How good is this round of the NRC? A Thursday night epic live on FOX SPORTS. A couple of cracking games on Saturday taken to venues that don’t usually get to host high class rugby, and then the Horan Little Shield back at Ballymore (plus a World Record attempt) on Sunday. The Rugby World Cup may kick off this weekend in the UK, but there’s plenty of quality rugby on here in Australia as well. Bring it on!
Canberra Vikings v Sydney Stars
Thursday 17 September at Viking Park (Canberra). Kick off 7:30pm
With the 2nd placed Vikings hosting the 3rd placed Stars, there is a different complexion to this match when compared to when these teams faced each other last year. In 2014 these teams also faced off in Round 5 and it was to be an interesting matchup. The Stars entered that game having not won a game, whilst the Vikings were travelling along pretty healthily with just one close loss. The 37-all draw would be the Stars first points of the NRC, whilst the Vikings would not enjoy success for the rest of the season.
Move forward a year and the Vikings are undefeated and looking almost unstoppable, whilst the Stars have only just suffered their first loss of the season. Canberra have been able to strengthen their side for this round’s match via test players Christian Lealiifano and Ben Alexander, whilst the Stars’ depth is being put under pressure through a number of injuries.
Key Match ups:
Two-time GAGR ‘Team of the Weeker’, Matt Philip, has been one of the form forwards of the NRC so far, providing a consistency of performance whilst the Star’s pack has chopped and changed around him. This week he faces an unsung hero of the dominant Vikings pack, in former Queensland Red, Blake Enever. The Vikings will field probably the strongest lineout in the competition this week (against a team with a prop in the 2nd row) and Enever will be at the heart of it. Add to that his excellent work rate around the field and Enever is relishing in his starting role for the Canberra outfit.
Fresh from scoring a brace of tries for the Stars in their hard fought loss to the Eagles last week, Harry Jones will come up against and equally adept finisher in Lausii Taliauli of the Vikings. Whilst the quick-footed Taliauli hasn’t scored the number of tries the fleet-footed Jones has, both players are key attacking options for their respective sides and important finishers for any half chances that may come their way.
2015 Form:
Vikings – BWWW
Stars – WWWL
Tip: Vikings by 16
Vikings: 1. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Robbie Abel, 3. Ben Alexander, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Jordan Smiler, 7. Jarrad Butler (c), 8. Ita Vaea,9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Lausii Taliuali, 12. Rodney Iona, 13. Nigel Ah Wong, 14. James Dargaville, 15. Isaac Thompson
16. Albert Anae, 17. Sione Taula, 18. Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 19. Dean Oakman-Hunt, 20. Rowan Perry, 21. Brent Hamlin, 22. Mitch Third, 23. Frankie Fainifo
Stars: 1. Tolu Latu, 2. Tom Coolican, 3. Matt Sandell, 4. Jeremy Tilse, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Michael Kovacic, 7. Ofa Finau, 8. Mitchell Whiteley, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Jordan McGregor, 11. Harry Jones, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Jim Stewart, 14. John Hale, 15. Tom Kingston (C)
16. Declan Moore, 17. Alastair Ryan, 18. Alasdair King, 19. Nick Coldrake, 20. Jake Wainwright, 21. Richard Draper, 22. Christian Kagiassis, 23. Andrew Robinson
Melbourne Rising v Greater Sydney Rams
Saturday 19 September at LaTrobe City Stadium (Morwill). Kick off 2:00pm
The Rams sit winless and second last on the ladder with only an additional losing bonus point allowing them to sit above the Perth Spirit who remain in the wooden spoon position. Whilst the Rising are by no means the steam train of success they were last year, currently siting in fourth spot, there is no doubt that this Greater Sydney team will be up against it in Morwill on Saturday arvo.
Unable to get up over the also struggling Queensland Country outfit last week, the Rams will be facing a refreshed Rising team after a bye in Round 4, and potentially welcoming back some pretty handy international standard reinforcements.
Key Match ups:
Jed Holloway played his first match for the Rams this season against QLD Country last weekend and it was like he hadn’t even been away. Holloway was able to impose his physicality and work rate onto the game, despite a lack of recent game time. His battle with the big man Lopeti Timani, returning for his first NRC match of the season, will be important, however the Rams backrow will need to step up as a unit to match it with the Rising combination.
