The Super W season has provided us with plenty of tries, some absolute thrashings and, as always, plenty of interstate rivalries. We are now getting to the pointy end of the Super W series, and there have been no big surprises in the results so far. The Waratahs and the Reds have so far again asserted their dominance and proven far too strong for WA, The Brumbies and The winless Rebels.
The Third Round was the most evenly matched and entertaining round so far. The Rebels and WA both scored their first tries of the season, Rebels by way of Sharlene Fagalilo and WA by Brooke Mason. WA didn’t stop there and scored another five tries in this game and won easily in the end with a score of 38 to 10. Although defeated there was a collective sigh of relief to see the Rebels putting in a much better performance on the big stage at AAMI Park.
The match of the season so far was, without a doubt, The Waratahs and The Reds, these two teams are so evenly matched with only a penalty goal separating them. The final result of 15 to 12 showcasing the defensive strength of both teams.
Looking at the weekend ahead Queensland take on the Brumbies and Rugby WA are playing the Waratahs while the Rebels have a bye. So far this season the Brumbies were kept scoreless by NSW in Round 1 and were defeated 0-26, they were then able to keep the Rebels scoreless in Round 2 with a win of 69-0. Despite the impressive performance against the Rebels it would be very difficult to see the Brumbies having an upset over Cramer and her QLD team. In similar circumstances WA have had one win against the Rebels but were beaten convincingly by QLD in Round 2 by 25 points. It would be hard to predict any other result this weekend then a win by the Waratahs and Queensland.
The stand out performances of the season so far have to be by Queensland’s Elisaia, Lefau-Fakaosilea and Wong who between them have scored 13 tries. Whenever QLD have been given an opportunity this season, they have taken it and turned it into something special. The Waratahs have been the only team able to defend strongly enough against QLD at this stage of the season. The very likely Grand Final will be Waratahs and Queensland in NSW and will undoubtedly be another fierce battle.
Queensland v Brumbies
When: Saturday, March 16 at 17:00 (AEST)
Where: Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
TV: LIVE on Kayo and RUGBY.com.au with delayed coverage on FOX SPORTS 503
Queensland:
1. Hana Ngaha, 2. Ivy Kaleta, 3. Ana Fotu, 4. Alisha Hewett, 5. Saxon Campbell, 6. Millie Boyle, 7. Shannon Matom 8. Kiri Lingman (C), 9. Cobie-Jane Morgan, 10. Lavinia Gould, 11. Alana Elisaia, 12. Amy Turner, 13. Cecilia Smith, 14. Emily Bassm, 15. Georgie Friedrichs Reserves 16. Averyl Mitchell, 17. Toa Filimoehala, 18. Maryanne Fuimaono, 19. Vetekina Aho-Fangaloka, 20. Tessa Vaoga, 21. Asako Ono, 22. Eseta Aho-Fangaloka, 23. Ivania Wong
Brumbies:
1. Violeta Tupuola, 2. Louise Burrows, 3. Peta Cox, 4. Emily Sogal, 5. Shellie Millward (C), 6. Michaela Leonard, 7. Georgia O’Neill, 8. Tayla Stanford, 9. Remi Wilton, 10. Carly Hill, 11. Brooke Gilroy, 12. Sammie Wood, 13. Michelle Perry, 14. Darcy Read, 15. Rachael Crothers Reserves 16. Harriet Elleman, 17. Stefanie Stewart-Jones, 18. Anna Korovata, 19. Sammie Maxwell, 20. Sharyn Laws, 21. Jane Garraway, 22. Emily McDonald, 23. Biola Dawa
Rugby WA v NSW Waratahs
When: Sunday, March 17 at 15.30 (AWST)
Where: Curtin University, Perth
TV: LIVE on Kayo and RUGBY.com.au
Rugby WA:
1. Brooke Mason, 2. Darryl Wickliffe, 3. Terehia Cooper, 4. Kateraina Ahipene, 5. Rebecca Clough, 6. Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, 7. Tara Reed (c), 8. Katherine Outred, 9. Zion Taurima, 10. Trilleen Pomare, 11. Dallys Tini, 12. Huia Swannell, 13. Ariana Hira-Herangi, 14. Claudia Nielsen, 15. Mhicca Carter Reserves: 16. Ash Temple, 17. Sera Ah-Sam, 18.Raewyn Tuheke, 19. Claudia Foster, 20. Taylor Waterson, 21. Caitlin Burt-Poloai, 22. Katie Barnes, 23. Tui Cope
NSW Waratahs:
1. Emily Robinson, 2. Tasmin Sheppard, 3. Evelyn Horomia, 4. Noella Green, 5. Sera Naiqama, 6. Alexandra Sulusi (vc), 7. Emily Chancellor, 8. Grace Hamilton (vc), 9. Iliseva Batibasaga, 10. Chloe Leaupepe, 11. Shanice Parker, 12. Katrina Barker, 13. Crystal Maguire, 14. Maya Stewart, 15. Ashleigh Hewson (c) Reserves: 16. Melissa Fatu, 17. Loretta Mailangi, 18. Asoiva Karpani, 19. Jemima Henry, 20. Pareake O’Brien, 21. Arabella McKenzie, 22. Kennedy Cherrington, 23. Kirrily Laws
