Vodacom Super Rugby
Jake picks Holmes at No 10
2012-05-16 09:01
Wellington - Zack Holmes will make his run-on debut when he fills the Brumbies' flyhalf hot seat in Friday's Super Rugby clash with the
Hurricanes in Wellington.
Holmes comes into the 22-man squad for Christian
Lealiifano, who suffered a season-ending broken ankle against the Waratahs two weeks ago.
The Brumbies will field a new-look halves pairing, with
Ian Prior replacing Nic White in the No 9 jumper in coach Jake White's
only other team change.
The Brumbies haven't won in Wellington since 2003, but
White said history would count for little as his team made its charge
towards the finals.
"At this point in the season, we have to be winning every
game we can to be sure we have a good shot at making the playoffs,"
White said.
"Zack has performed well with the limited opportunities
he's been given and we are confident he has what it takes to guide this
backline around.
"The Hurricanes are only a couple of points off the top
teams in the New Zealand conference so we know they will be looking to
move forward and make a run at a finals spot themselves.
"They are a bit like our side, in that there is plenty of youth and enthusiasm there.
"But we've prepared well for this game, the bye came at a good time and now we are ready to take them on."
Teams:
Hurricanes:
TBA
Brumbies:
15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight,
13 Andrew Smith, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Fotu
Auelua, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Ben Mowen (captain), 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Dan
Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander
Substitutes: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Ruaidhri
Murphy, 18 Peter Kimlin, 19 Ita Vaea, 20 Nic White, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Tevita
Kuridrani