For Rising fans who were worried about the loss of 2014 stand out Nic Stirzaker, the form of Ben Meehan has been a revelation. If he can use this as a launching pad for the 2016 Super Rugby season the Rebels are going to have a killer 1-2 combination at the base of the scrum. Standing in front of Meehan this weekend will be DeWet Roos, one of the stand out Rams players this season. An abrasive number 9, if Roos can put the pressure on Meehan for 80 minutes, it may inhibit this Rising backline from fully igniting.
2015 Form:
Rising – WLWB
Rams – LBLL
Tip: Rising by 16
Rising: 1. Cruze Ah-Nau, 2. Pat Leafa, 3. Duncan Chubb, 4. Sam Jeffries, 5. Steve Cummins, 6. Jordy Reid, 7. Colby Fainga’a (C), 8. Lopeti Timani, 9. Ben Meehan, 10. Jack Debreczeni, 11. Stacey Ili, 12. Lloyd Johansson, 13. Dom Shipperley, 14. Filipe Vilitati, 15. Jonah Placid
16. Mitch Andrews, 17. Fereti Sa’aga, 18. Tom Moloney, 19. Luke Jones, 20. Scott Fuglistaller, 21. Maradona Farao, 22. Sione Tuipulotu, 23. Tom English
Rams: 1. Jed Gillespie 2. Hugh Roach, 3. Cam Betham, 4 .Fili Tufui, 5. Marcus Carbone, 6 .Kelly Meafau, 7. Cohen Masson, 8. Jed Holloway (C), 9. Dewet Roos, 10. Jai Ayoub, 11. Brad Curtis, 12. Michael McDougall, 13. Paul Asquith, 14. Nick Batger, 15. Brenden Hartmann
16. Cameron Orr, 17. Siliva Silivia, 18. Sam Needs, 19. Will Munro, 20. Jono Hayes, 21. Taylor Adams, 22. Rohan Saifoloi, 23. Jordan Heyer
Queensland Country v Perth Spirit
Saturday 19 September at Victoria Park (Rockhampton). Kick off 6:00pm
Queensland Country are on a high having recorded their first victory of the season whilst on the road last weekend over the Greater Sydney Rams. This week they are heading out on the road again, albeit for a home game at Rugby Park in Rockhampton where they will host the winless Perth Spirit.
Whilst winless they are, hopeless this Spirit side definitely isn’t having had close losses to the top two teams in the competition (Brisbane City and Canberra Vikings) so far. Last weekend they went down to the Vikings after an after the siren conversion attempt missed and denied them a chance to snag two points for the draw. Queensland Country’s win was thanks largely to a Man of the Match performance by flyhalf Sam Greene and they’ll him to reproduce the goods again, with more support from his team mates to keep the Spirit winless for another week.
Key Match ups:
Yeah sure this is a competition for the young up and comers to show their wares on the big stage. But keep an eye out for the battle between (almost) veterans Saia Fainga’a and Heath Tessman at hooker this weekend. Tessman was in top form in the first two rounds before being ‘compulsorily rested’ and must be due back for this game, whilst Saia’s experience is vital in this inexperienced Country outfit.
Further out Kyle Godwin should also be returning for the Spirit in the centres and may well find himself up against the bullocking form of Matt Gordon. Gordon has been in and out of this Country team, but with injuries to Ant Fainga’a and Chris Feauai-Sautia, Gordon will be looking to keep a hold of the 12 jersey for the rest of the season. Godwin, however, continues to be rotated in and out when you would have thought this would be just the type of competition needed for him to regain the form that saw him tour with the Wallabies in recent years.
