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The Vikings Ram home their point

Taqele Naiyaravoro of the Greater Sydney Rams. (Image: AJF Photography)
Roar Guru
28th August, 2014
67

After a slow start the University of Canberra Vikings produced a great comeback to triumph 37-18 and earn their first win of the inaugural National Rugby Championship season.

The first match of Round 2 featured the Vikings and Greater Sydney Rams going head-to-head in Parramatta, both stinging from first round losses.

Following the Rams’ 31-2 loss, seven new faces were brought into the 23 with a reshuffle of the back line. For the Vikings, all eyes were on the rampaging back row of Jordan Smiler, team captain Fotu Auelua and vice-captain Jarrad Butler, rested last week and raring to go after a stellar Super Rugby season with the Brumbies.

The new point scoring system has had an immediate influence on the number of shots at goal when awarded a penalty. The Rams, awarded two penalties within kicking distance in the first two minutes, turned down both in a bid to cross the white line.

After turning down a third penalty, young halfback Vasa Falaelli dove over in the corner to grab the first points of the match off a scrum from midfield. Ben Volavola, one of the biggest shuffles to the Rams back line, couldn’t add the extras though.

The wet weather prior to kick-off was a hindrance to the match, with an array of knock-ons, dropped ball and scrappy lineout deliveries plaguing the entire 80 minutes. Jesse Mogg was again a mixed bag, continuing the form of his Super Rugby season, with some good clearing kicks and conversions mixed with some ordinary defence, loose passes and allowing an easy try to Atieli Pakalani by missing a loose ball entirely.

I saw flashbacks to the Round 1 clash between the Brumbies and Reds in Super Rugby this season. The Vikings bounced back from the two tries, their first attacking phase resulting in a try. Off the back of a well structured lineout, Isaac Thompson and Christian Lealiifano wrapped around, resulting in Thompson crossing for his first five-pointer in the NRC, virtually untouched.

Mogg added the extras, taking over from the once-sharpshooter Lealiifano whose poor kicking cost the Vikings dearly last week. Both teams traded mistakes, with many try-scoring opportunities wasted due to the wet and slippery conditions. The Vikings closed out the first half when prop Les Makin stormed over from a close-range lineout, gaining the lead for the first time in the match at 16-10.

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The 45th minute saw another try squandered due to the wet weather, this time by young wing Robbie Coleman, who spilled the ball two metres out from opposition line. Wouldn’t you know it, the weather forced another knock-on from a Rams scrum and after some near misses, Butler stormed over from the back of a rolling maul for his first try.

Hardly a minute had passed after the restart when the Rams threw a poor pass, Vikings gun Brandon Taueki pouncing to receive the ball and sprint down the field. He offloaded to Tom Cusack who went over for the fourth try. Mogg added the three from in front, resulting in 29 unanswered points by the Vikings.

Rams captain Jed Holloway raced away for a consolation try, but Butler responded with another well worked try of his own. The Vikings were in a completely different class to the Rams when it came to set pieces. The scrum was unquestionably in favour of the Vikings, and led to a multitude of penalties and try-scoring opportunities. Likewise, two of the five tries were set up by lineouts, highlighting the dominance of the Canberra forwards.

Despite the scrappy play, there were a few standout players. Benn Robinson pushed for a Wallabies call-up with his hard-running performance, as did Butler, who continued his sensational year with the Brumbies by assisting the Vikings with two tries and numerous body-on-the-line tackles.

Nigel Ah Wong and Volavola also showed good promise for their respective teams, but if one thing is for certain, the attacking brand of rugby that the NRC is producing is infectious and must be encouraged.

Even in wet weather, not one penalty goal was even attempted and the combined eight tries ensured a thrilling encounter between a cast of Wallabies, Super Rugby and club rugby players. With the star-studded line-up available at the Vikings, expect a lot more strong performances from the men from Canberra.

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