Joe's Roff day as he is shunted to wing

Sydney - Rugby league convert Andrew Walker has pushed Wallaby Joe Roff out of his favoured fullback slot for the ACT Brumbies' opening Super 12 rugby match against Auckland on Friday night.

Walker, signed in the off-season after coming off contract with National Rugby League club Sydney Roosters, impressed coach Eddie Jones enough in pre-season games to shunt Roff on to the wing.

The Brumbies' other league recruit, former Brisbane Broncos forward Peter Ryan, missed out on a spot in the squad.

After last week's 33-20 thumping of an All Black-dominated Otago, the Brumbies start as tournament favourites, despite the Blues' resounding 37-27 win over New South Wales last Wednesday.

On Monday, Queensland axed long-serving front-row man Dan Crowley from the Reds' opening game against Otago in Dunedin on Saturday night.

At 34, the rugged international has played 122 matches for Queensland, 11 behind the Reds' most-capped player, Andrew Slack.

Coach John Connolly couldn't find a place for Crowley in the Reds' 22-man squad, with Nic Stiles chosen as the reserve prop.

"Dropping Crowley has been one of the hardest decisions to make," Connolly said.

In his place is debutant Fletcher Dyson, one of two new faces in the Reds XV.

Also making his Super 12 debut for Queensland will be hooker Shane Hardman. The former Australian under-21 player replaces Wallaby Michael Foley, who is out with a knee injury.

Former Queensland hooker Brendan Cannon's decision to switch states paid off on Monday when he was named in a new-look New South Wales pack for the game against South Africa's Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

Cannon, who played 34 times for the Reds, shaded Mark Crick for the position vacated by retired Wallaby Phil Kearns.

The other front row vacancy caused by the retirement of Wallaby tight head prop Andew Blades was filled by his younger brother, Cameron, who beat out another Wallaby, Rod Moore.

The team included seven changes to the side which started the Waratahs' final Super 12 match of last year against eventual champions Canterbury. - Sapa-AFP