Poey, Freddy and the Chief: Young guns chasing their ACT Brumbies Super Rugby AU debuts

These are the three players in line for their first ACT Brumbies caps in a Super Rugby AU clash with the Western Force at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

Local products Rory Scott and Fred Kaihea will join former Waikato Chiefs prop Sosefo Kautai on the Brumbies' bench for the round six clash as coach Dan McKellar covers a crippling injury crisis.

Scott won John I Dent Cup titles as a Canberra Royals flanker straight out of school at Marist College.

Kiwi product Kaihea lives in a Queanbeyan sharehouse with a group of Whites teammates chasing the same dream.

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Ex-Chief Kautai was flown in from New Zealand last week to fill the void left by Allan Alaalatoa and Tom Ross.

And there is little doubt this trio will be up to the task should they get the nod during a clash with the resurgent Force.

"His nickname is Poey for a reason," Brumbies flanker Rob Valetini said of 20-year-old Scott during pre-season. "Runs like him, he's built like him, just goes crazy."

Which is perhaps why Royals coach Wayne Southwell sat inside the club rooms at Phillip Oval with Scott and his parents during the rising star's final year of school in 2018.

Because there was something about the Marist boy who grew up with a dream to pull on a Brumbies jersey.

"Right from that first conversation, that's what he wanted to do," Southwell said.

"We just said 'let's take it one step at a time'. Even at that stage we said we couldn't promise first grade, we wouldn't be talking to him unless we thought he was capable of it, but I never promise that to anybody.

"Schoolboy footy to first grade is a big step, and he never really missed a beat. In the back of our minds we knew he was capable of it.

"The conversation we had was a very good one, just in terms of him being able to outline the progression to where he wanted to be. He has a terrific future."

Much like 22-year-old Kaihea. They could always see the potential in the kid who was playing first grade for the Whites at 17. You'll be taken aback by his fast feet, but the reason he is here is his work on set piece.

"The first thing you always noticed was that hair, and whilst he played as a loosehead prop, his skills were like an outside back," Whites coach Sam French said.

"Props are sought after commodities in rugby at all levels around Australia and the world. His phone certainly rings for opportunities elsewhere, but he stuck by us and we stuck by him.

"He could have taken opportunities up elsewhere but he has really been passionate about sticking with it here, and it's exciting to see it can pay off.

"So many other guys have a setback and they go 'I have to leave', and they'll chase an opportunity elsewhere or give up. He stayed committed the whole time.

"He's got seven or eight brothers and sisters spread all around the place. He lives with [Brumbies academy player] Zeph Tuinona and a couple of other first grade boys. They've been off the junk food for years, working hard together to make a better life for themselves."

Now he gets his chance and he could find himself packing down with 24-year-old Kautai, who is looking to make the most of his Super Rugby second coming.

"A lot of detail has been thrown his way but at the end of the day, he knows how to scrummage, he knows how to maul," Brumbies captain Nic White said.

"They've simplified it for him, just said 'do your job and do it well, and everything else will look after itself'. I'm sure it's a little overwhelming but he's taking it all in.

"We've heard about their stories. We've just got to focus on doing our bit as a team to make sure that night is a memorable one for them."

SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND SIX

Friday: ACT Brumbies v Western Force at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Broadcast: Live on Stan Sport. Tickets from Ticketek.

ACT Brumbies squad: 1. Harry Lloyd, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. James Slipper, 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White (C), 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Mack Hansen, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Fred Kaihea, 18. Sefo Kautai, 19. James Tucker, 20. Rory Scott, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Reesjan Pasitoa, 23. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa.

Western Force squad: 1.Tom Robertson, 2. Feleti Kaitu'u, 3. Greg Holmes, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Sitaleki Timani, 6. Fergus Lee Warner, 7. Kane Koteka, 8. Brynard Stander (c), 9. Tomas Cubelli, 10. Jack McIntrye, 11. Marcel Brache, 12. Henry Taefu, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Byron Ralston, 15. Jack McGregor. Replacements: 16. Jack Winchester, 17. Angus Wagner, 18. Santiago Medrano, 19. Ryan McCauley, 20. Tim Anstee, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Jono Lance, 23. Jordan Olowofela.

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