mobanmarketChris Alcock will return to the Brumbies’ starting side this weekend,as the Brumbies brace for a Kings side on a streak.
Alcock has missed recent weeks with a niggle but will return to the 23 for the crunch game against the Kings, who possess some dangerous backrow weapons.
Tom Banks has returned to the fullback spot, with Aidan Toua shifting on to the wing in place of James Dargaville, who remained in Canberra this week.
“Aidan’s got tremendous experience, he’s a very good communicator on the field and he’ll give us good direction from that left wing,” he said.
“Banksy has performed well when he’s played fullback, so I want to give him another opportunity there.”
Fringe back Andrew Muirhead has been thrust straight into the 23, after a shock call-up for the South African tour, replacing Jordan Jackson-Hope in the 23.
“He’s come down to Canberra pre-Christmas last year just for an opportunity, wasn’t part of the contracted squad, came down and trained with us and has played his club footy with Royals in Canberra and has done fantastically there,” he said.
“For the last six weeks, we’ve been saying to the boys to go back to club footy and play exceptional footy and he’s been doing that, so he’s been rewarded for that this week.”
Larkham said the Brumbies would be wary of the in-form Kings, who have won their last three games in a row – a club record.
“They’re on a bit of a roll, they’ve got a very dangerous back three,” he said.
“Their back three are very fast and electric.”
SIx losses by less than seven points will haunt the Brumbies if they can’t snap a four-game losing streak, in Port Elizabeth, and Larkham said composure would be key on Sunday morning.
The season could certainly be a different story if we had a bit more composure at the end of games and it’s been the same story over the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“Three very important games (coming up) and in the context, probably our most important games of the season.”
The Brumbies take on the Kings on Sunday morning, kicking off at 3:30am AEDT LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
TEAM
IN: Chris Alcock, Andrew Muirhead, Andrew Smith
OUT: James Dargaville (shoulder), Jordan Jackson-Hope, Ben Hyne
Brumbies to take on the Kings
1. Ben Alexander
2. Josh Mann-Rea
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Rory Arnold
5. Sam Carter (C)
6. Scott Fardy
7. Chris Alcock
8. Jordan Smiler
9. Joe Powell
10. Wharenui Hawera
11. Aidan Toua
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Henry Speight
15. Tom Banks
Reserves
16. Robbie Abel
17. Nic Mayhew
18. Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin
19. Blake Enever
20. Jarrad Butler
21. De Wet Roos
22. Andrew Muirhead
23. Andrew Smith