St.George Queensland Women’s XV head coach Moana Virtue has named her side for their final Buildcorp Super W regular season match against the Brumbies Women at Ballymore on Saturday, kicking off at 5:00pm, with six changes made to the starting XV.
In the forwards, University of Queensland prop Ana Fotu will make her Super W starting debut, while Ivy Kaleta and Saxon Campbell will both move into the starting pack.
The backline will see Olympic Gold Medalist Amy Turner start at inside centre and fellow Australian Sevens representative Georgie Friedrichs at fullback, after the duo made their Super W debuts last weekend in Sydney.
Dirranbandi product Emily Bass will make her Queensland and Super W debut, named in the starting side on the right wing.
In the reserves, Sunnybank prop Maryanne Fuimaono and GPS backrower Tessa Vaoga are both in line for their potential Super W debuts. While Fuimaono has previously represented Queensland in the National Championships competition format, Vaogo emerged from the Brisbane Women’s club Rugby ranks in 2018, having helped guide GPS women to their first ever Grand Final.
“We’ve made several changes to the side this week as we prepare to face the Brumbies,” said Virtue.
“The last three weeks have been an intense block of Rugby with two away games in Round 1 and Round 3 and it’s important that we manage player loads as we near the back end of the tournament.
“We’re lucky that we have plenty of depth within our squad. The girls who we have brought into the starting XV have all earned the chance to play some more game time and Bass, Fuimaono and Vaoga, who are all in line for their debuts, have been training the house down and contributing to the team off the field.”
Saturday will see the Super W fixture form part of the Australian Club Championship match schedule, with 2018 Queensland Premier Rugby runners up University of Queensland playing Shute Shield runners up Warringah at 3:00pm and the reigning Hospital Challenge Cup premiers GPS facing Shute Shield champions Sydney University at 6:45pm.
“The team are really looking forward to playing at Ballymore this weekend,” said Virtue.
“It will be a great celebration of Rugby with four of the biggest Rugby clubs in the country playing against each other as well as the Super W fixture. It’s going to be unique afternoon of Rugby for fans and I’d encourage everyone to come down to the home of Queensland Rugby and get involved.”
The match between the Queensland Women’s XV and the Brumbies Women will be broadcast live on Kayo Sports and streamed via Rugby.com.au, kicking off at 5:00pm AEST. Admission to Ballymore Stadium will be $10, tickets available upon entry to the ground.
St.George Queensland Women’s XV side named to face Brumbies Women:
1. Hana Ngaha – Souths
2. Ivy Kaleta – Sunnybank
3. Ana Fotu – University of Queensland**
4. Alisha Hewett – GPS/ADF
5. Saxon Campbell – Redlands
6. Millie Boyle – Bond University
7. Shannon Mato – Sunnybank
8. Kiri Lingman – Sunnybank (C)
9. Cobie-Jane Morgan – Sunnybank
10. Lavinia Gould – Wests
11. Alana Elisaia – Sunnybank
12. Amy Turner – Sunnybank**
13. Cecilia Smith – Sunnybank
14. Emily Bass – Wests*
15. Georgie Friedrichs – Wests**
Reserves
16. Averyl Mitchell – University of Queensland
17. Toa Filimoehala – Sunnybank
18. Maryanne Fuimaono – Sunnybank***
19. Vetekina Aho-Fangaloka – Sunnybank
20. Tessa Vaoga – GPS***
21. Asako Ono – University of Queensland
22. Eseta Aho-Fangaloka – Sunnybank
23. Ivania Wong – Sunnybank
*Denotes Super W and Queensland debut
**Denotes starting debut
***Denotes potential Super W and Queensland debut
