Leroy Houston to start against New Zealand Maori
July 04, 2008 - 10:30am
Story by: ARU
Young Queensland Reds No.8 Leroy Houston has been called up to the starting line up for Australia A 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 has been called up to replace fellow Queensland Reds loose forward Hugh McMeniman who has been called up to the Qantas Wallabies due to Nathan Sharpe being ruled out of Saturday night’s Test against France in Brisbane due to a groin injury suffered on Thursday in training.
Houston’s elevation sees a re-shuffling of the backrow with Richard Brown moving from No. 8 to blind side flanker.
The Brumbies Mitchell Chapman, who impressed during the Super 14, has been called up as cover on the bench but he may not be required depending on how much game time McMeniman has for the Wallabies.
“Mitchell’s been placed on the bench” explained Australia A coach Phil Mooney, “but if Hugh doesn’t have more than twenty 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.
The adjusted Australia A team is below. The NZ Maori are expected to name their team on Friday.
Tickets are available through Ticketek – www.ticketek.com.au
Australia A team to play NZ Maori
IRB Pacific Nations Cup – Round 5
Sydney Football Stadium
Sunday, 6 July
Kick off: 2:05pm
1. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
2. Sean Hardman* (Queensland 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 (Queensland Reds)
9. Brett Sheehan* (NSW Waratahs)
10. Daniel Halangahu (NSW Waratahs)
11. Digby Ioane* (Queensland Reds)
12. Timana Tahu (NSW Waratahs)
13. Morgan Turinui* (Queensland Reds)(Captain)
14. Drew Mitchell* (Western Force)
15. Mark Gerrard* (Brumbies)
Reserves
16. John Ulugia (Brumbies)
17. Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies)
18. Van Humphries (Queensland Reds)
19. Hugh McMeniman* (Queensland Reds)/Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies)
20. Ben Lucas (Queensland Reds)
21. Sam Norton-Knight* (NSW Waratahs)
22. Matt Carraro (NSW Waratahs)
* denotes capped Wallaby
The Australia A program is proudly supported by the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing
