Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy left out of team to play Western Force in Canberra for ‘tactical reasons’

THE Brumbies have left Scott Fardy out of the squad to play the Force on Friday night in a bid to “freshen up” the Test flanker - just three weeks into the season.

Scott Fardy charges into the Crusaders defence.

THE Brumbies have left Scott Fardy out of the Brumbies squad to play the Force on Friday night in a bid to “freshen up” the Test flanker just three weeks into the season.

Fardy’s “tactical” omission from the ACT side came as the relieved Western Force revealed key Wallabies lock Adam Coleman would only miss five weeks with a torn calf muscle.

It was feared Coleman may be sidelined for several months after suffering the injury last week so a prognosis of little over one month out was far more palatable for coach Dave Wessels.

“We got out of jail with big ‘Ads’,” he said.

“He’s got a niggle with his calf but it looks like a five-week injury and given the bye, we feel like we got away with one there.”

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 08: Scott Fardy of the Brumbies is injured with a cut to his head during the round 16 Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Brumbies at Eden Park on July 8, 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

An extra bit of good news for the Force came with the Brumbies’ team announcement on Wednesday, which revealed Fardy would be not lacing on a boot.

The 32-year-old was replaced by rising flanker Ben Hyne, who coach Stephen Larkham said had been extremely impressive in training.

“That’s a tactical decision, there’s no injury there with Fards,” he said.

“It’s just making sure we maintain the motivation in the group and keep the energy out there on the field.

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“Fards has had two tremendous games but Ben Hyne has also had some really good performances in both the preseason trials and the Runners games and he’s been performing exceptionally at training as well. So he has been really knocking at the door there.”

Fardy has hardly been slacking in his first two games. He made 25 tackles, which is the second highest count behind Sam Carter — who leads the competition with 35 tackles — and is equal tenth in all Super Rugby.

Rising star Ben Hyne is putting pressure on the veteran. Picture: Jono Searle.

Larkham said his decision to omit Fardy has nothing to do with the 32-year-old signing for Leinster last week and was part of a plan to “freshen up some of the guys”.

“We’re looking at the whole season as well as giving guys opportunities when they deserve it,” Larkham said.

“It is giving Hyney and opportunity because he has trained so well and played so well, and it’s making sure we look after our players in a bit of a rotation.

“There is good competition for spots at the moment so we want to make sure the motivation of the group is strong by giving some guys some opportunity and freshening some guys up.”

Hyne, a 23-year-old Queenslander, made his debut for the Brumbies last year but suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes and had to come off.

Former Wallabies prop Ben Alexander also moved into the starting line up and loosehead prop, replacing Nic Mayhew.

Blake Enever was added to a 6-2 bench.

Fardy’s omission is one of two changes to the starting XV, with Ben Alexander replacing Nic Mayhew at loose-head and Isaac Thompson making way for lock Blake Enever on a 6-2 bench.

The Force have named former Brumbies back Robbie Coleman on the bench.

Originally published as Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy left out of team to play Western Force in Canberra for ‘tactical reasons’