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Seven players are in line to make their Brumbies Rugby debuts with four of those named in the starting line-up.
Prop Nic Mayhew, flank Chris Alcock, flyhalf Wharenui Hawera and centre Kyle Godwin will all pull on the jersey for their maiden appearance with Lolo Fakaosilea, Dewet Roos and Isaac Thompson named among the replacements.
Sam Carter will lead the team for the first time in a competitive match in a side that contains eight Wallabies in the run-on team.
Carter is part of a strong looking pack, forming an all-international second-row pairing with Rory Arnold, behind a front-row of Mayhew, the experienced Josh Mann-Rea and Wallaby lynchpin Allan Alaalatoa.
There’s a youthful look to the halfback pairing with 22-year-old Joe Powell lining up alongside 23-year-old New Zealand-born flyhalf Hawera, who will take on the playmaker role with the Brumbies newest Wallaby cap, Godwin, at inside centre.
Flyers Henry Speight, Aidan Toua and James Dargaville add pace and acceleration into the back three with the counter-attacking ability of the trio a huge plus against a Crusaders team who are always a tough assignment on their own turf.
Teams:
Crusaders
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetu Douglas, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Ereatari Enari, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 David Havili
Brumbies
15 Aidan Toua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Jordan Smiler, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter (captain), 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Nic Mayhew
Substitutes: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Lolo Fakaosilea, 21 Dewet Roos, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Isaac Thompson
