Canberra - The ACT Brumbies will be without captain Stirling Mortlock and veteran skipper George Gregan when they take on the Bulls in Canberra on Friday morning.
Mortlock suffered a knee injury in the Brumbies' win over the Crusaders, and Clyde Rathbone is sidelined with a concussion.
Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer has made six changes to his team, including the recall of captain Anton Leonard. Victor Matfield is on tsunami duty.
Highlanders captain Anton Oliver will miss his match against the Stormers on Saturday because of a rib injury. He will be replaced by Mahonri Schwalger. Flanker Craig Newby will assume the captaincy.
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'Their forwards have shown they can win their own scrum and line-out ball' Stormers coach Gert Smal has made several changes to the team who beat the Sharks in the first round, moving Jean de Villiers from the wing to centre, opening a place for the recall of Tonderai Chavanga.
The Hurricanes' captain, Tana Umaga, is also on tsunami duty, giving the captaincy to Rodney So'oialo.
Although both the Cats and Hurricanes made winning starts this season, Cats coach Chester Williams has admitted several concerns.
"Their forwards have shown they can win their own scrum and line-out ball. The improvement in that aspect is what makes them so dangerous," Williams said.
The Auckland Blues are likely to continue with their no-frills game plan as they attempt to rebuild their Super 12 reputation, when they lead off the second round against the Queensland Reds in Auckland on Friday morning.
Blues coach Peter Sloane expects the Reds to play an open style, accentuating the attacking ability of players such as winger Wendell Sailor.
The Crusaders will play the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday. All Black Leon MacDonald will slot in at fullback. Daniel Carter returns to flyhalf in place of Andrew Mehrtens, who is also at Twickenham. - Sapa-AP
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This article was originally published on page 22 of The Mercury on March 04, 2005
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