St.George Queensland Reds head coach Moana Virtue has named her side ahead of this weekend’s double header at Suncorp Stadium, which will see the team take on the Melbourne Rebels in Round 3 of the Buildcorp Super W, before the Reds play their Round 5 Super Rugby fixture against the Sharks.
Three changes have been made to the starting XV from the side that claimed an 80-5 win over Rugby WA last weekend.
In the forwards, injuries to Kirby Sefo and Kiri Lingman see Lesa Kaleti Mataafa and Saxon Campbell promoted to the starting side, with Kaleti Mataafa set to make her starting debut.
After featuring from the bench in their Super W opener, experienced scrumhalf Cobie-Jane Morgan will start against the Rebels. A teacher at Marsden State High School, Morgan’s promotion to the starting line-up see’s one of her students, 16-year-old Destiny Brill, earn her shot at a Queensland and Super W debut having been named as the reserve scrumhalf.
Brill is one of five potential debutants in the reserves this week, however there is no shortage of experience amongst the newcomers.
The 2017 Australian Rugby Women’s XVs player of the year and mum of five, Hilisha Samoa, is in line for her first Queensland appearance since the 2017 National Championships. Having taken over two years away from Rugby as she welcomed her two daughters into the world, Samoa’s first game of Rugby since the 2017 World Cup in Ireland was Queensland’s trial game against the Fijiana.
Lock and physiotherapist Aleena Greenhalgh, who originally began her Rugby journey with the Bristol Bears is also in-line for her debut, as is fellow former Bristol rep and Canadian international Gabby Senft.
Sunnybank’s Kauna Lopa, who was a late edition to the squad ahead of the Fijiana trial, has also been named in the reserves for her potential first Queensland and Super W cap.
Head coach Moana Virtue said: “We’ve had to make some changes to the squad this week due to injury, and we’ve also welcomed some other players into the match-day 23, so this weekend’s match is a great chance for some players to impress and for us to test our depth.
“We’re lucky this year to have a lot of players with experience playing top quality Rugby in other parts of the world, while also welcoming emerging talent into the squad from club Rugby.
“While we had a great start to the season in Perth, we can’t take the Rebels lightly this weekend. They’ve been improving each week down in Melbourne and nearly toppled the Brumbies last weekend, which will only give them extra motivation.
“As a team we’re excited for the weekend ahead, the double header matches provide us with a chance to share the field with the men’s team and showcase the women’s game at one of Australia’s great sporting venues – Suncorp Stadium.”
The match between the Queensland Reds and the Melbourne Rebels Women will kick-off at 3:35pm AEST at Suncorp Stadium, and will be broadcast via Fox Sports. Tickets for the double header are available via Reds.Rugby.
