Brisbane - Scott Sio will return to Brumbies action this weekend, when the team heads to Brisbane to face the Reds on Friday.
The addition of Sio is a welcome boost to the Brumbies as they seek to continue the momentum built by a trio of wins before the June Test series break.
With Sio restored to the starting line-up it’s a strong looking team that will travel to Suncorp Stadium aiming to do the double over the Reds.
The Brumbies swamped the Queenslanders 43-10 in their meeting at GIO Stadium in Round 7 playing, arguably, their most fluent attacking rugby of the season in what was a comprehensive success.
Sio will feature in the frontrow alongside the experienced Josh Mann-Rea and Allan Alaalatoa with skipper Sam Carter and Rory Arnold as the locking partnership. Chris Alcock, Jordan Smiler and Scott Fardy provide a physical backrow trio who will be tasked with making inroads into the Reds defensive line.
Behind the scrum newly capped Wallaby Joe Powell will dictate play with Wharenui Hawera continuing in the number ten jersey.
Kyle Godwin and Tevita Kuridrani are the centre pairing and there is ample pace out wide with Henry Speight, who has shaken off any effects of the hamstring strain that forced him to miss Australia’s matches with Scotland and Fiji, teamed with Aidan Toua and Tom Banks.
Teams:
Reds
15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Izaia Perese, 13 Campbell Magnay, 12 Duncan Paia'aua, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Adam Korczyk, 7 George Smith, 6 Rob Simmons, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Sef Fa'agase
Substitutes: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Markus Vanzati, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Cadeyrn Neville, 20 Caleb Timu, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Chris Kuridrani
Brumbies
15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Aidan Toua, 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 Scott Sio
Substitutes: TBC