NSW Country Eagles (4) vs Brisbane City (5)
Wade Park, Orange – Saturday 28 October, 1:00pm (local time)
Brisbane City will be a long way from home, and will be missing some crucial players due to Wallabies and Barbarians commitments that same day.
Country have made several changes to their starting line-up, with Harry Johnson-Holmes coming into the side for Sam needs, Mitch Short for Wallaby call-up Jake Gordon, and in the absence of Andrew Kellaway, Alex Newsome will shift to fullback to make way for Tom Hill in the centres.
NSW Country will face Brisbane City at Orange’s Wade Park this Saturday morning to kick off the final competition round of the 2017 NRC season:
1 Paddy Ryan ©
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3 Harry Johnson-Holmes
4 Tom Staniforth
5 Ryan McCauley
6 Rohen O’Regan
7 Maclean Jones
8 Nick Kellaway
9 Mitch Short
10 Tayler Adams
11 Alex Gibbon
12 Tom Hill
13 Kyle Godwin
14 Seb WIleman
15 Alex Newsome
RESERVES
16 Connal McInerney
17 Matt Gibbon
18 Cam Betham
19 Tim Buchanan
20 Rowan Perry
21 Sam Ward
22 Lachlan Anderson
23 Tyson Davis
Sydney Rays (8) vs Fijian Drua (3)
ANZ Stadium, Suva – Saturday 28 October, 4:00pm (local time)
The Sydney Rays will travel to Fiji’s capital to play their final game of the NRC season this Saturday.
They will be armed with an unchanged front row, with Angus Ryan coming into side to join Conor Vest in the second row.
Nucifora will retain his starting spot after last weekend’s two-try effort (including an impressive solo try) in their win over the Perth Spirit.
Kepu Lokotui also comes into the side to replace Tom Connor, who will be representing Australia Green this weekend at the Central Coast Sevens.
The Rays will face the Fijian Drua at Suva’s ANZ Stadium this Saturday afternoon for a 4:00pm kick-off (local time).
1 David Lolohea
2 Damien Fitzpatrick
3 Alex Westgarth
4 Connor Vest
5 Angus Ryan
6 Alex Perez
7 Kawaa Leamu
8 James Brown
9 Harry Nucifora
10 Bryce Hegarty
11 Kepu Lokotui
12 Irae Simone
13 Apo Latunipulu
14 Rob Buaserau
15 Harry Burey
RESERVES
16 Sam Kitchen
17 Tristan Goodbody
18 Wayne Borsak
19 Ed Kennedy
20 James Hilterbrand
21 Nick Duffy
22 Sam Lane
23 Jack Grant
Greater Sydney Rams (7) vs Canberra Vikings (2)
TG Millner Field, Sydney – Sunday 29 October, 3:00pm
The Rams have opted for an unchanged forward pack from last weekend’s victory over Brisbane City for the final game of the season.
With Taqele Naiyaravoro on Barbarian duties, John Grant has come back into the starting side to put Ben Cotton onto the opposite wing.
A bit of quick thinking from Mack Mason sparked what was to be one of the greatest comebacks of the season, putting second rower Adrian Hall over the line just before the halftime hooter sounded, and the Rams will be looking to the young general again to inspire some assertive attack.
The Rams will face the Canberra Vikings at their home ground, TG Millner Field this Sunday afternoon for a 3pm kick-off.
1 Jed Gillespie
2 Andrew Tuala
3 Robert Lagudi
4 Albert Tuisue
5 Adrian Hall
6 Kelly Meafua
7 David Hickey
8 Jed Holloway ©
9 Dion Spice
10 Mack Mason
11Benjamin Cotton
12 Kevin Fuavao
13 Dennis Pili-Gaitau
14 John Grant
15 Cameron Bailey
RESERVES
16 Ed Craig
17 Connor Young
18 Fergus Lee-Warner
19 Kotoni Ale
20 Daniel Calavassy
21 Jai Ayoub
22 Stu Dunbar
23 Rhys Brodie
