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Brisbane City host Perth Spirit with one side destined to be crowned the inaugural winners of the 2014 National Rugby Championship.
After speculation, bidding, dealing, protest, then nine rounds of rugby comprising 38 games between nine teams from four states, and a tonne of points scored – we are down a final game to determine the 2015 NRC champion.
There were 2,369 points to be exact, and not many penalty goals. In fact no penalties goals contributed Brisbane City’s 295 points and Perth Spirit’s 301 points.
In addition to outscoring Brisbane, the Perth Spirit have also outscored them by three tries during the NRC. So we will continue to see scrums and lineouts used as point scoring weapons, instead.
The bookies may not favour Spirit today, but the Perthites will not mind. Today’s team is the same that delivered the upset of the season last week. It was a win against the previously undefeated, high-scoring, tough-tackling and rough-rucking Melbourne Rising. They can do the same in Ballymore.
There are a few differences compared to last week though. Whereas Melbourne lost their top lock, flanker, and winger, Brisbane retains almost the same team as last week. This includes the City ‘six pack’ comprising their starting and reserve frontrow totalling 715kg. This includes 120kg, 21 year old Pettowa Paraka, who represented Queensland Schoolboys, Australian Schoolboys, Reds Under 20s, Reds A, and Australian Under 20s.
Paraka scored two tries against Perth Spirit in their last battle. One of two players from Brisbane missing for that game is James Horwill, who is starting for Wallabies tomorrow. The other is dangerman Samu Kerevi.
We will all miss a Junior Rasolea vs Samu Kerevi face off. They are both of Fijian heritage, with only two years separating them. They are approximately the same height and weight and have the same devastating impact in midfield. Junior was born in Brisbane, whereas Samu was born in Fiji. Without City’s dangerman, the Western Force centre may run riot, along with his wily back team mates.
This includes 25 year old, South African born, Perth-product Dane Haylett-Petty at fullback, Perth born flyer Zack Holmes and Western Force scrum half Ian Prior. They were stunning in attack last week. But they need their pack to perform if they want to get over the impressive Brisbane City defence – especially in the second half.
Brisbane City’s ‘six pack’ will want to emulate the Rising scrum. But their back five team mates will be very wary of Perth Spirits lineout pilferers. The Perthites successfully nullified Melbourne Rising’s scrum supremacy last week by turning over many of the subsequent penalty lineouts.
Brisbane City has a few good options including Jake Schatz, captain Dave McDuling and his lockmate South African hardman Marco Kotze. 21 year old flanker Curtis Browning at almost 6’3, is a bit taller than Richie McCaw, and will also be another strong option.
But all these options are for naught if they get caught on the wrong side of 197cm Sam Wykes and 199cm Brent Murphy. They are much taller than Brisbane’s jumpers, and are armed with powerful springs. They will tower over the Brisbane lineout, and will aim to create a counter attacking platform for their try scorers.
The Perth coaching team knows Brisbane have been generally poor starters. But once Brisbane hit the sheds and get their halftime update from Nick Stiles and company, their opponent’s tries stop. This includes last week’s semi-final. Interestingly, Perth Spirit would have won their last Brisbane City encounter when Junior Rasolea crossed the whitewash at fulltime – but was ruled out by a whisker.
Today, Spirit will want to harass the Brisbane City playmakers. NSW Country Eagles did this to great effect, last week. Nick Frisby and Jake McIntyre are going to have bulls eyes on them from Spirit’s backrow. This comprises 24 year old Durbanite Brynard Stander, 21 year old Perth-born Kane Koteka and Perth product eightman Alex Rovira. In turn, they will face the Reds backrow who have a 25kg weight advantage, along with 16 Wallaby caps and 127 Super Rugby caps.
If the Spirit backrow can harass the Brisbane City rucks and halves in the same way their locks aim to harass the lineouts, then no amount of experience will save Brisbane City.
What can Brisbane do? If they play their first half in the same way as they play their second half, they are unstoppable.
So, who is going to win? By how much? And who will be man of the match? And tournament?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.