SIRU coaches Richard Skellern and Nick McCarthy have named an experienced starting line-up for Saturday’s clash with a combined South Coast-Monaro side at Connolly Rugby Complex.
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Wagga Waratahs skipper Harry Hosegood will captain from the flank while Ag College duo Gerard McTaggart and Cameron Duffy are set to partner in the halves.
Albury outside back Blake Le Cornu has also been named to start at fullback after being drafted at the eleventh hour to cover for unavailable Waratahs flyers Corey Toole and Blake Hart.
McCarthy was pleased to welcome a number of familiar faces back into the side.
“We were really happy with the squad that we picked and we’ve got plenty of returning players in the starting line up,” he said.
“I think we’ve put together a really experienced forwards pack and any side with McTaggart, Duffy and (Josef) Glamuzina is going to go well.”
Steamers captain Dave Cooper-Dunn was ruled out late in the piece to injury while Griffith pair Chris Latu, Dan McGreal and Albury’s Roussouw Visser were unavailable for selection.
“It’s disappointing for Dave not to be getting out there … but we’ve got the luxury of a strong squad,” McCarthy said.
CSU Reddies winger Hamish McMahon reaped the rewards of a match-winning brace against Wagga City last weekend and will partner Tumut’s Vaughn Scott on the wing while Nathan Seymour is the Boiled Lollies’ sole representative.
Seymour joins Griffith hooker Ewan Morris and Leeton’s Sai Ratudradra in the front row while Waratah Austin Wallace and Tumut’s Tom Mouat round out the tight five.
In a boost for Southern Inland, Ag College flanker Mike Van Diggelen returns to the starting team after being ruled out of last year’s fixture due to injury and will form a potent back row combination alongside Hosegood and Blacks enforcer Saione Ahomana.
McCarthy is expecting a tough clash against South-Coast Monaro despite last year’s convincing 41-13 win.
“They’ve got every chance of winning and there’s plenty of quality footballers in that side,” he said.
“We think they’ll be well drilled and have a few good combinations.”
The Southern Inland side has trained once and will have just one more session on Friday night before taking to the field.
“The boys had a light session earlier to get some knowledge and we’ll go straight into it after the captain’s run,” McCarthy said.
A Brumbies Provincial Team will be selected from Saturday’s game and will take on NSW Country the following week.
Southern Inland Starting Line Up
1. Nathan Seymour – Wagga City
2. Ewan Morris – Griffith Blacks
3. Sai Ratudradra – Leeton Phantoms
4. Austin Wallace – Wagga Waratahs
5. Tom Mouat – Tumut Bulls
6. Harry Hosegood – Wagga Waratahs
7. Mike Van Diggelen – Wagga Ag College
8. Saione Ahomana – Griffith Blacks
9. Gerard McTaggart – Wagga Ag College
10. Cameron Duffy – Wagga Ag College
11. Vaughn Scott – Tumut Bulls
12. Noa Rabici – Leeton Phantoms
13. Josef Glamuzina – Tumut Bulls
14. Hamish McMahon – CSU Reddies
15. Blake Le Cornu – Albury-Wodonga Steamers
RESERVES
16. Angus Forster – Tumut Bulls
17. Jack McIntosh – Wagga Ag College
18. Apimeleki Kaloudonu – Griffith Blacks
19. Matthew Harris – Wagga Ag College
20. Menzies Seumanutafa – Tumut Bulls
21. Freddy Tupou – Leeton Phantoms
22. Lochlan Ramm – Wagga Ag College
23. Andrew Stanham – Wagga Ag College
