Eight Queenslanders have been named in the Australian Schoolboys side to play Fiji Schools at Sacred Heart College, Auckland this afternoon.
Sean Farrell, Laurence Tominiko, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Joshua Vuta, William Eadie have all been named to start.
Matthew Willshire and Isaac Lucas have been named on the bench. Brisbane Grammar School flanker Fraser McReight will captain of the side.
The Australian Schoolboys will be looking to carry on their impressive tour from following a 50-10 victory over Samoan Schools at Apia Rugby Stadium, last Saturday.
There were nine Queenslanders named in the match-day 23 for the game in Samoa and the Australians outscored the home side seven tries to two, on a warm afternoon in the Pacific Island Nation.
St. Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace winger William Eadie crossed for a first-half double to help the visitors to a 21-point lead at half time, before the Australians held Samoa scoreless after the break.
Australian prop Opeti Helu got the visitors on the front foot with an inspiring run moments after kick-off.
With the Samoans scrambling, Australia’s backs pounced, swinging the ball wide to James Armstrong who crossed for the first try of the match.
The sides traded penalty goals before St. Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace flyhalf Isaac Lucas combined with Sunia Finefeuiaki to put Terrace teammate Eadie away for Australia’s second try.
A try to Samoa reduced the deficit to seven points but the Australians responded immediately after the restart with a 75-metre effort by Armstrong who crossed for his second.
Moments later, Eadie also crossed for a double before Ryan Lonergan added the extras, taking the score to 31-10 at half time.
Early in the second stanza, the combination of Lucas, Finefeuiaki and Eadie continued to threaten the Samoan defence, before Lucas popped the ball to fullback Luke Osborne who opened the Australian’s second-half account.
Later in the half, Tom Ross forced his way over the line before replacement and Brisbane Grammar School backrower Fraser McReight capitalised on a rolling maul for the final try of the match.
Australian Schoolboys 50 (James Armstrong 2, William Eadie 2, Luke Osborne 1, Tom Ross 1, Fraser McReight 1 tries; Ryan Lonegan 6 conv, 1 pen) defeated Samoan Schools 38.
