St.George Queensland Women’s XV head coach Moana Virtue has named a near unchanged match-day 23 for the team’s first home game of the 2019 Buildcorp Super W season against the RugbyWA Women at Suncorp Stadium this Saturday, 2 March, kicking off at 4:05pm AEST.
The match will form part of a double-header fixture at Suncorp Stadium, with the St.George Queensland Reds set to face the Crusaders in Round 3 of Super Rugby following the Super W fixture.
Only one change has been made to the starting XV from Round 1, with squad captain Kiri Lingman promoted to the starting forward pack at Number 8, seeing Shannon Mato shift to open-side flanker and Eilidh Sinclair to the reserves.
Japanese scrumhalf Ayane Hirata is in line for her potential Super W debut, having been named as the reserve scrumhalf.
The side boasts a host of experience, including eight Wallaroos and one Black Fern representative in Lavinia Gould.
With Lingman moving from the reserves to the starting XV, she will resume captaincy of the side after vice-captain Lori Cramer led the team last weekend in Round 1.
“Given the performance the team delivered in Round 1, it’s important to maintain some stability in terms of selection to ensure the group continues to develop combinations,” said Virtue.
“We hadn’t had a trial game ahead of the competition, so I was really happy with the way the girls applied what we have been practicing in training last weekend, but the RugbyWA side will be a different challenge.
“We saw in 2018 that the Western Australian girls have a strong forward pack, who will play a physical game, and they also have a number of experienced backs who will be dangerous.
“It’s a great opportunity on Saturday afternoon for the girls to improve and back-up last week’s performance.
“I’d encourage Queensland Rugby fans to get out and support the team throughout the Super W, starting with this weekend’s match at Suncorp Stadium. There are some really talented players amongst the group and we’re looking to play a style of Rugby that I’m sure people will enjoy watching, and the girls really appreciate the support.”
The Queensland Rugby Union will partner with Breast Cancer Network Australia for Saturday's double-header at Suncorp Stadium, with the Queensland Women's XV to wear pink socks against the RugbyWA Women and the Reds donning pink shoe laces.
The Queensland Women's XV take on the Rugby WA Women at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday March 2, kicking off at 4:00pm AEST, LIVE on Kayo Sports and streamed at RUGBY.com.au as well as replayed on FOX SPORTS.
St.George Queensland Women’s XV side to face RugbyWA Women:
1. Christina Sekona - Sunnybank
2. Averyl Mitchell - University of Queensland
3. Liz Patu - WestsChristina Sekona - Sunnybank
4. Alisha Hewett – GPS/Australian Defence Force
5. Saxon Campbell - Redlands
6. Millie Boyle - Bond University
7. Shannon Mato - Sunnybank
8. Kiri Lingman (C) - Sunnybank
9. Cobie-Jane Morgan - Sunnybank
10. Lavinia Gould – Wests
11. Ivania Wong – Sunnybank
12. Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea – Sunnybank
13. Cecilia Smith - Brothers
14. Alana Elisaia – Sunnybank
15. Lori Cramer – University of Queensland
Reserves
16. Ivy Kaleta – Sunnybank
17. Ana Fotu - University of Queensland
18. Toa Filimoehala - Sunnybank
19. Eilidh Sinclair – Sunnybank
20. Vetekina Aho-Fangaloka – Sunnybank
21. Ayane Hirata* – Sunnybank
22. Eseta Aho-Fangaloka – Sunnybank
23. Samantha Treherne – Sunnybank
* Denotes potential Super W debut
