Despite all senior competitions having the bye this weekend, the highly anticipated fixture between South Coast Monaro and Southern Inland will take place this Saturday at ANU North Oval.
The two sides will meet for the first time since the reformed Brumbies Provincial Tournament structure.
Southern Inland have been the team to beat in this tournament having not lost the title since 2011. The inaugural tournament took place in 2008 with the Rams lifting the shield on that day before Monaro took the reins for two consecutive years. In recent years Monaro, have tested Southern Inland and had gone very close to dethroning them, but year after year the Rams would prevail.
A revived South Coast representative side is now riding the wave of back to back victories over Monaro, most recently in the fixture played to select the combined representative side. Given their newly found confidence, the Marlins, led by Bungendore’s Andy Goslett, will look to install this self-confidence with the Monaro players in the squad as they look to end SIRU’s streak
SIRU coach Richard Skellern has selected very strong side but it is almost a changing of the guard with only six players returning from last year’s champion side. Of the six returning, Stu Dyer (Wagga City) and Simon Vunilagi (Leeton) will lead the side at half back and number 8. Both players featured heavily in 2016 campaign and were selected in the Brumbies Provincial side.
Traditionally strong in the forwards, the Rams will be relying on their backline, all who have been tearing up for their respecting clubs each Saturday. It can be expected that this backline will play with some flair when given the chance. The South Coast Monaro backs will have their hands full if they give SIRU even the slightest opportunity. The Leeton backline connection in Nathan Batina, Noa Rabici and Joe Ratu will be players to watch out for.
However, going off the combined sides forward pack, SIRU must match them up front if they want the backs to get the ball and work their much talked about magic. South Coast Monaro and 2016 Brumbies Provincial representative Goslett, Ash Kenny (Bungendore) and James Bell (Batemans Bay) will be the key to South Coast Monaro go forward. If these three get going you can expect the Bungendore halves combination of Chris Prail and John Steele to thrive off this momentum and threaten SIRU’s defence.
At the conclusion of this fixture, the best 23 players will go onto higher honours and represent the Brumbies Provincial side the following weekend against NSW Country Cockatoos.
South Coast Monaro vs. Southern Inland
1pm Kick off
ANU North Oval, Turner
Entry – Free
Teams
South Coast Monaro
1. Hagon WilliamsMonaroYoung
2. James Bell South Coast Batemans Bay
3. James Roberts South Coast Batemans Bay
4. Steve Gerlach South Coast Bungendore
5. Ian Vagg Monaro Jindabyn
6. Ashley Kenny South Coast Bungendore
7. Callum Marr Monaro ADFA
8. Andy Goslett © South Coast Bungendore
9. Chris Prail South Coast Bungendore
10. John Steele South Coast Bungendore
11. Tom Bollard South Coast Bungendore
12. Andrew Fleming South Coast Batemans Bay
13. Brendan Madden Monaro Yass
14. Mark Poplin Monaro Boorowa
15. Matt Caldwell Monaro Jindabyne
16. Adam Mokotupu Monaro Boorowa
17. Jeshua Smith Monaro Young
18. Jack Worman Monaro Crookwell
19. Peter Macintyre Monaro ADFA
20. Matt Todd Monaro ADFA
21. Liam Pepper Monaro Jindabyne
22. Sean Smith South Coast Batemans Bay
23. Ben Kuner Monaro Jindabyne
Matthew Ryan Coach
Michael Nicoletti Assistant Coach
Dave McDonald Manager
Josh Fitzgerald Trainer
Southern Inland Rams
1. Nathan Seymour (Wagga City)
2. Chris Latu (Griffith)
3. Si Ratudradra (Leeton)
4. Austin Wallace (Wagga Waratahs)
5. Joe Pene- Kafoa (Leeton)
6. Harry Hosegood (Wagga Waratahs)
7. Tom Macleay (Wagga Ag)
8. Simon Vunilagi (Leeton)
9. Stu Dyer (Wagga City)
10. Xavier Chigwidden (Wagga Waratahs)
11. Nathan Batina (Leeton)
12. Noa Rabici (Leeton)
13. Josef Glamuzina (Tumut)
14. Joe Ratu (Leeton)
15. James Devlin (Albury)
16. Angus Forster (Tumut)
17. Jack McIntosh (Wagga Ag)
18. Moses Waqa (Leeton)
19. Tom Boyle (Albury)
20. Siti Watkins (Leeton)
21. Tom Hallam (Wagga Waratahs)
22. Andrew Madden(Griffith)
23. Tom Mouat (Tumut)
Richard SkellernCoach
Nick McCarthyAsst. Coach/Manger
Seru RogoAsst. Coach
