The Queensland Reds have named a near unchanged XV for their final Buildcorp Super W regular season fixture against the Fijiana Drua at Wests Rugby Club this Sunday.
GPS flyer Heleina Young will make her Queensland and Super W debut on the wing in what is one of two changes to the side who were narrowly defeated by ladder-leaders the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney last week.
Alana Elisaia comes into the run-on team at outside centre in place of the injured Briana Dascombe, with Queensland looking to secure a top-two spot with victory over the reigning premiers.
Head coach Simon Craig said: “We took a lot away from last weekend. The result didn’t go our way, but we know we can match it with the best of the best in this competition. “It’s important we continue our momentum now, this is the last round before finals and we want to finish strong.
“Fijiana play an exciting brand of Rugby. They’re going to play attacking footy and we’ll need to be at our best for the full 80-minutes.
“It’s going to be a big day for the Rugby community at Wests. It’s a great chance to come together and celebrate our game.”
Young will start in the back-three alongside fullback Renae Nona and Wallaroos winger Ivania Wong.
Elisaia will link up with Cecilia Smith in the centres, with Kiwi duo Diane Hiini and Carys Dallinger reprising their partnership in the halves.
Skipper Shannon Parry, Carola Kreis and Haidee Hade make for an unchanged backrow, while Deni Ross and Annabelle Codey will again start as locks after Codey scored a double against the Waratahs.
New Zealand international Cristo Tofa starts in the front row alongside Bree-Anna Cheatham and Alapeta Ngauamo.
The Reds will take on last year’s premiers Fijiana at Wests Rugby Club this Sunday in what shapes as a huge day for women’s Rugby at Sci-Fleet Stadium, with the BJRU holding their U14 and U16 representative girls trials before the Super W fixture.
Queensland Reds v Fijiana Drua, Sunday 23 April, Wests Rugby Club, Brisbane. Watch live on Stan Sport.
- Bree-Anna Cheatham – Wests – St Augustine’s College
- Cristo Tofa – Ponsonby Rugby Club – Henderson Intermediate School, NZ
- Alapeta Nqauamo – GPS – St James’ College
- Deni Ross – Wests – Oak Hill College
- Annabelle Codey – Easts – Somerville House
- Carola Kreis – Bond University – Columneetza Secondary, Canada
- Shannon Parry (c) – Easts – Moreton Bay College
- Haidee Head – Easts – Loudes Hill College
- Diane Hiini – University of Canterbury Rugby Club – Ellesmere College
- Carys Dallinger – Matakesi Rugby Club – Manukura School
- Ivania Wong – Sunnybank – Balmoral State High School
- Cecilia Smith – Sunnybank – Leeton State High School
- Alana Elisaia – Wests – Cleveland State High School
- Heleina Young* – GPS – St Joseph’s Secondary School, Suva, Fiji
- Renae Nona – Sunnybank – Cavendish Road State High School
- Madi Schuck – Easts – Alexandra Hills State High School
- Tiarna Molloy – Easts – Warialda State High School
- Theresa Soloai – Easts – Holland Park State High School
- Tina Campbell – GPS – St Hilda’s School
- Hana Lane – Wests – West Island School, Hong Kong
- Sarah Lewis – GPS – Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay
- Ellie Draper – Souths – Carmel College
- Sam Curtis – College Rifles – Waimea College, New Zealand
*denotes Queensland and Super W debut
