Brumbies ready to defend Rod Macqueen Cup
ACT Brumbies head coach Laurie Fisher has today named his team for Saturday night’s Tooheys New Super 14 Week
12 clash with the Queensland Reds.
The Brumbies will welcome back star inside centre Matt Giteau for the match as they attempt to retain the
‘Rod Macqueen Cup’, the perpetual prize for the winner of the annual Brumbies v Reds clash.
Contested for the first time at Suncorp Stadium last season when the Brumbies defeated the Reds 38-21, the
trophy was established by Queensland Rugby to symbolise the relationship between the Reds and the
Brumbies.
| Brumbies Team |
| 1. | Nic Henderson |
| 2. | Jeremy Paul |
| 3. | Guy Shepherdson |
| 4. | Alister Campbell |
| 5. | Mark Chisholm |
| 6. | Daniel Heenan |
| 7. | George Smith |
| 8. | A.Wallace-Harrison |
| 9. | George Gregan |
| 10. | Gene Fairbanks |
| 11. | Mark Gerrard |
| 12. | Matt Giteau |
| 13. | Stirling Mortlock (c) |
| 14. | Clyde Rathbone |
| 15. | A.Ashley-Cooper |
| Reserve Bench |
| 16. | James McCormack |
| 17. | Bill Young |
| 18. | Radike Samo |
| 19. | Julian Salvi |
| 20. | Patrick Phibbs |
| 21. | Joel Wilson |
| 22. | Ben Batger |
Macqueen, inaugural coach of the Brumbies, is a revered figure in Queensland Rugby and achieved World Cup,
Tri-Nations, Bledisloe Cup, Nelson Mandella Plate and Cook Cup success as coach of the Wallabies.
Giteau returns to the starting lineup at inside centre after resting his chronic knee injury last weekend,
while the Brumbies received a further boost this morning when fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper passed a fitness
test on his injured left ankle.
“Adam has come through training ok and along with (Matt Giteau) will take his place in the starting
team on Saturday night,” said Fisher after this morning’s training session at Viking Park.
The Brumbies coach has again rotated his front-row, opting for Nic Henderson and Guy Shepherdson in the
starting team, with Bill Young to play from the reserves bench.
Lock Mark Chisholm remains in doubt for the clash after injuring his neck during the clash with the
Hurricanes last week.
“He’s still struggling a bit with his neck and didn’t train today. We got an x-ray done and it came back
pretty clear so we’re hopeful he’ll still be able to play. We hope to have him back on the training paddock
tomorrow,” said Fisher.
Fisher said that the Reds would lift for the match despite being eliminated from finals contention.
“Any loss for us is potentially season ending, so there’s a fair bit a stake for us. There’s head-to-heads
for Wallaby selection and it’s an Australian derby, so I’d imagine that both sides have got plenty to play
for.”
Rugby Super 14 - Round 12
ACT Brumbies vs Queensland Reds
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Saturday Night, April 29
Kick-Off: 7:40pm (local/AEST time)
Exclusively Live on Fox Sports from 7:30pm (AEST)
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