The opening game of NRC round two sees two teams looking to improve on last week’s performance. The Vikings, playing at home, were run over late by an inspired Perth team. The Rams were perhaps more soundly defeated by NSW Country, although conditions were dire and it was quite a close game up until the last fifteen minutes. This game will decide who’s season is back on track and who is going back to the drawing board.
The Rams:
The Rams lacked an out and out fetcher last week so will be looking for an improved performance over the ball when openside Chris Alcock (Western Force) gets his first start of the season. Likewise Eastwood captain Hugh Perrett makes his season debut in the back row, playing at six. Both will also add experience to the forward pack, as well as leadership.
The back line has been heavily shuffled with only two starters remaining from last week and they are playing different positions. The most notable change is fringe Waratah Ben Volavola moving from fullback to flyhalf. He didn’t have the best of games against the Eagles, so he will be looking to make amends.
1. Benn Robinson Eastwood
2. Hugh Roach Eastwood
3. Guy Millar Eastwood
4. Jared Barry Eastwood
5. Steve Mafi Parramatta
6. Hugh Perrett Eastwood
7. Chris Alcock Eastwood
8. Jed Holloway (Captain) Southern Districts
9. Vasa Falaelli Newcastle
10 Ben Volavola Southern Districts
11. Taqele Naiyaravaro West Harbour
12 Henry Taefu Sunnybank
13. Michael McDougall Eastwood
14. Atieli Pakalani Southern Districts
15 Dane Chisholm Manly
REPLACEMENTS
16. Maile Ngauamo Southern Districts
17. Jed Gillespie (FR) Eastwood
18. Dave Lolohea (FR) West Harbour
19. Dylan Sigg Manly
20. Pat Sio Eastwood
21. Mark Swanepoel Manly
22. Jai Ayoub Eastwood
23. Henry Seavula West Harbour
The Vikings:
Procarlos Sports Photography
The Canberra Vikings are a bit more settled, the back line remains the same except Brendon Taueki has come onto the wing for Jerome Niumata. Vice-captain Jarrad Butler is the most notable change to the forward pack, boosting the back row, while the Smith brothers are on the bench for Les Makin and Allan Alaalatoa in the front row.
1. Les Makin
2. Lala Lam
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Tom Staniforth
5. Tim Cree
6. Jordan Smiler
7. Jarrad Butler (vc)
8. Fotu Auelua ©
9. Michael Dowsett
10. Isaac Thompson
11. Robbie Coleman (vc)
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Nigel Ahwong
14. Brendon Taueki
15. Jesse Mogg
Replacements
16. Mitch Wade
17. JP Smith
18. Ruan Smith
19. Tom Cusack
20. Sean Doyle
21. Edan Campbell-O’Brien
22. Jake Rakic
23. Jerome Niumata
Fearless Prediction
It will likely be another rain affected night of Sydney rugby, so I will expect a lot of scrappy play and dropped balls. The resulting scrums will certainly have a large influence on which team will win. The Vikings have chosen to bench their two most experienced props with the likely tactic to dominate scrums towards the end. The Rams, however, with Benn Robinson, probably the best prop currently playing in the NRC, have the ability to get the ascendency early making the Vikings gamble a mistake. It is essential however that Robinson stays on the park for the Vikings to be contained at the set piece.
The Vikings back line containing two recent wallabies is better than the Rams’, but the weather may nullify this advantage. The Rams will rely heavily on Ben Volavola’s ability to create combinations in a brand new back line, seeing young players respond to that challenge is perhaps the most exciting and valuable facet of the NRC. Likewise the Vikings will look to Lealiifano and Mogg to step up and prove why they were Wallabies last year and why they should be again.
Looking at the team sheets the Vikings look to outclass the Rams, mainly due to the Vikings being basically the Brumbies minus their Wallabies. I think the Rams will come out fired up though. The conditions can’t be worse than last week, it is their first home game and they will want to make up for their capitulation of last week. Either way, with such a short season another loss would be close to catastrophic for either team and they will feel that if they’re down late in the piece.
Rams by 5 in a boilover.
Match Details:
Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
Thursday 28th August
Kick-off: 7.30pm (Live on Fox Sports 2HD)
Referee: Angus Gardner
