By Chris Rattue
Former Hawkes Bay rugby loose forward Gordon Falcon will line up as an openside flanker for the Brumbies when they take on the Chiefs in a Super 12 warm-up match in Canberra tonight.
Falcon has returned to rugby after three years with the Penrith rugby league club.
Both sides will be well below full strength. The Chiefs will be without six players who took part in the recent All Black training camp, while the Brumbies will miss Stephen Larkham, Mitch Hardy, Brett Robinson, Adam Magro, Bill Young and David Giffin, who have slight injuries.
The Brumbies are also doing some rebuilding, with David Knox, Pat Howard and Troy Coker having gone to English clubs, backup halfback Sam Cordingly moving to Queensland, and Warwick Waugh being released.
The Brumbies have included a new prop, Sydney club player Jon Shelley, while backs Craig Wells, Aaron Hardcastle and Damien McInally are playing for contracts.
Much interest will centre on the lasting power of Jonah Lomu after his controversial dropping from the All Black training camp. He will be making his debut for the Chiefs. The match at the Royal Military College grounds in Duntroon will start at 7.15 pm (NZ time).
Chiefs: Todd Miller, Jonah Lomu, Mark Ranby, Roger Randle, Matthew Cooper, Blair Feeney, Danny Lee; Deon Muir, Nick Holten, Chresten Davis, Koula Tukino, Glenn Marsh, Michael Collins, Greg Smith, Lee Lidgard.
Brumbies: Stirling Mortlock, Damien McInally, Aaron Hardcastle, Joe Roth, Craig Wells, Rod Kafer, George Gregan; Jim Williams, Gordon Falcon, Justin Harrison, John Langford, Owen Finegan, Patricio Noriega, Marco Caputo, Jon Shelley.
Rugby: Falcon now flying Brumbies' colours
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