Brumbies v Lions: Teams

Valentine: Back for the Brumbies

The Brumbies make four changes to their squad for Saturday's Super Rugby hosting of the Lions, with Ben Hand and Josh Valentine starting.

Lock forward Hand and scrum-half Valentine come in for Mark Chisholm and Patrick Phibbs as they look to get their season back on track.

And with prop Dan Palmer bracketed and doubtful to recover in time from a foot injury, Jono Owen looks likely to start his second straight match.

In the other change, Francis Fainifo drops out while Henry Speight returns to a team that face a completely overhauled Lions side looking to end a seven-match losing streak.

With Joshua Strauss captaining in Canberra and becoming the third skipper of the season when he starts at number eight, World Cup-winner Butch James makes his debut off the bench

And this means Elton Jantjies will be back in the pivot position, replacing Burton Francis who drops to the bench.

Strauss was called up to lead the side after an injury to regular skipper Doppies la Grange, whose midfield slot will be filled by Alwyn Hollenbach, while Jaco Taute will replace the injured Michael Killian at full-back.

With Strauss filling the place of Warren Whiteley, Michael Rhodes has been promoted to the starting XV and flanker Derick Minnie is another important inclusion along with tighthead prop Patric Cilliers.

Scrum-halves Rory Kockott and Jano Vermaak have again swapped places, with Kockott going back to his role as impact player, and Springbok hooker Bandise Maku returns.

Lock Franco van der Merwe is back at his regular starting position in the second row, replacing veteran David de Villiers who is left out.

Brumbies: 15 Pat McCabe, 14 Andrew Smith, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 Colby Faingaa, 6 Mitch Chapman, 5 Ben Hand, 4 Peter Kimlin, 3 Jono Owen/Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Salesi Ma'afu/Jono Owen, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Michael Hooper, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Henry Speight.

Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Dylan des Fountain, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Josh Strauss (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Cobus Grobbelaar, 19 Rory Kockott, 20 Burton Francis, 21 Jannie Boshoff.