Following two emphatic wins in the Brumbies Provincial Tournament, Southern Inland players have dominated the team named to take on NSW Country on Saturday.
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Selectors chose 16 players from the Riverina to be part of the squad.
Six were from a much improved South Coast outfit, who scored their first win in the tournament in 13 years on Saturday, while there was the only Monaro player selected.
It comes after another dominant performance by Southern Inland team, who wrapped up a sixth straight Brumbies Provincial title in Bateman’s Bay on Monday.
Coming off a 50-12 loss to South Coast, Monaro failed to score a point against Southern Inland.
Leeton forward Simon Vunilagi led the way, scoring four tries in the 72-0 win.
Coach Richard Skellern was impressed by the performance where Southern Inland got on top early.
“It was a good day out,” Skellern said.
Among the players to stand out Skellern was impressed with Tanian Naude, who was named player of the tournament.
“He played good football all weekend,” Skellern said.
“He did everything he had to as a breakaway.
“He was tough over the play and ran the ball well.”
Southern Inland were better represented following a 75-3 win over South Coast and a 49-7 win over Monaro last season, however Skellern is still pleased with the makeup of the side to take on NSW Country.
“It is great to have that many,” Skellern said.
“It wasn’t as many as last year but it is still good.”
The Cockatoos proved too hot to handle last year but the representative team will be better for the experience.
The game will be played at Bathurst with Southern Inland having another bye for the representative fixture.
FULL-TIME
SOUTHERN INLAND 72 (S Vunilagi 4, J Stanton 2, M Ivill, S Fili, C Manuolevao, M Meggison tries; A Le Lievre 7, B Whiteley cons, A Le Lievre 2 pens) d MONARO 0
BRUMBIES PROVINCIAL TEAM: Dan Patu (Leeton), Tom Dunstan (Waratahs), James Daley (Waratahs), Matt Meggison (Waratahs), Dan Dowson (Tumut), Tanian Naude (Ag College), Sam Bunny (Waratahs), Simon Vunilagi (Leeton), Stuart Dyer (Leeton), Christino Manuolevao (Tumut), Riley Brennan (Ag College), Angus Le Lievre (Waratahs), Bart Whiteley (Waratahs), Steve Tracey (Waratahs), Solomon Fili (Leeton), Siti Watkins (Leeton), Ashley Kenny (South Coast), Steven Prail (South Coast), Tom Bollard (South Coast), Andrew Goslett (South Coast), John Steele (South Coast) and James Bell (South Coast)
