The Queensland Reds are set to unleash their cohort of Sevens stars of their first match of the season towards the Drua, whereas the Waratahs are set to welcome again their Wallaroos cohort as they appear to get their title defence again on monitor towards the Western Drive.
Bella Nasser, Kahli Henwood and Teagan Levi will earn their first caps for the Reds and in XV’s rugby, as they appear to attempt to impress Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp to incorporate them in her World Cup calculations.
See all of the group information because it’s revealed beneath.
(All occasions are in AEDT)
Saturday
Fijian Drua v Queensland Reds, 11:05 am
The Drua will host a doubleheader at Lautoka this weekend, with each the lads’s and girls’s facet boasting an imposing file on the venue.
Whereas the lads haven’t misplaced at Churchill Park since spherical ten, 2023, the ladies’s facet boasts a fair higher house file, having solely misplaced as soon as throughout all Fiji venues since getting into the competitors in 2022 – that being final 12 months’s 62-21 loss in Lautoka to eventual champions the Waratahs.
With a powerful Reds facet with factors to show rolling into city, the Drua are correctly opting to stay as a lot as doable with the facet that knocked off the Waratahs, with Alfreda Fisher the one new face making the beginning facet, whereas Tiana Robanakadavu and Merevesi Ofakimalino come onto the bench.
The Reds prevailed 60-7 final week of their improvement sport towards Penina Pasifika, and can arrive at Churchill Park with one of the crucial imposing line ups they’ve ever had within the competitors.
Teagan Levi celebrates a attempt through the 2024 Perth SVNS girls’s Cup Closing match between Australia and Eire. (Picture by Will Russell/Getty Pictures)
Sevens stars Bella Nasser, Kahli Henwood and Teagan Levi will all make their Reds debut from the bench, highlighting robust depth for the sunshine state, whereas the beginning facet will solely make two modifications to final week’s facet, each within the entrance row.
Wallaroos Tiarna Molloy and Eva Karpani will come into the beginning squad and can seemingly have their fingers full following the Drua’s commanding efficiency at scrum time towards the Tahs.
Fellow Wallaroos Tiarah Minns and Layne Morgan will even debut for the ladies in maroon, whereas Ivania Wong makes her long-awaited return from harm on the wing.
DRUA (1-15): Salaniete Nabuli, Keleni Marawa, Vika Matarugu (c), Mereoni Nakesa, Asinate Serevi, Alfreda Fisher, Salaseini Railumu, Karalaini Naisewa, Kolora Lomani, Salanieta Kinita, Alowesi Nakoci, Josivini Naihamu, Vitalina Naikore, Repeka Tove, Luisa Tisolo
Replacements: Loraini Senivutu, Anasimeci Korovata, Tiana Robanakadavu, Merevesi Ofakimalino, Nunia Daunimoala, Setaita Railumu, Litiana Vueti, Merewairita Neivosa
REDS (1-15): Bree-Anna Browne, Tiarna Molloy, Eva Karpani, Deni Ross, Tiarah Minns, Jemma Bemrose (cc), Carola Kreis, Sarah Riordan, Layne Morgan, Carys Dallinger, Ivania Wong (cc), Shalom Sauaso, Faythe Manera, Caitlin Urwin, Lori Cramer
Reserves: Cristo Taufua, Sky-Yvette Faimalie, Jiowana Sauto, Vineta Teutau, Bella Nasser, Nat Wright, Kahli Henwood, Teagan Levi
NSW Waratahs v Western Drive, 5:05 pm
Arabella McKenzie and Piper Duck are amongst a number of stars making their long-awaited return to the sector for the Waratahs, and it couldn’t have come at a extra vital time.
Coach Michael Ruthven has pulled out all of the stops as they put together to welcome a harmful Western Drive facet to the SFS, with fellow Wallaroos Desiree Miller and Adiana Talakai offering vital expertise within the again three and entrance row, respectively.
Tatum Fowl additionally comes into the beginning facet to companion McKenzie, with a number of of the gamers that includes in final week’s loss to the Drua filtering again to the bench.
The Drive, in the meantime, have made 4 modifications of their very own to the facet that drew with the Brumbies in Perth – with seven-cap Black Fern Pia Tapsell proving the right substitute for present Wallaroo captain Michaela Leonard, who was sidelined final week with a collarbone harm.
Coach Dylan Parsons is opting to stay with a lot of the squad, with winger Haylee Hifo coming in as an HIA substitute for Brooklyn Teki Joyce.
Nonetheless, some extra potential debutants are in line off the bench with former Japan Sevens scrumhalf Mio Yamanaka and Wanneroo and RugbyWA Academy centre Ngamihi Monk included within the facet.
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WARATAHS (1-15): Siusiuosalafai Volkman, Britt Merlo, Bridie O’Gorman, Kaitlan Leaney, Annabelle Codey, Leilani Nathan, Emily Chancellor, Piper Duck (c), Tatum Fowl, Arabella McKenzie, Desiree Miller, Katrina Barker, Georgina Friedrichs, Maya Stewart, Waiaria Ellis
Replacements: Adiana Talakai, Emily Robinson, Falika Pohiva, Tahlia Morgan, Ruby Anderson, Tiarne Cavanagh, Nicole Nathan, Amelia Whitaker
FORCE (1-15): Allana Sikimeti, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Braxton Walker, Sera Naiqama, Pia Tapsell, Tamika Jones, Anneka Stephens, Ashley Marsters, Georgia Cormick, Grace Freeman, Adi Vani Buleki, Trilleen Pomare (c), Cecilia Smith, Haylee Hifo, Sheree Hume
Replacements: Loretta Mailangi, Hannah Palelei, Alapeta Ngauamo, Libya Teepa, Rosie Ebbage, Mio Yamanaka, Nicole Ledington, Ngamihi Monk
Improvement Sport (Saturday)
ACT Brumbies v Penina Pasifika, 1:05 pm
BRUMBIES (1-15): Martha Fua, Tania Naden, Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele, Ashley Fernandez, Lily Bone, Siokapesi Palu (c), Edwina Munns-Cook dinner, Piper Rankmore, Jay Huriwai, Tia Hinds, Ana Naisami, Concord Ioane, Gabrielle Petersen, Charlie Brigstocke, Manua Moleka
Replacements: Ella Hopper, Lydia Kavoa, Hannah Stewart, Ana-lise Sio, Jess Grant, Ella Ryan, Merania Paraone, Siena Edwards, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Kyah Little
