Rebels: Mark Gerrard, Richard Kingi, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Julian Huxley, Cooper Vuna, Danny Cipriani, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve, Michael Lipman, Jarrod Saffy, Kevin O'Neill, Alister Campbell, Greg Somerville, Ged Robinson, Rodney Blake.
Res: Adam Freier, Laurie Weeks, Adam Byrnes, Tim Davidson, Lachlan Mitchell, Peter Betham, Afusipa Taumoepeau.
Brumbies: Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight, Tyrone Smith, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau (capt), Patrick Phibbs, Mitchell Chapman, Julian Salvi, Henry Vanderglas, Peter Kimlin, Ben Hand, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Jerry Yanuyanutawa.
Res: Anthony Hegarty, Jono Owen, Sam Carter, Tom Boidin, Nic White, Robbie Coleman, Andrew Smith.
Danny Cipriani returns from a team suspension for the Rebels, with Huxley moving to 12, Mortlock to 13, Gerrard to 15, and Kingi to 14. The inclusion of Cipriani should hopefully bring a bit of spark to the Rebels attack. The Rebels certainly have some quality attacking weapons out wide in Vuna, Kingi, and Gerrard, so it would be good if the backline could get them some clean ball. Unfourtunately Hugh Pyle (who has probably been the find of the season for the Rebels) has been ruled out with injury, with Kevin O'Niell starting at lock in his place.
With Ita Vaea suspended Mitchell Chapman moves to No. 8 for the Brumbies, with Henry Vanderglas moving 6. The injured Mark Chisholm is replaced by Peter Kimlin at lock. I'm not surprised to see that the Brumbies have persisted with McCabe at 12, after he did a great job of shuting down the Reds attack last week.
Though neither team has much to play for (apart from avoiding the wooden spoon) it is another chance for individual players to push for Wallaby (or Wales/Tonga) selection. Phipps and Valentine are probably both in contention for the 3rd Wallaby halfback spot (assuming the Wallabies take three halfbacks), so will both want strong games to push their cases. Pat McCabe, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock, are others who are probably on the fringe for the Wallabies Tri-nations squad. The more I see Mortlock this year, the more I am convinced he is passed it in terms of International rugby. He seems to be severally lacking pace (not that he was ever that fast); by the end of last weeks match the Stormers players were running around him like he was a tight-forward...
I'm picking the Brumbies to take it resonable comfortably, by 10-15 points.
