Ex-Wallabies wing to face Reds in battle for Saitama Queensland Shield

Former Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete headlines the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights’ starting side to take on the Queensland Reds this weekend, with the Saitama Queensland Shield on the line in Brisbane.

Koroibete suited up for the Melbourne Rebels against the Reds on April 3, 2021, before leaving Australia’s shores to take up a deal in Japan, and the two-time John Eales Medallist has been with the Wild Knights ever since.

Former Hurricanes midfielder Vince Aso and Chiefs backrower Lachlan Boshier also feature in the Wild Knights’ starting side, who will look to claim the Shield in their annual capped fixture against the Reds, this time at Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium.

Coach Atsushi Kanazawa has selected Craig Millar at loosehead prop, joining Atsushi Sakate and Asaeli Ai Valu in the front row. Ockie Barnard and Esei Haangana round out the tight five, packing down as the locking duo.

Boshier lines up at openside flanker, joining Ryota Hasegawa and Viliami Kaipouli in a formidable loose forwards combination. Shu Hagihara and Takuya Yamasawa link the forwards and the backs as the halves pairing.

Aso will combine with Hayata Taniyama in the centres, with Koroibete on the left wing and Koki Takeyama on the right. Tom Parton is the final name on the starting team sheet, selected by coach Kanazawa at fullback.

“We are expecting a different game to Toowoomba, a fierce contest as has been the pattern since the Reds and Wild Knights began these annual games in 2022,” Reds coach Les Kiss said this week.

“It excites us that this game at our home at Ballymore will be the setting for Reds debuts for Treyvon, Vaiuta and others.

“It deepens the value of these games even more when you see the players who have played their debut game for the Reds against the Wild Knights.”

The Reds take on the ACT Brumbies in a Super Rugby U16s match at 10am local time, before the Reds and Wild Knights contest the Saitama Queensland Shield from 1:30 pm AEST. There will then be a watch party on the big screen at Ballymore for Wallabies versus Japan from 3:50 pm.

Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights to take on Queensland Reds

1. Craig Millar
2. Atsushi Sakate
3. Aseali Ai Valu
4. Ockie Barnard
5. Esei Haangana
6. Ryota Hasegawa
7. Lachlan Boshier
8. Viliami Kaipouli
9. Shu Hagihara
10. Takuya Yamasawa
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Vince Aso
13. Hayata Taniyama
14. Koki Takeyama
15. Tom Parton

Replacements

16. Shunsuke Nunomaki
17. Keita Inagaki
18. Lisala Fifita
19. Liam Mitchell
20. Itsuki Onishi
21. Kum Su Lee
22. Maurice Marks
23. Takaya Saito