SYDNEY - Australia's ACT Brumbies head into this weekend's Super Rugby round against the Waikato Chiefs again without injury-blighted David Pocock as champions NSW Waratahs seek redemption after a poor opening loss.
ACT Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg (R) is tackled by New South Wales Waratah's Michael Hooper in a July 2014 match in Sydney
Former Wallaby skipper Pocock, who was man-of-the-match in the Brumbies' 47-3 hammering of the Queensland Reds in last week's opening round, is out indefinitely with an ankle injury after missing the last two seasons with consecutive knee reconstructions.
The Brumbies tackle the two-time champion Chiefs in New Plymouth on Friday and will promote Jarrad Butler to openside flanker to replace Pocock while Ita Vaea is at No.8 and in the starting side for the first time in two years.
“There’s no doubt we’ll miss David Pocock, but as the Brumbies Player’s Player in 2014 Jarrad Butler was outstanding and I’m excited to see him back in the number seven jersey," coach Stephen Larkham said.
Tongan strongman Vaea has battled a serious heart condition for more than two years and the last time he started for the Brumbies was under Jake White in 2012.
"In my time in rugby this has been one of the great fight-back stories and I’m pleased for Ita that he’s been able to make a full return to the starting side,” Larkham said.
The Brumbies, who won the 2001 and 2004 titles, have beaten the Chiefs at their last two meetings in Canberra, but haven't defeated them away since 2007.
“We’ve had some epic battles with the Chiefs over the last couple of years and this rivalry has started to develop into a similar contest as what we faced with the Crusaders during my playing days," Larkham said.
Liam Messam will captain the Chiefs from blindside flanker, All Black Aaron Cruden starts at fly-half while World Rugby Player of the Year Brodie Retallick will start on the bench.
“There is a huge amount of competition for places and we are excited to have our returning All Blacks back in the mix,” Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said.
- Wounded Waratahs -
Code-hopper Sonny Bill Williams will line up for the Chiefs at inside-centre.
The Waratahs are looking to bounce back from their woeful 25-13 defeat to the Western Force when they travel to Melbourne to face the Rebels on Friday.
Wallabies No.8 Wycliff Palu has withdrawn with a knee injury while Stephen Hoiles moves into the starting line-up.
The Rebels have only beaten the Waratahs once in eight meetings, but they were impressive last week in overcoming the Canterbury Crusaders 20-10 in Christchurch.
"I think I've got the lead-up wrong obviously because we didn't have any zip at the ruck and I think I have got to take some responsibility that I didn't get the balance right, to have us ready for game one," Waratahs and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said.
Returning skipper Pierre Spies says the Northern Bulls will be looking to make amends for last week's defeat when they take on New Zealand's Wellington Hurricanes at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
“We had a hard look at ourselves, and the guys are really working hard to get the result and produce a more consistent performance,” Spies said.
“We've got to take care of our ball, be disciplined in our approach and be clinical as we made way too many mistakes against the Stormers.”
All Black Israel Dagg makes his return in one of five changes for the Crusaders against the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday, while wayward Wallaby James O'Connor is expected to play his first game for the Reds against Western Force in Brisbane on Saturday.
In this weekend's remaining games, the Western Stormers are at home to the Auckland Blues and the Coastal Sharks take on the Golden Lions in Durban. The Central Cheetahs have the bye.