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Canberra - Brumbies coach Andy Friend has sought clarification from SANZAR on new rules governing the breakdown ahead of his side's Super 14 clash with the Lions in Canberra on Friday.
According to the Australian Associated Press, the Brumbies, who survived a last minute scare in their 19-17 win over the Stormers in Cape Town last week, have named an unchanged line-up for their first home game of the season.
While happy to come away from South Africa with the win, Friend was concerned about the amount of penalties given during the match, and on Tuesday had a lengthy talk with referees co-ordinator Lyndon Bray.
Of chief concern to Friend was the way in which new laws governing tacklers at the breakdown were applied in last week's match, but he says he is happy with the response he got from Bray.
"In essence, the laws are, or the new interpretations is how it's going to remain," Friend said on Tuesday.
"There was a bit of a feeling certainly from our side that they'd loosened up a bit last week and the defenders were starting to have a few more rights.
"But that's not the case. If you're the second man into the tackle and you haven't been involved in that tackle and it's not a ruck, then you can certainly have a contest for the football.
"So they aren't going to take that away.
"But otherwise, if you are involved in a tackle, you're the tackler and you're off your feet you've got to get out of there."
Overall, Friend is happy with the way his side's performance over the opening three rounds of the season.
The Brumbies have two wins from their first three matches and are the best placed Australian side in seventh on the ladder.
Friend told the players in a team meeting on Tuesday that he was pleased with the way they were able to adjust and play a tighter game against the Stormers but said they would be reverting to a more open style of play for the clash with the Lions.
"In our first and second game we used the new rules to our advantage," he said.
"We went in with different tactics in the third game which worked for us, which we were happy with, but we want to be a team that moves the ball around and hopefully we'll see that on Friday night."
The match will mark the return of five eighth Matt Giteau and replacement lock Justin Harrison to Canberra Stadium for the Brumbies after long absences.
Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom, scrumhalf Josh Valentine and winger Pat McCabe will all make their home debuts for the Brumbies.
Teams:
Brumbies:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Pat McCabe, 13. Stirling Mortlock, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Francis Fainifo, 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Josh Valentine, 8. Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7. George Smith, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. Ben Hand, 3. Salesi Maafu, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Ben Alexander
Substitutes: 16. Huia Edmonds, 17. Guy Shepherdson, 18. Justin Harrison, 19. Mitchell Chapman, 20. Patrick Phibbs, 21. Matt Toomua, 22. Tyrone Smith
Lions:
15. Michael Killian, 14. Tonderai Chavhanga, 13. Walter Venter, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Dusty Noble, 10. Burton Francis, 9. JP Joubert, 8. Todd Clever, 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5. Willem Stoltz, 4. George Earle, 3. Kevin Buys, 2. Charles Emslie, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16. Hannes Franklin, 17. Heinke van der Merwe, 18. Franco van der Merwe, 19. Jacques Lombaard/Robert Kruger, 20. Jacques Coetzee, 21. Carlos Spencer/Wandile Mjekevu, 22. Earl Rose
According to the Australian Associated Press, the Brumbies, who survived a last minute scare in their 19-17 win over the Stormers in Cape Town last week, have named an unchanged line-up for their first home game of the season.
While happy to come away from South Africa with the win, Friend was concerned about the amount of penalties given during the match, and on Tuesday had a lengthy talk with referees co-ordinator Lyndon Bray.
Of chief concern to Friend was the way in which new laws governing tacklers at the breakdown were applied in last week's match, but he says he is happy with the response he got from Bray.
"In essence, the laws are, or the new interpretations is how it's going to remain," Friend said on Tuesday.
"There was a bit of a feeling certainly from our side that they'd loosened up a bit last week and the defenders were starting to have a few more rights.
"But that's not the case. If you're the second man into the tackle and you haven't been involved in that tackle and it's not a ruck, then you can certainly have a contest for the football.
"So they aren't going to take that away.
"But otherwise, if you are involved in a tackle, you're the tackler and you're off your feet you've got to get out of there."
Overall, Friend is happy with the way his side's performance over the opening three rounds of the season.
The Brumbies have two wins from their first three matches and are the best placed Australian side in seventh on the ladder.
Friend told the players in a team meeting on Tuesday that he was pleased with the way they were able to adjust and play a tighter game against the Stormers but said they would be reverting to a more open style of play for the clash with the Lions.
"In our first and second game we used the new rules to our advantage," he said.
"We went in with different tactics in the third game which worked for us, which we were happy with, but we want to be a team that moves the ball around and hopefully we'll see that on Friday night."
The match will mark the return of five eighth Matt Giteau and replacement lock Justin Harrison to Canberra Stadium for the Brumbies after long absences.
Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom, scrumhalf Josh Valentine and winger Pat McCabe will all make their home debuts for the Brumbies.
Teams:
Brumbies:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Pat McCabe, 13. Stirling Mortlock, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Francis Fainifo, 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Josh Valentine, 8. Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7. George Smith, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. Ben Hand, 3. Salesi Maafu, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Ben Alexander
Substitutes: 16. Huia Edmonds, 17. Guy Shepherdson, 18. Justin Harrison, 19. Mitchell Chapman, 20. Patrick Phibbs, 21. Matt Toomua, 22. Tyrone Smith
Lions:
15. Michael Killian, 14. Tonderai Chavhanga, 13. Walter Venter, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Dusty Noble, 10. Burton Francis, 9. JP Joubert, 8. Todd Clever, 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5. Willem Stoltz, 4. George Earle, 3. Kevin Buys, 2. Charles Emslie, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16. Hannes Franklin, 17. Heinke van der Merwe, 18. Franco van der Merwe, 19. Jacques Lombaard/Robert Kruger, 20. Jacques Coetzee, 21. Carlos Spencer/Wandile Mjekevu, 22. Earl Rose
