Queensland Country v UC Vikings
When: Thursday 15 October, 7.30pm AEDT
Where: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Match Referee: Graham Cooper
Assistant Referees: Rohan Hoffmann, Jordan Way
TMO: Greg Milne
Broadcast Information: LIVE on FOX SPORTS 502
2015 Canberra Vikings Form Guide: BWWWWWWL
2015 Queensland Country Form Guide: LLLWLWBL
Last Time They Met: 6 September 2014; UC Vikings 26 defeated Queensland Country 21; Viking Park, Canberra
Match Notes: The Vikings' 100% start to the season ended last week with defeat at home to Brisbane City. The Vikings need to win and hope Brisbane City slip up against the Greater Sydney Rams to secure the minor premiership. Captain Jarrad Butler is the competition's second top try scorer with seven.
Whats at Stake?:
They will host a final in either 1st or 2nd place. The Minor Premiership is at stake, but they require results the Brisbane City v Rams to go their way to achieve that.
Win: Win with a BP and if Brisbane lose to Rams, the Minor Premiership will be the Vikings. If Brisbane lose with a BP, then Vikings must win by more than 14 points to take the Minor Premiership. If Brisbane win, then Vikings stay in the Silver Medal position regardless of the outcome of this match. If Brisbane Draw with Rams, then Vikings must win with a BP (3 tries for the BP is more than the 14 PD needed) to claim Minor Premiership bragging rights.
Lose: The Minor Premiership will be Brisbane City's.
Draw: The Minor Premiership will be Brisbane City's.
No show at making the play offs
Win: If the Vikings lose to Country, then QCountry are out of the running.
Draw: Country move to 11 points equal with Rays, and Rams if they latter manage to defeat Brisbane City without a BP, and Rays lose against the Eagles by more than 8. In this highly unlikely scenario, it will be a scrap over F & A, and Country are not looking good as they will stay on -72.
Lose: It's Hello my little Friend if Rams defeat BCity. If Rams draw with BCity, then QCountry must get a losing BP in round 9 to avoid the Wrong Premiership.
G&GR Preview (@RugbyReg) says: http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-round-9-preview/
This match won’t have much (any ?) on the final ladder as Canberra are secure in 2nd spot and will host a final. There is still a chance for them to put themselves in an even better spot by winning and winning well, and then hoping that Brisbane has a shock loss to the Rams. The Vikings have opted to rest some of their key players including Christian Lealiifano and Ita Vaea whilst giving some of their youngsters a shot. If it all goes pear shaped however they still have the likes of Alexander, Smiler, Powell and Fainifo on the bench to try to right the wrongs.
For Queensland Country they will be determined to avoid the wooden spoon and record their third win of the season. Unfortunately all the good work they showed in a hard fought win over the Eagles a couple of weeks ago was undone with a thrashing at the hands of the Rays last weekend. This will be a homecoming for a handful of the Country lads as the game is to played at one of the best regional stadiums in Australia on the Sunshine Coast. Haydn Hirsimaki and Conor Mitchell both played their early rugby on the coast and are sure to be well supported by friends and family.
Key Matchups:
Check out the battle at scrum time and most notably the matchup between Country Loose Head Prop, Haydn Hirsinaki, and Viking Tight Head Prop, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin. The two are a couple of the shorter front rowers going around at 175cm and 174cm respectively, but both have immense power. The Country lads have relied heavily on their scrum this year and will see it as a big edge in their clash with the Vikings. The Vikings are no slouches however and their battle up front with Brisbane last week was epic.
At flyhalf we have two of Queensland’s brightest young playmakers facing off against each other in Sam Greene and Mitch Third. Whilst Greene has secured a contract with the Reds for next year, and has been a stand out player of the competition, Third had hoped his time with the Vikings may provided him a leg up into the Brumbies organisation. The signing of Nicolas Jooste from out west perhaps murkies the water in that regard, but Third will see his selection as a big chance to show his wares to important people in both states.
Teams:
1. Allan Ala'alatoa
2. Robbie ABEL
3. Leslie LEULUA'IALI'I-MAKIN
4. Rory ARNOLD
5. Blake ENEVER
6. Dean OAKMAN-HUNT
7. Rowan PERRY
8. Jarrad BUTLER
9. Brent HAMLIN
10. Mitch THIRD
11. Lausii TALIAULI
12. Rodney IONA
13. Nigel AH WONG
14. James DARGAVILLE
15. Isaac THOMPSON
16. Albert ANAE
17. Sione TAULA
18. Ben ALEXANDER
19. Jordan SMILER
20. Dan PENCA
21. Joe POWELL
22. Jake RAKIC
23. Francis FAINIFO
1. Haydn HIRSIMAKI
2. Alex MAFI
3. Sef FA'AGASE
4. Milton SIKUEA
5. Phil POTGIETER
6. Tyrell BARKER
7. Maclean JONES
8. James TURNER
9. James TUTTLE
10. Sam GREENE
11. Pierce FITZGERALD
12. Tyrone LEFAU
13. Campbell MAGNAY
14. Tom PINCUS
15. Tom BANKS
16. Campbell WAKELY
17. Reuben LEILUA
18. Taniela TUPOU
19. Richie ARNOLD
20. Conor MITCHELL
21. Scott MALOLUA
22. Dion TAUMATA
23. Mack MASON
