All Aussie affair as McKenzie hits milestone, Brumbies’ almighty swing, Reds-Force battle for home semi-final

The Drua will be sitting on the sidelines this weekend, their spot in the semi-finals likely confirmed as the Aussie sides do battle to confirm the final makeup of Super Rugby Women’s ladder.

However, all sides are still capable of making finals – and all bar one, the top-placed NSW Waratahs – a chance of missing out.

This weekend, the ACT Brumbies will have their last roll of the dice, needing a win to get themselves off the bottom of the ladder and into finals contention as they host the Waratahs.

Following that, the Queensland Reds will battle it out with the Western Force at Ballymore – with the winner likely to earn a home semi-final next week.

See all the team news as it’s revealed below.

(All times are in AEDT)

Friday

ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs,  5:05 pm

The weekend of rugby is set to kick off in brilliant fashion with a doubleheader in Canberra – and knockout footy has come early for the home side.

The Brumbies currently sit in last place and need to pull off a win to get back into finals contention. In an outside chance, if they manage to pull off a bonus point win here and the Force and Reds end in a draw, they can potentially knock the Drua into last place.

Unfortunately, they are playing the side no other Australian team has been able to beat yet.

Andy Friend is pulling out all the stops, with Wallaroo and Sevens star Bienne Terita returning to the starting side on the wing – the move seeing Gabrielle Peterson shift to fullback, with fellow Wallaroo Biola Dawa completing a formidable back three.

The changes continue in the front row, with Wallaroos Sally Fuesaina and Tania Naden back in the starting side. The Brumbies will be clearly aiming to throw everything they have at the Tahs.

The visitors, fresh off the bye that saw them defeat Penina Pasifika 43-12 in their final development game, have stuck with the same side that dispatched the Reds at Ballymore, albeit three new faces on the bench in Jayjay Taylor, potential debutant Martha Harvey and New Zealand import Anahera Hamahona.

This match also signals another milestone, with Wallaroo Arabella McKenzie earning her 25th cap in sky blue.

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BRUMBIES (1-15): Sally Fuesaina, Tania Naden, Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele, Ashley Fernandez, Lily Bone, Siokapesi Palu (c), Chioma Enyi, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Ella Ryan, Faitala Moleka, Biola Dawa, Merania Paraone, Manua Moleka, Bienne Terita, Gabrielle Petersen

Reserves: Katalina Amosa, Lydia Kavoa, Iroha Kishimoto, Easter Savelio, Edwina Munns-Cook, Jay Huriwai, Kyah Little, Ashlea Bishop

WARATAHS (1-15): Bridie O’Gorman, Adiana Talakai, Faliki Pohiva, Annabelle Codey, Kaitlan Leaney, Leilani Nathan, Emily Chancellor, Piper Duck (c), Tatum Bird, Arabella McKenzie, Desiree Miller, Katrina Barker, Georgina Friedrichs, Maya Stewart, Waiaria Ellis

Reserves: Millie Parker, Emily Robinson, Seneti Kilisimasi, Jayjay Taylor, Anahera Hamahona, Martha Harvey, Nicole Nathan, Amelia Whitaker

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Saturday

Queensland Reds v Western Force, 2:05 pm

All roads lead to Ballymore for the final match of the regular season, and it’ll be a beauty. With the Reds firmly back in the competition frame after last year’s wooden spoon, the side will be looking to sure up a home semi-final next week – where they could face the same opposition.

Should the Waratahs cop a surprise loss, this match would then turn into a battle for who finishes top of the table.

The Force holds a slender grasp on the bottom finals place, but a win here could see them climb to second and lock in a home semi-final next week – and with the side developing a formidable record in Perth, it rapidly changes the equation for the competition if they can lock it in – and potentially a shot at a maiden final appearance.

The Reds sit in their way however, and have made two changes to the team that defeated a resilient Brumbies side in Canberra – with Veneta Teutau and Wallaroo veteran Sarah Riordan coming into the set piece.

The Force have copped a few key injuries in the front row, but should arrive at Ballymore with a side stacked with experience, with Wallaroo Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke and Japanese international Megumi Takagi coming into the starting side.

They will also boast international experience on the bench in Madi Schuck, with academy stars Hannah Palelei and Ngamihi Monk also included.

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REDS (1-15): Bree-Anna Browne, Tiarna Molloy, Eva Karpani, Tiarah Minns, Veneta Teutau, Jemma Bemrose (co-c), Carola Kreis, Sarah Riordan, Layne Morgan, Lori Cramer, Ivania Wong (co-c), Shalom Sauaso, Faythe Manera, Caitlin Urwin, Charlotte Caslick

Reserves: Zophronia Setu, Cristo Taufua, Charli Jacoby, Deni Ross, Zoe Hanna, Nat Wright, Carys Dallinger, Piper Flynn

FORCE (1-15): Megumi Takagi, Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Braxton Walker, Sera Naiqama, Michaela Leonard, Tamika Jones, Ashley Marsters, Pia Tapsell; Mio Yamanaka, Grace Freeman, Brooklyn Teki Joyce, Trilleen Pomare (c), Cecilia Smith, Adi Vani Buleki, Sheree Hume

Reserves: Madi Schuck, Hannah Palelei, Alapeta Ngauamo, Rosie Ebbage, Nami Dickson, Nicole Ledington, Ngamihi Monk, Samantha Treherne

Bye – Fijiana Drua