Christian Leali’ifano back in Brumbies starting side at Pat McCabe’s expense

THE Brumbies have reinstated Christian Leali’ifano to inside centre at the expense of Pat McCabe for Friday’s clash with the Chiefs in Canberra.

THE Brumbies have reinstated Christian Leali’ifano to inside centre at the expense of Pat McCabe for Friday’s clash with the Chiefs in Canberra.

McCabe had been one of the Brumbies’ standout performers over the first half of the season, forcing Leali’ifano to bide his time from the bench.

But the 2013 Wallabies debutant will line up at No.12 against hard-hitting Chiefs centre Bundee Aki.

The only other change to the Brumbies starting side comes at lock where Sam Carter returns after sitting out the round-nine victory over the Reds with a knee injury.News_Rich_Media: The ACT Brumbies are poised to make a lte charge into the Super Rugby finals, sitting mid-table in the Australian conference at the half-way point of the season.

The Brumbies are hoping for a strong crowd at GIO Stadium as they look to lock in an annual fixture on ANZAC Day.

Friday’s clash is a rematch of last year’s Super Rugby final, which the Chiefs won 27-22.

Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Joe Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Robbie Coleman, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ben Mowen, Jarrad Butler, Jordan Smiler, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Res: Siliva Siliva, Ruan Smith, JP Smith, Jack Whetton, Tom McVerry, Michael Dowsett, Andrew Smith, Pat McCabe.