McInness Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City name Round 7 team for Canberra clash

McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City Head Coach Mick Heenan has made six changes to his starting side for Sunday’s must-win National Rugby Championship (NRC) clash against the Canberra Vikings at Easts Rugby Club in Brisbane.
 
The most noticeable addition is hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa who returns to the Brisbane City squad fresh from national duties with the Wallabies during their tour of South Africa and Argentina.
 
Ruan Smith will join his twin brother JP in the front-row after recovering from an ankle injury, while Pat Morrey replaces the injured Matt Gicquel at flanker.
 
In the backs, Scott Gale will start in the number nine jersey against Canberra, with Jayden Ngamanu and Lawson Creighton both recalled into the XV at wing and fullback respectively.
 
Heenan has also made three changes to the reserves, with Fraser McReight back in the 23 this week, while both Feao Fotuaika and Moses Sorovi find themselves out of the starting side and on the bench for Sunday’s match.
 
City currently sit 5th on the NRC ladder – just one competition-point behind the fourth-placed Vikings.
 
With a spot in the 2018 Finals Series up for grabs, Heenan knows everything is on the line this weekend.
 
“We copped a brutal draw with the Force and Fiji in the first two weeks, but we’ve really worked hard to get ourselves back in contention,” said Heenan.
 
“It’s been must-win for us since Round 3 so we’re used to that. We probably didn’t deal with that too well last week and after we got behind in that game we got a bit a tense, so we really need to work on our mindset and just make sure we’re able to play our game.
 
“It’s handy getting Brandon back and Ruan – that’s huge for us, both of them have performed well for us through the year.
 
“The Vikings are a professional team and as you would expect have a pretty even side across the park without any real weaknesses – they’ve got a good forward pack, good maul and they’ve got a group of pretty efficient backs. They’re a quality outfit so we know we have to play well to compete with them.
 
“We love going to the home grounds. We’ve only had three home games this year, but it’s been great to get to Norths and Wests and now Easts,” Heenan added.
 
Sunday’s match against the Vikings will be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports at 2:00pm (AEST) from David Wilson Field at Easts Rugby Club in Brisbane.


McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City team to play Canberra Vikings at 2:00pm (AEST) Sunday 14 October – David Wilson Field, Easts Rugby Club
 
1. JP. Smith – Reds/GPS
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa – Reds/Sunnybank
3. Ruan Smith – Reds/GPS
4. Zach Moimoi – Bond University
5. Nathan Den Hoedt - Sunnybank
6. Adam Korczyk – Reds/University of Queensland ©
7. Pat Morrey – University of Queensland
8. Sam Wallis – University of Queensland
9. Scott Gale – University of Queensland
10. Quade Cooper – Reds/Souths
11. Jayden Ngamanu – Reds/Souths
12. Matt Gordon – Easts
13. Tautalatasi Tasi – Souths
14. Con Foley – University of Queensland
15. Lawson Creighton – Brothers (NRC/Brisbane City starting debut)
 
16. David Paice – Souths
17. Misioka Timotea – Wests
18. Feao Fotuaika – Souths
19. Tuaina Tualima – Sunnybank
20. Fraser McReight - Brothers
21. Moses Sorovi –Reds/Wests
22. James Dalgleish – University of Queensland
23. Jaye Thompson – GPS