Rebels v Brumbies: Teams
Former Brumbies skipper Stirling Mortlock returns to the Rebels starting XV to face his former team in Friday's clash in Melbourne.
Last Updated: 28/06/12 5:14pm
Former Brumbies skipper Stirling Mortlock returns to the Rebels starting XV to face his former team in Friday's Super Rugby clash in Melbourne.
Mortlock replaces inside centre Lachie Mitchell who suffered concussion last week.
James Hilgendorf takes over from injured Wallabies star Kurtley Beale at fly-half while Hugh Perrett starts at flanker in the clash with the Australian Super Rugby conference leaders.
Mark Gerrard is named to play despite taking a knock to the sternum in last weekend's heavy loss to the Hurricanes.
Brumbies coach Jake White has made three changes to his starting XV and there is also a change on the bench where Colby Faingaa has been called into matchday for the first time in 2012.
Lock Sam Carter, tighthead prop Dan Palmer and loose forward Ita Vaea have all been rested, with Leon Power, Fotu Auelua and Scott Sio earning selection.
Power will start while Sio and Auelua will be thrown into the action from the bench.
In Palmer's place Ben Alexander will switch to tighthead prop with Ruaidhri Murphy starting at loosehead.
Robbie Coleman has earned his second start of the year at full-back moving Wallaby squad member Jesse Mogg to the wing and Henry Speight to the bench.
Other than Palmer, the remaining seven Brumbies players picked in the Wallabies squad have been included.
Brumbies: 15 Robbie Coleman, 14 Jesse Mogg, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (c), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Leon Power, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ruaidhri Murphy.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Fotu Auelua, 19 Colby Faingaa, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Henry Speight, 22 Tevita Kuridrani.
Melbourne Rebels: 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Stirling Mortlock (C), 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 James Hilgendorf, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Hugh Perrett, 6 Luke Jones, 5 Hugh Pyle, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Jono Owen, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson,17 Rodney Blake,18 Al Campbell,19 Tom Chamberlain,20 Tim Davidson,21 Richard Kingi,22 Nic Stirzaker.