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Premier XV squad named for Reds 2nd XV clash at Suncorp
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Queensland Premier XV selectors have named their squad for Saturday night’s match against a QAS Reds 2nd XVat Suncorp (kickoff 4:25pm), the curtain raiser for the Investec Bank Super 14 season opener between Queensland and NSW.
The 23-man squad has 16 new faces from the Australian Barbarians squad that was convincingly beaten 59-7 by the Reds 2nd XV last week.
2008 Premier Rugby champions Easts are well represented with five players, while reigning premiers Brothers and the Gold Coast Breakers each supply four.
Easts coach Pat Richards will coach the side alongside University’s Paul Healy.
All players are required at training on Wednesday, February 10 at 6:00pm and on Friday, February 12 at 6:30pm.
The Reds 2nd XV side will be selected later this week, once the QR Reds team to play the Waratahs has been named.
Queensland Premier XV Team
1. Sam Denny Souths
2. Heath Tessman University
3. Pat Ritchie Easts
4. Pat Rynders GPS
5. Cameron Bracewell Gold Coast
6. Luke Bertini Easts
7. Josh Fuimaono Gold Coast
8. Mitch Francis Gold Coast
9. Ian Prior University
10. Dallan Murphy Brothers
11. James Harvey Brothers
12. Michael Bond Norths
13. Toby White Easts
14. Pama Fou Souths
15. Damon Murphy Brothers
16. Dale Salmon Gold Coast
17. Sam Cummins Easts
18. Ian Seuala Easts
19. Tom Murday Sunnybank
20. Jono Ellis GPS
21. James Rodley Sunshine Coast
22. Nathanuel Gendle Brothers
23. Rex Tapuai Sunnybank
QR Reds hooker James Hanson to captain QAS Reds 2nd XV
Thursday, 11 February 2010
QR Reds hooker James Hanson will lead the QAS Reds 2nd XV into battle on Saturday afternoon (kickoff 4:25pm) against the best of Queensland Premier Rugby at Suncorp Stadium in the curtain raiser to the QR Reds and NSW Waratahs match.
With nine contracted Reds and six QAS Academy players included in the 23-man squad, the match is the perfect opportunity for players to press for selection in the Investec Bank Super 14 squad.
Hanson heads an all-Reds front row that also features Dayna Edwards and former Wallaby Greg Holmes, who is having only his second run of the season after a rib injury limited him to just one trial match.
QR Reds head coach Ewen McKenzie has put the onus on Holmes to force his way back into the lineup with looseheads Ben Daley and James Slipper earning spots in the main squad following a good preseason.
“One thing I’ve tried to do is promote some of the younger guys and the fact that there are two Academy players in the Reds 22 (Slipper and Andrew Shaw) reflects that we are serious about rewarding performance and potential,” McKenzie said.
“Greg has had an interrupted pre-season so it is now up to him to put a marker down and show us where he is at. I’ve been pleased with his training there this week so that’s a good sign."
While the Reds 2nd XV has plenty of power in the forwards, they also possess a ton of speed in the backs with Blair Connor and Luke Morahan named on the wings, Brando Va’aulu and Ben Tapuai in the centres, and Aidan Toua at fullback.
The Premier XV has an experienced look, with selectors making 16 changes from the experimental Barbarians squad that was beaten 59-7 by the Reds 2nd XV last Saturday night.
If they can shrug off the challenge of Reds openside flanker Lei Tomiki at the breakdown, Premier flyhalf Dallan Murphy should be able to mount a strong attack with a backline that includes brother Damon at fullback, James Harvey and Pama Fou on the wings, and Michael Bond and Toby White in the centres.
In the coming month the Reds 2nd XV will play Argentina’s Club Atletico San Isidro at Ballymore on Wednesday, February 24 (kickoff 7:15pm) and compete in a home and away series against interstate rivals NSW Waratahs A.
Queensland will host the first 2nd XV match against Waratah A on Sunday, February 28 at Ballymore No.2 (3:00pm), with the return bout on Sunday, March 7 (3:00pm) at Concord Oval in Sydney.
QAS Reds 2nd XV:
1. Greg Holmes (Sunnybank),
2. James Hanson (University),
3. Dayna Edwards (Sunnybank),
4. Liam Shaw (Brothers),
5. Robert Simmons (Sunnybank),
6. Jake Schatz (Sunnybank),
7. Lei Tomiki (GPS),
8. Leroy Houston (Sunnybank),
9. Brent Hamlin (Souths),
10. Jono Lance (University),
11. Blair Connor (Norths),
12. Ben Tapuai (Sunnybank),
13. Brando Va’aulu (University),
14. Luke Morahan (University),
15. Aidan Toua (Easts),
16. Andrew Coady (Brothers),
17. Albert Anae (Sunnybank),
18. David Feao (Souths),
19. Jarrad Butler (Gold Coast),
20. Simon Price (Brothers),
21. Sam Grasso (Brothers),
22. Simon Morahan (Gold Coast),
23. Paul Doneley (Brothers)
Queensland Premier XV:
1. Sam Denny (Souths),
2. Heath Tessman (University),
3. Pat Ritchie (Easts),
4. Pat Rynders (GPS),
5. Cameron Bracewell (Gold Coast),
6. Luke Bertini (Easts),
7. Josh Fuimaono (Gold Coast),
8. Mitch Francis (Gold Coast),
9. Ian Prior (University),
10. Dallan Murphy (Brothers),
11. James Harvey (Brothers),
12. Michael Bond (Norths),
13. Toby White (Easts),
14. Pama Fou (Souths),
15. Damon Murphy (Brothers),
16. Dale Salmon (Gold Coast),
17. Sam Cummins (Easts),
18. Sam Seuala (Easts),
19. Tom Murday (Sunnybank),
20. Jono Ellis (GPS),
21. James Rodley (Sunshine Coast),
22. Nathanuel Gendle (Brothers),
23. Rex Tapuai (Sunnybank)
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