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Puma Tomás Cubelli will start for the Brumbies who take on the NSW Waratahs at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday evening local time. It sees the Buenos Aires scrum half retained as the starting nine for the Canberra-based franchise. He has started all Super Rugby fixtures this season.
The Brumbies are coming off a bye with their last fixture having been on April 02 against the Chiefs. Wallabies back-rower David Pocock was suspended for foul play and thereby misses out on facing the NSW Waratahs this weekend. Also out is Ita Vaea who was forced into an early retirement due to health reasons.
In place of Pocock Jarrad Butler will play openside flanker while Jordan Smiler is to get an opportunity at the back of the scrum, replacing Vaea.
Cubelli is to be playing opposite Wallaby Nick Phipps. The battle of the scrum halves sees Cubelli entering with superior statistics. The Puma has made 347 passes, compared to the 248 of Phipps. Both have three try assists while Cubelli edges out Phipps with 107 meters gained compared to 105 from the Australian. Similarly Cubelli has beaten 9 defenders, 2 more than Phipps.
Leading Super Rugby statistics for line breaks from a scrum half is Martín Landajo. Cubelli’s opposition for the starting spot in the Los Pumas number 9 shirt is being rested over the coming two rounds with Gonzalo Bertranou instead starting this Saturday against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Brumbies
1 Scott Sio, 2 Stephen Moore, 3 Ben Alexander, 4 Rory Arnold, 5 Sam Carter, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 Jarrard Butler, 8 Jordan Smiler, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 10 Christian Lealifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 12 Matt Toomua, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 14 Robbie Coleman, 15 Aidan Toua
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Michael Wells, 21 Joe Powell, 22 James Dargaville, 23 Nigel Ah Wong
