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Queensland Country host the North Harbour Rays in the National Rugby Championship curtain-raiser to the Wallabies’ Test tonight, and it should be another great contest.
Join The Roar for live scores and a call of the action from 5:00pm AEST.
Note that the game is streamed live courtesy of the Queensland Rugby Union. It can be viewed at the Reds’ website. Once on the site, scroll down one page and you will see the video on the right side of the browser.
The North Harbour Rays have had a tough draw so far. In Round 1, they played against the game busters and ladder leader Melbourne Rising. Their second game in Round 3 was against the second placed NSW Country Eagles, who are also undefeated. Queensland Country have so far hosted and lost to the NSW Country Eagles, while last week they were five points off the mark against the Vikings, so both teams are playing for their first win in the competition.
Player Watch
For this match, Queensland Country boasts a few more experienced Super Rugby and Wallaby capped players than the Rays. This includes Saia Fainga’a, Greg Holmes, Beau Robinson, Captain Anthony Fainga’a and JJ Taulagi.
The Rays’ Super Rugby team members include winger Cam Crawford who will move from the Waratahs to the Rebels next year.
118kg lock Captain Greg Peterson from the Waratahs is joined by Waratahs extended squad member Matt Lucas and Brumby Luke Holmes. Other impact players include fly-half Hamish Angus, who was best and fairest in 2014 Shute Shield. Another is backrow hitman Michael Wells from Northern Suburbs.
Last week, both Angus and Wells opened scoring within a minute of each other. The Rays may look to repeat this performance today.
Match Ups
The Rays have announced the inclusion of 110kg loose head prop, Dane Maraki. He will battle with tight head prop assassin and Greg Holmes. The rest of the starting pack remains unchanged. The Reds have changed two members at the front, with the promotion of GPS loose head prop Fred Burke and the availability of Reds hooker Saia Fainga’a, who was released from the Wallabies camp.
If the Rays are able to match Queensland Country’s pack, their dynamic halves Matt Lucas and Hamish Angus will look to use open spaces and score points. Sam Grasso from Queensland GPS steps in for injured Reds Scott Gale. This flyhalf partner Matt Brandon, who is playing his third game this season who is also covering for injured Matt Lucas’ older brother Ben.
Both team’s backs have the skill to finish off raids on either side of the pitch. But the match will be won up front – something the Rays will need to step up in order to notch their first victory.
The winner will left themselves off from the bottom ranks of the ladder. The loser stays there. Who do you think is going to win?
Join The Roar from 5:10 on Saturday before the Wallabies and we’ll find out.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.