Melbourne Rising V Perth Spirit, 11 September @ AAMI

[Train Without a Station]

Jeez I even threw in a current Waratah so it would be relevant to you.

Yes the best players should be playing but the limit of 16 players stops teams warehousing players. The only team that has 3 Super Rugby players in one position is the Rising and it's because apparently Meehan was unwanted by other teams.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

If part of the Western Force's plan for 2015 is that they limit the travel of some of their players then that seems perfectly reasonable.

It's not ideal but it's hardly unexpected.

The Super Rugby players are part of their squad and will be training (if healthy) even if they're not selected each week.

Plenty of the other teams are limiting the involvement of Super Rugby players as well.

Yep fair enough but, isn't it a shame that they decide to rest their best players on one of the weeks their game is on the telly? I'd like to think that all of the teams are on board when it comes to showing off the quality of the NRC.

I actually expected Rising to rest a couple more players this week but they have pretty close to a full strength team.

 

[Braveheart81]

Yes. I would agree with that. It would be nice if they'd picked some more Super Rugby players for the TV game.

That said, maybe they have a couple of injuries and certainly some of their Wallabies who had been released in one previous game are now playing for the Wallabies or not released (Godwin).

 

[Bairdy]

8-0 to the Spirit after 14 minutes.

Seems like the Spirit might cope ok without most of their Super Rugby players

 

[Bairdy]

25 minutes gone. 8-8
Try scorers: Alex Rovira (Spirit), Lopeti Timani (Rising)
Conversions 1/1 for Holmes and Debreczeni

 

[qwerty51]

Stop interviewing tryscorers for fuck sake

 

[RugbyReg]

Stop interviewing tryscorers for fuck sake

Why?

 

[qwerty51]

It's stupid, the players can barely put words together as they're all out of breath, there's a 5 second window and there's no insight at all

 

[masai]

Jonah Placid's got some serious explosiveness. That right foot step to set up the try is on par with the best of Quade Cooper.

Devastating to see him go off injured from the same play. Really hope he doesn't go the way of Toua, et al.

 

[Bairdy]

Half time: 18-8 to the Rising

 

[kiap]

Perth are scrapping well but Melbourne are just playing a heavier game.

 

[Brian Westlake]

Keep em coming please as I am stuck in a hotel with either Mungo or cross country volleyball (AFL) on... If there was a sharp knife???? aaarrgghhh Scores please!!!!

 

[kiap]

Turner kicks ahead and Brad Lacey runs in under the posts for the Spirit!

18 - 16 @ 48 mins

 

[Brian Westlake]

Thanks @Kiap

 

[Bairdy]

Brad Lacey chases a Turner box kick and snatches a run-against-the-play try, 18-16 Rising

And a yellow card to the Spirit. Could turn ugly here.

 

[kiap]

Bliminell

YC for Spirit (lock Brent Murphy ?) dangerous tackle

 

[Bairdy]

Spirit exhibiting spirit on defence. Absolutely gutsy

 

[kiap]

And a yellow card to the Spirit. Could turn ugly here.

Yep scrum being dished up.

 

[kiap]

26 - 16 @ 56

Poor old Spirit's scrum is put under pressure with their man in the bin.

 

[Ash]

Last 20 may be painful for the Spirit as the Rising look much fitter.