Souths go big as they try to end Sydney Uni’s winning run
By MARK CASHMAN
Waratahs squad member Andrew Tuala and Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco have been selected in the starting team that travels to Sydney Uni to take on the Students in the Shute Shield match of the round on Saturday – live on Stan Sport.
The robust Tuala has been one of Souths form players of the past couple of months combining a great running game with good set piece skills and along with Warren-Vosayaco will be central to the game plan to try and stop Uni.
Warren-Vosayaco has been selected in a Rebels backrow that include Josh Bokser and Phil Potgeiter and it’s obvious that they will try and come at Uni up front.
Play for field position and grind away, not unalike their 32-31 win in Round Five of last year’s COVID-19 affected competition.
That win was a good six minutes past regulation time and Souths rolled in a try from a line out that gave their season considerable momentum until injuries crippled their playoff hopes.
Souths are coming off the bye and coach Todd Louden has selected a monster pack along with a backline that is getting better with every outing together.
Uni coach Phil Blake has taken a steady as she goes approach after their 26-5 win over Gordon last weekend.
The only new face in the starting team is Charlie Hancock who comes in for Tom Osborne, while flyhalf Daniel Poletto will again run the machine in the No.10 jersey.
At Norths, coach Zak Beer has been forced to tweak his backline following head knocks to key backline stars, skipper Harry Burey and flyhalf Angus Sinclair.
Both will be missing against Randwick at Coogee, but Beer does have the luxury of moving Max Burey to flyhalf and calling up Tauteau Taufa to the midfield.
Up front new recruit Apolosi Ranawai will start at tight head prop after impressing in his time on the field last weekend against the Rats.
There will also be the presence of Tahs squad member Jack Whetton in the second row and the promise of having Hugh Sinclair after the bye to take on Uni.
Eastwood will start Tane Edmed in the No.10 jersey when they take on Manly at TG Millner Field on Saturday.
They will be missing Matt Gonzalez at the front end of this game and that has given coach Ben Batger the chance to give Josh Noonan some serious Shute Shield time after good form in reserves.
Gordon have named Joey Walton at flyhalf for their match against the Hunter Wildfires at Chatswood on Saturday.
The No.10 jersey has been hard to fill for coach Brian Melrose with injuries and various rep commitments changing the goal posts from week to week.
Interestingly they haven’t named a tight head prop in either first or reserves at this stage.
At Warringah Harrison Courtney and Rory Suttor will get chances at the front end of the game against the Two Blues at Rat Park.
The Two Blues have pulled out of the Colin Caird Shield competition in what must be a major blow to their chances of meeting the participation agreement for next year’s competition.
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