Brumbies regain Matt Toomua, Sam Carter, Joe Tomane and Pat McCaw for clash with Force

THE Brumbies have regained Wallabies Matt Toomua, Sam Carter, Joe Tomane and Pat McCabe for their crunch clash with the Force on Friday night.

Walaies-France rugby Test

The Brumbies have named Wallabies Matt Toomua and Sam Carter to make their Super Rugby returns for Friday’s do-or-die clash against the Western Force in Canberra.

Both Toomua (groin) and Carter (ankle) have been out of action for six weeks after picking up injuries in the Wallabies’ clean sweep of France over the June Test break.

The duo were sorely missed in the Brumbies’ last start loss to the table-topping NSW Waratahs two weeks ago, and Toomua’s direction in the backline and Carter’s high work rate will be huge bonuses at Canberra Stadium come Friday night.

Brumbies captain Ben Mowen said there was probably no team more important for Carter to return against than the hard working Force.

“He’s gone from a big performer for us to a man-of-the-match Wallaby,” Mowen said.

“He gets through a mountain of work.”

Just as important for the Brumbies is the inclusion of third string hooker Josh Mann-Rea (hamstring), after prop Ruaidhri Murphy had to pull on the No.2 Brumbies jersey against the Tahs following the season ending injury to stalwart Stephen Moore.

“We played last week with no recognised hookers within our squad and that’s a huge challenge at this level,” Mowen said.

Meanwhile, fellow Wallabies Joe Tomane (cheekbone) and Pat McCabe (shoulder) are also set to make their returns off the Brumbies’ bench behind experienced winger Clyde Rathbone and fullback Jesse Mogg.

The winner of the match is guaranteed a spot in the Super Rugby finals, while the loser will need to pick up a losing bonus point, and have other results go their way, to stay in the competition.

Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kurdirani, Christian Leali’ifano, Clyde Rathbone, Matt Toomua, Nic White. Ben Mowen, Jarrad Butler, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter, Leon Power, Ben Alexander, Josh Mann-Rea, Scott Sio. Res: Ruiadhri Murphy, Ruan Smith, JP Smith, Fotu Auelua, Tom McVerry, Michael Dowsett, Pat McCabe, Joe Tomane.

Originally published as Brumbies regain Matt Toomua, Sam Carter, Joe Tomane and Pat McCaw for clash with Force