The penultimate round of Super Rugby U16s sees a shootout to determine who joins the NSW Waratahs on grand final weekend, while two sides in Victoria square off to break their win droughts.
The Queensland Reds and Western Force gave off in a high-stakes battle, while Rugby Victoria, fresh off the bye, will welcome the Brumbies to La Trobe University Sportsground.
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Starting in the west, the Force have made five changes to the side that won in Canberra as they look to take down the Reds.
Joondalup Brothers quartet Elia Vodovodo, Leeson Tiakia, Johan Oosthuizen, and Iarlaith Flaherty, along with Kalamunda’s Kobi Treffery-Koenders, all come into the starting XV, while Rockingham’s Elijah Leilua, Joondalup’s Logan Grant, Kalamunda’s Eyzirie Koro, and Nedlands’ Zion Matenga will provide impact off the bench.
The Reds, meanwhile, have made three key changes to the side that fell nine points short of the Waratahs.
Mitch Wallis and Fraser Boakes will join the set piece, with the former bringing 110kg of bulk to the Reds, while Chilli Tonelli-Smith, the son of Wallaby Brian Smith, slots into the starting side at fullback.
Victory is vital for both sides. The Force hold a 2-1 record, while the Reds (1-1) look to close the gap following their Round 1 bye, and the winner of this match will be in the box seat to join NSW in the big dance.
Meanwhile, in Melbourne, Victoria will look to bounce back from two losses to the Reds and Force, as they play their first home game of the season.
They face the Brumbies, who sit with them at the bottom of the ladder.
ACT have made two changes to the side that lost to the Force in Canberra, both in key positions, as the side looks to get off the bottom of the ladder.
Oscar Dossetor moves into the starting lineup at tighthead prop, with St. Edmund’s College back Siliva Mataupu pulling on the fullback jersey.
Oliver Henderson, who pulled on the 15 jersey in last week's loss to the Force, will now direct the troops from the fly-half position for this week’s encounter.
VICTORIA (1-15): TBC
Reserves: TBC
BRUMBIES (1-15): Geoff Olivetti , Levi Park , Oscar Dossetor , Cooper Leslie (c) , Zavier D'Arcy , Jack Maguire , Will Bullock , Paddy Hill , Jono Harrington , Oli Henderson , Cayden Cross , Jesse Thorp , Laine Jud-Brettingham , William Hall , Siliva Mataupu
Reserves: Elliott Brown, Sam Filipovic, Leighton Luteru, Michael Parisotto, Huntah-Max Robinson, Oscar Brady, Kaleb Matthews, Charlie Ravouvou
FORCE (1-15): Elia Vodovodo, Jamie Mackenzie, Arawa Metekingi-Pu-Tamainu, Enzo Kyle, Oscar Sio, Leeson Tiakia, Lachlan Ilott, Bareek Kleine-Deters Ausage (c) Johan Oosthuizen, Longoatu Jr Vaka, Kobi Treffery-Koenders, Tini Sauea, Iarlaith Flaherty, Tyrese Wainohu, Kaiawha Heke
Reserves: Tamati Tawhitapou, Reuben Bouwer, Elijah Leilua, Logan Grant, TiakiTutengaehe Turner, Eyzirie Koro, Zion Matenga, Robbie Noema
REDS (1-15): Jeremiah Kite (c), Mitch Wallis, James Tulikaki, Nathan Van Huyssteen, Denver Bradford, Fraser Boakes, Matti Gill, Dylan Goodwin, Harry Dowling, Charlie Meredith, Will Robinson, James Smith, Sangwani Chinula, Mitch Durrheim, Chilli Tonelli-Smith
Reserves: Noah Gaffney, Moses Faleafa, Harry O’Hare, Nate Kerin-Bird, Ryker Smith, Tristan Cook, Seth Chapman, Iverson Anitema
