Powerhouse winger to start for Brumbies

Canberra: Powerhouse wing Solomone Kata will play for the Brumbies for the first time in Super Rugby AU when they face the Western Force in Sydney tonight.

Meanwhile, Bayley Kuenzle will wear the number 10 jersey for the first time after steering the team to their gritty win over the Waratahs last weekend.

Wallabies prop Scott Sio starts for the first time in the new competition and will partner fellow Test players Allan Alaalatoa and Folau Fainga’a in the front-three.

Promising youngster Nick Frost will make his first appearance in the run-on side, packing down next to Murray Douglas in the second-row.

Will Miller will join Rob Valetini and Pete Samu in a familiar back-row with Joe Powell to partner Kuenzle in their first outing as a halves pair.

Irae Simone and Tevita Kuridrani will combine again in the midfield with Tom Banks, Tom Wright and Kata the back three. The match kicks-off at 9.15pm.

Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Solomone Kata, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Tom Wright, 10 Bayley Kuenzle, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Will Miller, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Nick Frost, 4 Murray Douglas, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.

Replacements: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Harry Lloyd, 18 James Slipper, 19 Ben Hyne, 20 Lachlan McCaffrey, 21 Issak Fines, 22 Mack Hansen, 23 Andy Muirhead