Houston to start for Aust A against Maori
QR Reds No.8 Leroy Houston has been called in to the Australia A starting side for the Pacific Nations Cup title decider against the New Zealand Maori at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday.
The 1.89m, 117kg, 21 year old replaces fellow Reds forward Hugh McMeniman, who is now on the bench for the Wallabies after Nathan Sharpe was ruled out of Saturday night’s Test against France in Brisbane due to a groin injury.
With Houston’s elevation, Western Force flanker Richard Brown moves from No. 8 to open side flanker, while the Brumbies Mitchell Chapman has been called up as cover on the bench.
"If Hugh doesn’t have more than 20 minutes on the field against France for the Wallabies he’ll fly back from Brisbane to Sydney on Sunday morning and take his spot on the bench for us. So we have bracketed Mitchell and Hugh on the bench for that reason,” said coach Phil Mooney.
The adjusted Australia A team is:
1. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
2. Sean Hardman* (QR Reds)
3. Guy Shepherdson * (Brumbies)
4. Al Campbell* (Brumbies)
5. Peter Kimlin (Brumbies)
6. Richard Brown (Western Force)
7. Julian Salvi (Brumbies)
8. Leroy Houston (QR Reds)
9. Brett Sheehan* (NSW Waratahs)
10. Daniel Halangahu (NSW Waratahs)
11. Digby Ioane* (QR Reds)
12. Timana Tahu (NSW Waratahs)
13. Morgan Turinui* (QR Reds)(Captain)
14. Drew Mitchell* (Western Force)
15. Mark Gerrard* (Brumbies)
Reserves
16. John Ulugia (Brumbies)
17. Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies)
18. Van Humphries (QR Reds)
19. Hugh McMeniman* (QR Reds)/Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies)
20. Ben Lucas (QR Reds)
21. Sam Norton-Knight* (NSW Waratahs)
22. Matt Carraro (NSW Waratahs)
* denotes capped Wallaby
