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Canberra - David Pocock will make his long-awaited return to action after being named in the Brumbies starting XV to take on the Waratahs in Canberra on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 10:45 SA time.
In so doing, the superstar forward will play his 100th match of Super Rugby, having racked up 69 appearances for the Force before heading to Australia's capital city to sign for the Brumbies in 2013.
The addition of Pocock to the starting XV is the only change from the team that defeated the Sharks in Round 5 meaning that the back-row will see the 65-times capped international lining up alongside Lachlan McCaffrey and Isi Naisarani.
In front of this mobile and dynamic trio are the second-row pairing of Rory Arnold and Blake Enever who will lock the scrum behind the starting front-row of Wallabies Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa and hooker Folau Fainga’a.
Joe Powell and Wharenui Hawera will continue their halfback partnership after Hawera’s excellent evening against the Sharks with Christian Lealiifano and Tevita Kuridrani tasked with finding the gaps in the Waratahs' defensive line from centre.
Should they succeed, the Brumbies' trio of fliers out wide, Henry Speight, Lausii Taliauli and Andy Muirhead have the skills, acceleration and finishing power to take advantage of any opportunities that may arise.
Amongst the replacements, head coach Dan McKellar has been forced into making several changes due to injury and unavailability, with the result the prospect of prop forward Mees Erasmus making his Super Rugby debut.
The former Force front-row has looked sharp in training and performed admirably in the pre-season trial matches against both the Rebels in Queanbeyan and the Chiefs on the Sunshine Coast as well as being part of the squad that participated at the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens.
Erasmus is joined by the returning Robbie Abel and fellow prop Faalelei Sione, whilst Richie Arnold and Tom Cusack provide cover in the lock department and back-row respectively.
There also appears to be plenty in reserve amongst the backs with Matt Lucas, Kyle Godwin and Tom Banks ready to step off the bench and make their mark in a match that is traditionally one of the highlights of the season.
Teams:
Brumbies
15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Lausii Taliauli, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 David Pocock, 6 Lachlan McCaffrey, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio
Substitutes: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Faalelei Sione, 18 Mees Erasmus, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Tom Cusack, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Kyle Godwin, 23 Tom Banks
Waratahs
15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Israel Folau, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Jed Holloway, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Michael Wells, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Damien Fitzpatrick, 1 Tom Robertson
Substitutes: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Will Miller, 21 Mitchell Short, 22 Lalakai Foketi, 23 Alex Newsome
