By TOM PRIMMER

Round Four of the 2020 Hospital Cup is upon us, with four cracking matches across Brisbane on Saturday.

Premiership favourites Easts and GPS will face off, Sunnybank hosts UQ, Bond University travel north to take on Brothers, while Norths and Wests wrap up the round at Hugh Courtney Oval.

Easts v GPS | David Wilson Field | 3:30pm

Alongside Bond University, Easts and GPS are the only sides who remain undefeated after their opening three matches, and this one should be a cracker at David Wilson Field.

There are a number of key match-ups across the park, with the scrum battle between the competition’s two best set-piece sides sure to be front and centre come Saturday afternoon.

Flyhalves Jack Frampton and Teti Tela will do battle in the midfield, while at the back Jono Kent and Aidan Toua have both enjoyed sizzling starts to the season.

After a win against defending premiers UQ last week, Easts head coach Moses Rauluni has named a largely unnamed side for the clash and is excited for the test against the Gallopers.

“It’s a massive game for our forwards and will be a big test for them to get our backs good ball and deny their exciting backline clean ball,” Rauluni said.

“Our defence has to be on song, they have a lot of attacking threats around the park so work rate will be key.

“We have to play for 80-minutes this week as we haven’t done it yet so far. GPS will come at us all day so we can’t take the foot of the pedal.

“Tigerland is going to be pumping again and its ‘great to see some rugby there again.”

GPS head coach Elwee Prinsloo is also staying loyal to the side that defeated Brothers last week as they aim to continue their unbeaten streak.

“I think we will have to be on point with most things in your game to beat a quality opposition like Easts,” Prinsloo asid.

“They have a tremendous amount of experience and they have some big threats throughout their team.

“Easts certainly have a great scrum. They have size and experience which is tough to combat. Our focus is just on our processes and our attitude to stay in the fight.

“We are looking forward to the battle on Saturday as these are the games you want to be a part of.”

Brothers v Bond University | Crosby Park | 3:30pm

After falling to GPS last round, Brothers will be out to bounce back this Saturday when they host Bond University.

The Bullsharks come into the clash with winning form, after Mitch Third kicked the side to late victories in their opening two fixtures.

Third again shapes as a key man for the Gold Coasters, while backrower Connor Pritchard has enjoyed a strong start to the season, forcing both the penalties which gave Third the chance to kick the side home.

Bond skipper Dan Boardman said the key for his side this week has been consistency.

“Our focus has been on individual errors and looking at staying in the game for 80 minutes,” Boardman said.

“We dropped off in stages last weekend against Norths and it cost us in certain areas.

“It’s always interesting playing at Crosby Park, very intense with the amount of support they get but everyone at Bond is really excited to play up there and we will be ready for the match up come Saturday.”

The Brethren will welcome back a pair of stars for the clash, with NRC No.8 Dillon Wihongi returning and Queensland Reds squad member Michael Wood playing his first game in almost a year after a serious foot injury.

“The focus for this week has been all about us improving and developing our attack and defensive systems,” Brothers coach Anthony Mathison said.

“Bond are a dangerous side that will be confident after getting a positive result versus Norths. For us it is important to get our detail right so that we can execute more accurately on Saturday.

“It is vital for us to get a win this weekend. With an eight-game season before finals, every game is important and for our group there is a real desire to play well at home.”

Sunnybank v University of Queensland | Oldmac Oval | 3:30pm

Fresh from a gritty win over Souths last weekend, Sunnybank will be out to cause an upset over UQ this weekend at Oldmac Oval.

The Bankers have improved week by week this season, with the combination of Tom Lucas and the McNamara brothers, Neal and Liam, key to the side’s point-scoring ability.

Reds prop Dave Feao will make his first Premier Rugby appearance of the season from the bench, while veteran Josh Afu has been named for his first start of the year in the second row.

“The big focus this week is building on last week’s result,” Sunnybank coach Sione Fukofuka said.

“We didn’t play as well as we would have liked last week, so are looking to improve our ball retention and attacking accuracy this week.

“Our defensive attitude and breakdown were a strength, so we have focused on building on that against a strong UQ team.

“UQ will be targeting this game as a chance to get back on track, so we have to be good at our set piece, be physical in the collisions and restrict the opportunities their backline has.”

Fresh from a narrow loss to Easts, the Heavies are looking to return to the winner’s circle this week.

Exciting young backrower Will Roach has been named to start, while former Queensland Reds prop Albert Anae has been named to make his club debut off the bench, strengthening the UQ scrum which faltered against the Tigers pack last round.

“Our key focus this week has been set piece. After reviewing the game we were really disappointed in this area of the game,” assistant coach Elton Berrange said.

“Sunnybank are a really strong XV. I rate both their locks, Masi Ganita and Josh Fenner, they’re athletic, aggressive & skilful.

“Their spine at nine,10 and 12 is also a huge threat with the McNamara brothers and Tom Lucas.

“As a team are really hard on the ball at the breakdown and I reckon they’ll look to that part of the game to slow us down.”

Norths v Wests | Hugh Courtney Oval | 3:30pm

With Norths and Wests both yet to taste victory in 2020, this clash will be hotly contested at Hugh Courtney Oval.

The Eagles have shown positive signs in their first three fixtures, staying in the hunt for all three matches, but have not yet been able to turn their efforts into points.

They were beaten on the bell by Bond last week, coming just seconds away from a memorable victory on the Gold Coast.

Head coach Luke Oxford has made two changes to his side, with star fullback Nick Chapman making his long-awaited return from shoulder surgery.

After a stunning season in 2019, Chapman will bring leadership, experience attacking flair to the Eagles attack as they look to break through for their first win of the year.

Leslie Hills moves into the run-on side and has been named to start at lock alongside former Australian schoolboy Matt Willshire.

Fresh from a bye, the Bulldogs have named an imposing forward pack to take on their northside rivals, with Liam Usher, Bronson Fotualii and Gav Luka packing down in the front row.
Rob Puliuvea and Will Dearden make up an all-NRC second row, while Jerry Skelton, Connor Anderson and Misioka Timoteo round out an impressive set of loose forwards.

In the halves, promising scrumhalf Jacob Carmichael will partner Reds squad member Carter Gordon, who is in his second game back of the year.

Rising star Cooper Whiteside looms as a key attacking threat for the Bulldogs, with the Junior Wallaby’s running game and booming kick presenting a major threat for the home side.

Hugh Courtney Oval will be buzzing for the fixture, as Norths celebrate their Heritage Day.

All of the Eagles players will run on in a Brisbane Barbarians jersey, celebrating the 1995 to 1998 era of the club.

PREMIER RUGBY MATCH DAY STREAMS AND PROGRAM

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QRU