Brumbies coach Tony Rea slotted Vaea straight back into his starting XV for Saturday's final-round match at the Olympic stadium against the seventh-placed Waratahs, who must win to make the finals series.
It follows 22-year-old Vaea's one-match ban for a high shot on Digby Ioane in the Brumbies' upset 22-14 win over ladder leader Queensland in Brisbane, a win which sparked a late-season resurgence after a horror campaign.
Otherwise, Rea largely stayed with the line-up that won 32-17 against Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium last Friday night.
Vaea slots back at number eight with Mitchell Chapman switching to blindside flanker and Henry Vanderglas dropping to the bench.
Half-back Josh Valentine returns from a hamstring injury to a spot on the bench, while lock Sam Carter and half-back Nic White drop out of the matchday squad.
Rea says the return of Vaea adds presence to the Brumbies' back row for their clash at the breakdown against the Waratahs.
"It was good to get Ita's size back into in the back row," Rea said.
The Brumbies have endured their worst Super Rugby season since the competition began in 1996 but there is still plenty to play for with Wallabies' squad berths on the line in a World Cup year.
A win this weekend would be a third consecutive triumph for the Brumbies, the first time since March 2010 the Canberra-based side has achieved such a run.
A victory would also avenge the 29-22 home loss to the Waratahs in March.
Brumbies squad: Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight, Tyrone Smith, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau (c), Patrick Phibbs, Ita Vaea, Julian Salvi, Mitchell Chapman, Peter Kimlin, Ben Hand, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Jerry Yanuyanutawa
Reserves: Anthony Hegarty, Jono Owen, Henry Vanderglas, Tom Boidin, Josh Valentine, Andrew Smith, Robbie Coleman
- AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, canberra-2600 First posted June 16, 2011 13:09:00
No comments:
Post a Comment