Mark Bartholomeusz, the ACT Brumbies left wing, has returned home to Australia following a family bereavement, which has necessitated just one change in the Brumbies team to play the Sharks at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Mark Gerrard will don the number 11 jersey and Joel Wilson comes on to the bench. It will be Gerard’s first match for the Brumbies after his move from New South Wales where he did not get a Super 12 run.
The Brumbies had an early morning training session at Crawford College in Umhlanga on Wednesday morning after which the line-up for Saturday was announced.
The team is: Bill Young, Jeremy Paul, Ben Darwin, Justin Harrison, Daniel Vickerman, Tamati Horua, George Smith, Scott Fava, George Gregan (captain), Stephen Larkham, Mark Gerard, Pat Howard, Stirling Mortlock, Andrew Walker and Joe Roff.
The Bench men are: Digby Beaumont, David Fitter, David Griffin, Radike Samo, Travis Hall, Matt Giteau and Joel Wilson. – Sapa