Queensland U20s name team for Super U20s Championship final

Thu, Mar 31, 2016, 6:00 AM
AAP
by AAP
James Tuttle will return for Queensland in this weekend's final. Photo: Supplied
James Tuttle will return for Queensland in this weekend's final. Photo: Supplied

The Queensland U20s side that will take on the Melbourne Rebels U20s in the Super U20s Championship final this Sunday, 3 April, at Ballymore has been named

Head coach Jason Gilmore has made limited changes to the match-day 23 that secured a 34-20 win over the Brumbies Colts in the Queensland side’s final regular season match of the tournament a fortnight ago.

The starting forward pack remains unchanged, while in the backline, the team will be buoyed by the return of St.George Queensland Reds scrumhalf James Tuttle. Tuttle returns from injury having not played since the team’s Round 2 win over the Western Force U20s.

The only other change to the starting line-up sees Sunnybank speedster Joey Fittock returning to the starting line-up, with Liam Jurd moving to the bench.

Easts prop James Gall also re-joins the match-day 23 in the 18 jersey, while 2015 McInnes Wilson Layers Brisbane City scrumhalf Moses Sorovi moves to the reserves with the return of Tuttle to the starting team.

Following wins over NSW Gen Blue (37-22), Western Force U20s (43-7), Melbourne Rebels U20s (39-31) and Brumbies Colts (34-20), the Queensland Under-20s head into this week’s final undefeated following a Round 5 bye, but Gilmore attests that the team are under no illusions of the task ahead of them.

“While the team have performed well so far, we’ve identified areas we can improve each week and we’ve been working hard over the last fortnight to prepare for the final. We still have a job to finish this Sunday,” Gilmore said.

“We played four pretty hard games in a row and the bye in Round 5 has been a good thing for the team. It allowed us to freshen the squad up and spend some time with family over Easter and the boys have responded well at training this week.  

“We just want to continue playing well as a team, that’s were our strength is. We have some really talented individuals but our team structures in attack and defence have delivered for us and the team has brought into them.

“Players have had to perform and earn each others respect and full credit to our entire squad, they’ve all brought into culture really well. We’re one team, and we’ve worked hard to maintain that mentality.”

The Super U20s Championship Final will kick-off at 2:00pm AEST this Sunday at Ballymore Stadium. For those who can’t make it to the match, Bar TV will be LIVE streaming the clash via the www.redsrugby.com.au homepage. 

Queensland U20s side to play Melbourne Rebels U20s in the Super U20s final: 

1.Harry Hoopert

2. Alex Mafi

3. Taniela Tupou

4. Lukhan Tui

5.Harry Hockings

6. Maclean Jones

7. Liam Wright (vc)

8.Angus Scott

9.James Tuttle

10.Mack Mason

11.Joey Fittock

12.Freddy Dorrough (c)

13.Campbell Magnay

14.Sam Edwards

15. Liam McNamara

Reserves

16.Josh Taylor

17. Franko Abdalla

18. James Gall

19. Conor Anderson

20.Joel Brown

21.Moses Sorovi

22. Liam Jurd

23. Jayden Ngamanu

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