SOUTHERN Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) representative coach Nick McCarthy could not be happier with the squad he has at his disposal for next month's Brumbies Provincial Championships.
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SIRU released this year's representative squad on Tuesday and it featured nine members of the all-conquering Wagga City team.
Dylan Mclachlan and Peter Little were among the six Boiled Lollies named in the starting 15, while another three teammates were named on the bench.
SIRU has named a 25-man squad as they look to win a 10th straight Brumbies Provincial Championships, with another five included as shadow players in case of injury.
McCarthy is rapt with the squad.
"I'm really happy," McCarthy said.
"It's good to see Wagga City with such a big representation, given how strong they have been for the last two seasons.
"It's really nice to see so many quality players from across the competition put their hand up. It makes life easier.
"There is a few guys we would have liked who were unavailable for one reason or another but all in all, I'm really happy with the quality of the squad."
The squad will train twice leading into the championships in Canberra on Saturday, June 12.
McCarthy is particularly pleased with SIRU's forward pack.
"I think the forward pack will be really dominant," he said.
"When you look at the size of the pack and the speed they offer, I think they will lay a really good platform for our backs. A few of our backs might be a bit unknown to a few people in the zone but if our forwards play to their potential then there will be plenty of tries in them."
McCarthy expects Monaro to be potential big improvers at this year's championships, while he respects the challenge South Coast always provides.
He is quietly confident they will again be thereabouts on the big day.
"I'm optimistic. We're really lucky to get really good buy-in in our zone. Every year we get a really good group of guys wanting to play," he said.
"We've just got to get it right on the day. We know what we have to do, we can only prepare as well as we can and see how we go on the day."
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Dual Bill Castle Medal winner Liam Krautz will again be among those leading the charge for Southern Inland.
Experienced Leeton footballer Sainivalati Ratudradra has also been included in the squad, despite playing in the second grade competition with Leeton this season.
McCarthy said he did not want to penalise Ratudradra for staying at Leeton and helping the club this season's difficulties.
Southern Inland representative squad
- Thomas Blanch (Wagga City), 2. Sam Carwadine (Ag College), 3. Andries De Meyer (Griffith), 4. Darryl Hemopo (Wagga City), 5. Pita Herangi (Wagga City), 6. Apimeleki Kalouduna (Waratahs), 7. Liam Krautz (Albury-Wodonga), 8. Tasman Kuhn (Ag College), 9. Jone Kurusiga (Wagga City), 10. Peter Little (Wagga City), 11. Peter Macintyre (Waratahs), 12. Dylan Mclachlan (Wagga City), 13. Gerard McTaggart (Waratahs), 14. Alex Meades (Ag College), 15. Jim Meya (Tumut), 16. Adam Mokotupu (Wagga City), 17. Harry Morrow (Waratahs), 18. Jacob Nielsen (Wagga City), 19. Lochlan Ramm (Ag College), 20. Sainivalati Ratudradra (Leeton), 21. Oliver Toma (Tumut), 22. Steven Tracey (Wagga City), 23. Atunaisa Veiyala (Waratahs), 24. Will Wennerbom (Waratahs), 25. George Woods (Albury-Wodonga), 26. Alex Farquhar* (Ag College), 27. Joshua Gemmell* (Waratahs), 28. Andrew Madden* (Griffith), 29. Tony Ritchie* (Waratahs), 30. Talilotu Uoifalelahi* (Griffith)
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