No farewell for the Christmas Ham

The Brumbies have just announced that their stalwart Stirling Mortlock has been ruled out of Saturday night’s final home game of the season.

Apparently there will be George Smith and Stirling Mortlock masks at the game to farewell the two giants of Brumbieland, no doubt to adorn many refrigerators for years to come.

I can’t help thinking Stirling’s lingered too long in the playing ranks (hence this season’s nickname of “Christmas Ham”), and another three years banging around for the Melbourne Rebels seems a ludicrous proposition.

But the highlight reel of my mind’s eye runs!

All those times he ran into what looked like a brick wall of defence only to emerge on the other side, knees and elbows pumping, racing away for a try.

The team for this weekend is:

1. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Mitchell Chapman
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Rocky Elsom
7. George Smith
8. Stephen Hoiles (c)
9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Toomua
11. Andrew Smith
12. Matt Giteau
13. Tyrone Smith
14. Pat McCabe
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper

Reserves
16. Huia Edmonds
17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
18. Ben Hand
19. Colby Faingaa
20. Patrick Phibbs
21. Brackin Karauria-Henry
22. Ed Stubbs