the wet conditions, but these factors are realities of playing in this competition and we need to be better than that.
“The pleasing aspect was that we did create several opportunities that unfortunately weren’t converted. The intent is definitely there which is fantastic; now we need to improve on transferring those opportunities onto the scoreboard.
“Teams like the Sharks don’t give you too many chances and we need to make sure that we’re converting any chance we get. We’re certainly not reading anything into their position on the table; they’re a side full of Springboks and, as we found out last season, they’re capable of running over the top of you if you give them that chance.”
Brumbies v Sharks
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Saturday March 13
Kickoff: 7.40pm
1. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Ben Hand
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Rocky Elsom
7. George Smith
8. Stephen Hoiles (c)
9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Giteau
11. Francis Fainifo
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Stirling Mortlock
14. Pat McCabe
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper
Reserves
16. Huia Edmonds
17. Guy Shepherdson
18. Justin Harrison
19. Mitchell Chapman
20. Patrick Phibbs
21. Matt Toomua
22. Tyrone Smith