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Australian Schoolboys to face Fiji Under 18 in Bledisloe Cup curtain raiser
September 11, 2008 - 4:59pm
Story by: ARU
The Australian Schoolboys face Fiji Under 18 in an exciting curtain raiser to Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup clash in Brisbane.
The Australian Schoolboy’s Rugby Union team will take on the FijiUnder 18 side on Saturday afternoon in a match that will act as the curtain raiser for the highly anticipated Tri Nation’s Cup decider between the Wallabies and the All Blacks at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
This is the first time that a Schoolboys’ Test match will serve as the curtain raiser to an international match in Australia, and it also marks the 35th anniversary of the first Schoolboys international in Australia.
Australia has only encountered Fiji at a schoolboy level twice before. In 2003 Australia hosted the tourists and won the match 17-12 at Sydney’s St Ignatius College, Riverview.
Three years later it was the Fijian’s turn to show some Pacific hospitality, but despite the home ground advantage the result was a familiar one with the Australian Schoolboys triumphing 10-3 in Lautoka.
This time round the Fijian’s are aiming to reverse the previous results and take victory on the biggest stage possible.
Fiji started their 4 match tour schedule last Wednesday with a 40-10 victory over the NSW Combined High Schools Team at Granville Park, they also unearthed a wonderful talent for the future of Fijian Rugby in the form of fullback Seru Nakaitaci.
Fiji’s second tour match however was a completely different proposition as they came up against an impressive Australia‘A’ Schools side at a rain soaked Knox Grammar. Fiji were completely outclassed in testing conditions by a side that was made up of players who were all pushing for a spot on the Australian Schools 1st XV bench for the Brisbane match. Fiji lost the match 30-7.
In their penultimate match of the tour against the ISA XV at Chevalier College, Bowral, Fiji got right back on track with a stunning 36-0, including six tries, victory.
The Australian Schoolboys Test performances have been brilliant of late with the side last tasting defeat in 2006 against their New Zealand counterparts 13-21. An undefeated 2007 campaign saw them beat the English Schoolboys for the first time 11-3 in Sydney, dispose of Samoa 51-9, and exact revenge for their loss one year earlier by beating New Zealand 21-5 at St Josephs College in Sydney.
By attending the Schoolboys match fans will undoubtedly be witnessing some of the future stars of Australian Rugby. Of the current crop of Wallabies - Phil Waugh, George Smith, Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Matthew Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Hugh McMenamin, Tatafu Polata-Nau, Benn Robinson, Lachie Turner, Dean Mumm and Nathan Sharpe all graduated from the Australian Schoolboy team
And as an extra bonus coming to the game early will guarantee a stress free arrival ensuring ticketholders are able to secure a car park and locate their seats without forming a scrum of their own at the gates.
Australian Schools V Fiji U18
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday September 13, 2009
Kick-off 5.50pm
Australian Schools
1. Salesi Manu (St Augustines College, NSW)
2. Sam Roberson (St Stanislaus College, Bathurst, NSW)
3. Josh Daley (The Southport School, Qld)
4. Nic Buchanan (St Josephs College, Gregory Terrace Qld)
5. Mark Johnson (Knox Grammar School, NSW)
6. Josh Ellice-Flint (The Kings School, NSW)
7. Kotoni Ale (St Augustines College, NSW)
8. Jarrad Butler (The Southport School, Qld)
9. Justin Turner (Central College, W.A.)
10. Robbie Coleman (St Edmunds College, ACT)
11. Nicky Price (St Josephs College Nudgee, Qld)
12. Michael McDougall (The Kings School, NSW)
13. Cameron Mitchell (The Kings School, NSW)
14. Dom Shipperley (St Josephs College, Nudgee)
15. Tyler Stephens (St Edmunds College, ACT)
Reserves:
16. David Feao (Brisbane State High, Qld)
17. Siliva Siliva (Narre Warren South College, Qld)
18. Dylan Brass (The Kings School, NSW)
19. Luke Jones (St Pius X College, NSW)
20. Colby Faingaa (St Edmund’s College, ACT) That's the third Faingaa brother in rugby.
21. Eddie Bredanhann (Anglican Church Grammar School, Qld)
22. Stefano Hunt (St Joseph's College Nudgee, Qld)
23. Tim Bennetts (Pennant Hills High School, NSW)
Fiji Under 18
1. Semesa Turagabeci (Lelean Memorial School)
2. Solomone Yadrekana (Lelean Memorial School)
3. Jone Kuruinabili (Lomawai)
4. Pio Vakavosaki (Natabua)
5. Manoa Ragigia (Ratu Kadavulevu School)
6. Tevita Navuda (Natabua)
7. Jeke Tuirara (C) (Ratu Kadavulevu School)
8. Saviriano Shaw (Ratu Kadavulevu School)
9. Aisake Luveniyali (Queen Victoria School)
10. Ratu Meli Kurisaru (Lelean Memorial School)
11. Nasoni Naquru (Sgtk Methodist)
12. Sakiusa Gavidi (Ratu Kadavulevu School)
13. Iliesa Salusalu (Vc) (Queen Victoria School)
14. Semesa Qiolele (Ratu Kadavulevu School)
15. Seru Nakaitaci (Ratu Kadavulevu School)
Reserves:
16. Kulinio Sikitoro (Ratu Kadavulevu School)
17. Teteki Tieke (Rabi High School)
18. Saimone Tagitagivalu (Lelean Memorial School)
19. Apenisa Waqawai (Nasinu)
20. Vatemo Avouvou (Ratu Navula College)
21. Apimeleki Mocekula (Labasa College)
22. Napolioni Vuetibula (Marist Brothers High School)
23. Aporosa Kenatale (Ratu Kadavulevu School)
rugby.com.au | Australian Schoolboys to face Fiji Under 18 in Bledisloe Cup curtain raiser
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