Bond University Queensland Country head coach Brad Thorn has named his side to face Perth Spirit in the team’s final regular season National Rugby Championship match at North Ipswich Reserve this Sunday.
Six changes have been made to the starting XV that ran out against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka last weekend.
In the frontrow, with Sef Fa’agase and Taniela Tupou unavailable due to representative duties, both James Slipper and Kirwan Sanday will earn their first starts of the season.
Queensland and Australian U20s hooker, and former Ipswich Grammar School student, Efi Ma’afu also returns from injury to make his starting debut, forming a new look frontrow.
In the backrow, Bond University’s Tai Ford will earn his second starting berth of the season at openside flanker in place of Liam Wright, who has been a late edition to the Wallabies side to face the Barbarians.
Ford will be joined in the backrow by Brothers’ Ted Postal at blindside flanker and Angus Scott-Young at number 8.
In the backs, the only change from last week’s starting line-up see’s Jock Campbell move onto the wing to make his starting debut in place of Eto Nabuli, who is unavailable through Barbarians selection.
Chris Feauai-Sautia will captain the side for the first time.
In the reserves, Sunshine Coast junior and Queensland U20s hooker Sean Farrell, former Emerald Rams representative Tyrone Pritchard and Norths utility Conor Chittenden are all in line for their potential NRC and Queensland Country debuts.
Head coach Brad Thorn said: “We’ve had to make some adjustments to our side again this week with players unavailable through rep duties, but we’re confident in the team we’ve named for this match.
“The team took a lot of belief out of last week’s win over the Drua in Fiji. Our depth was tested heading into that match and we overcame what was our biggest challenge to date.”
The match will also act as the Horan-Little Shield decider for 2017, with Country having won the Shield in last week’s win over the Fijian Drua.
“Perth Spirit are the defending premiers and still have a chance to be in finals contention with a win. It will be a tough contest and we’re preparing as best we can.”
The match is the first time Queensland Country have played in Ipswich, and ahead of the NRC game, Ipswich Grammar School’s First XV will play Toowoomba Grammar School in a curtain raiser, kicking off at 1:55pm AEST.
“We have players in our side who have emerged from both schools playing in our curtain raiser, so hopefully we’ll have a large and vocal crowd cheering on the boys. Sunday afternoon is shaping up as a great celebration of Rugby in Ipswich,” said Thorn.
The clash between Queensland Country and Perth Spirit kicks off at 4:00pm AEST on Sunday at North Ipswich Reserve.
The match will be LIVE streamed via www.foxsports.com.au.
Bond University Queensland Country side to face Perth Spirit:
James Slipper - Bond University, Gold Coast
Efi Ma'afu – Wests/Ipswich (Starting debut)
Kirwan Sanday - Easts
Phil Potgieter - University of Queensland, Toowoomba
Harry Hockings - University of Queensland, Bowen
Ted Postal – Brothers, Townsville
Tai Ford - Bond University, Gold Coast
Angus Scott-Young - University of Queensland
James Tuttle - GPS
Teti Tela – Souths/Ipswich
Jock Campbell - University of Queensland, Gold Coast (Starting debut)
Hamish Stewart - Bond University, Gold Coast
Chris Feauai-Sautia – Souths (c)
Filipo Daugunu - Wests
Patrick James – Brothers
Reserves
Sean Farrell - University of Queensland, Sunshine Coast (Potential NRC and Queensland Country debut)
Alex Casey - Souths
Richie Asiata - Easts
Rob Puli'uvea - Wests
Tyrone Pritchard – Easts, Emerald (Potential NRC and Queensland Country debut)
Tate McDermott - University of Queensland, Sunshine Coast
Tony Hunt - University of QueenslandConor Chittenden - Norths (Potential NRC and Queensland Country debut)
BROADCAST INFORMATION: Sunday 29 October - Bond University Queensland Country v Road Safety Perth Spirit
Fans can LIVE stream this game via www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/nrc/live-stream or download the FOX SPORTS App.
FOX SPORTS digital subscription can be purchased via www.foxsports.com.au/fox-sports-subscription.