2015 Form:
QLD Country – LLLW
Spirit – LLLL
Tip: Country by 3
QLD Country: 1. Haydn Hirsimaki, 2. Saia Fainga’a, 3. Sef Fa’agase, 4. Tyrell Barker, 5. Sam Reiser, 6. James Turner, 7. Conor Mitchell, 8. Ed Quirk, 9. James Tuttle (C), 10. Sam Greene, 11. Pierce Fitzgerald, 12. Teti Tela, 13. Matt Gordon, 14. Tom Pincus, 15. Elliott Hagen
16. Alex Mafi, 17. Reuben Leilua, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Cameron Bracewell, 20. Maclean Jones, 21. Scott Malolua, 22. Doin Taumata, 23. Tom Banks
Spirit: 1. Francois van Wyk, 2. Heath Tessmann (C), 3. Jermaine Ainsley, 4. Rory Walton, 5. Adrian Hall, 6. Pierre Roberts, 7. Kane Koteka, 8. Richard Hardwick, 9. Ian Prior, 10. Luke Burton, 11. Maalonga Konelio, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Ammon Matuauto, 14. Onehunga Havili, 15. Albert Nikoro
16. Harry Scoble, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Toro Reedy, 19. Riley Winter, 20. Auega Seumanutafa, 21. Michael Ruru, 22. Nick Jooste, 23. Byron Hutchinson
Brisbane City v NSW Country Eagles (Horan-Little Shield Challenge)
Sunday 20 September at Ballymore (Brisbane). Kick off 3:30pm
There are at least two reasons for Brisbane City fans to get down to Ballymore for this Sunday’s NRC match between Brisbane City and NSW Country. The first is that the QRU is out to set a record for the world’s largest scrum, which is currently held by about 1,200 New South Welshmen. The scrum is set to be packed at around 2:15pm, so make sure you get there about 30 minutes earlier to ensure you don’t miss out on being a part of this unique experience.
So being a World Record Holder aint a bad reason, but what about the quality of the game on show? These teams have an epic history in the NRC with two classic encounters last year, both won by Brisbane City despite both being played in regional NSW. The Eagles remain a force to be reckoned with having, last week, been the first team to defeat the Sydney Stars. Brisbane City did a number on the North Harbour Rays, but will need to be a great deal tighter this Sunday to take the chocolates over the Eagles, and retain the Horan-Little Shield.
Key Match ups:
Eagles flyhalf Jono Lance, who went to school in South East Queensland, and City flyhalf Jake McIntyre, who went to school in regional NSW, face off in a key battle in this the last match of Round 5. Lance was superb last weekend in scoring, setting up and converting tries. McIntyre played a more understated role for City v the Rays, but stayed composed as all around him threatened to collapse. This will be a tactical game as much as anything with both players key to the game plan execution and then, of course, it’s outcome.
There’s nothing like a player with pure speed and a competition such as the NRC, with his rule variations, can really allow such a player to stand out. Last year it was Jarome McKenzie, playing fullback for the Eagles this week, and this year it has been Junior Laloifi who is playing on the wing for Brisbane. There is nothing quite like a player who just has that innate ability to find the try line and both of these players have it in spades. Of course having a pair of jet shoes on your feet doesn’t half help either, and is just another reason to not take your eyes off this match for a second.
2015 Form:
Brisbane – WWWW
Eagles – WLBW
Tip: Brisbane by 8
Brisbane: 1. Pettowa Paraka, 2. Andrew Ready, 3. Sam Talakai, 4. Ben Hyne, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Luke Beauchamp, 7. Liam Gill (C), 8. Scott Higginbotham, 9. Nick Frisby, 10. Jake McIntyre, 11. Junior Laloifi, 12. Henry Taefu, 13. Samu Kerevi, 14. Chris Kuridrani, 15. Karmichael Hunt
16. Markus Vanzati, 17. Matt Mafi, 18. Feao Fotuaika, 19. Corey Thomas, 20. Michael Richards, 21. Tim Smith, 22. Alex Gibbon, 23. Patrick James
NSW Country: 1.Dane Maraki, 2.Ryan Dalziel, 3.Dave Faeo, 4.Nick Palmer, 5.Sam Lousi, 6.Sam Croke, 7.Pauli Tuala, 8.Sam Figg, 9.Mitch Short, 10. Jono Lance, 11. Tom Merritt, 12. Dave Horwitz, 13. Will Fay, 14. Jack Pennington, 15. Jarome McKenzie
16.Tom Sexton, 17.Clay Brodie, 18.Andrew Collins, 19.BJ Edwards, 20.Mark Baldwin, 21.Dave Harvey, 22.Brogan Roods, 23.Charlie Clifton
