Larkham picks big guns for ACT Brumbies’ crunch match
Darren Walton |
Try-scoring trump Charlie Cale returns at No.8 in a huge boost to the ACT Brumbies’ prospects of a vital Super Rugby Pacific top-four finish.
The Brumbies are chasing a bonus-point victory over Moana Pasifika in Canberra on Saturday that could even secure a top-three finish and a home final in the national capital.
Cale rejoins dual John Eales Medallist Rob Valetini and Rory Scott in the back row after enjoying an electric start to the season, scoring nine tries in seven matches before succumbing to a shoulder injury.
Allan Alaalatoa will resume the Brumbies captaincy, leading a forward pack that includes James Slipper and Billy Pollard in the front row and locks Lachlan Shaw and Cadeyrn Neville.
In the backline, Andy Muirhead has been named on the wing following a strong 2026 campaign across multiple positions.
The Brumbies need a bonus-point win to keep alive their top-three hopes.
“We’ve certainly got to focus on trying to win this weekend. We’ve picked a team that reflects that,” coach Stephen Larkham said on Wednesday.
“We’re not resting players. We’ve had a bye two weeks ago. All the players are nice and fresh.
“We had a good win over the Waratahs, and there was a lot of pressure going into that game.
“We knew that the result determined both teams’ future in the competition and we’re through, and there’s a bit of relief out of that.”
The Brumbies need the Crusaders to lose to the table-topping Hurricanes to snatch third or at least fourth spot.
The winners of next week’s three quarter-finals, plus the highest-ranked losers, will advance to the semi-finals.
The six-placed Queensland Reds – Australia’s only other finals hopefuls – host the Fijian Drua in Brisbane on Friday night, also trying to climb the ladder as high as possible.
The out-of-contention Western Force and NSW Waratahs clash in Perth on Saturday night, with pride and potential Wallabies spots on the line.
Superstar centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and fellow Wallabies Andrew Kellaway, Jake Gordon and Pete Samu all return from injury in a too-little-too-late scenario for the Waratahs.
“We want to finish the season well and make sure that we’ve got momentum at the back end of this year,” coach Dan McKellar said.
“It’s incredibly disappointing not to be playing finals. The reality is we’ve had our chances and haven’t taken them, so I don’t think there will be any lack of motivation.”
Flyhalf Ben Donaldson is back for the Force in one last chance to impress Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt before the July Tests.
AAP