Injuries hit Brumbies hard

The Brumbies will be without four front-line players when they meet the Stormers in Canberra on Saturday.

Prop Scott Sio (ankle), wing Henry Speight (jaw) and lock Leon Power (knee) have all been ruled out for up to six weeks, while outside centre Tevita Kuridrani will miss the match to return to Fiji for a funeral.

Wallabies winger Joe Tomane will make his return from an ankle ligament injury he suffered in round one to replace Speight with Andrew Smith making a straight swap for Kuridrani at outside centre.

In the forwards, Sio's injury has given Cape Town-raised Jean-Pierre Smith his first professional starting debut, while Wallaby Scott Fardy will move from the back row to lock to cover Power, and Jordan Smiler has been promoted to No 6.

The injuries have also given an opportunity for reserves Jack Whetton (lock), Michael Dowsett (scrumhalf) and Stephen van der Walt (wing) to make their Super Rugby debuts off the bench.

Brumbies – 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Joe Tomane, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Robbie Coleman, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (c), 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Jordan Smiler, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 JP Smith.
Subs: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Ruaidhri Murphy, 19 Jack Whetton, 20 Lachlan McCaffrey, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Stephen van der Walt, 23 Lionel Cronjé.

Super Rugby teams (Round 6)

Photo: Stefan Postles/Getty Images

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