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And then there were two. The NSW Country Eagles, the competition’s minor premiers, hosting Perth Spirit in Australia’s country music capital, Tamworth.
The best attacking team in the competition, the Eagles, have been running in tries for fun this season – averaging 5.5 tries per game in 2016 – now come up against the Spirit, who boast one of the better defences in the NRC, conceding just 3.9 tries a game.
Of course, just to confused the issue, Perth aren’t too shabby in the attack department either, and the Eagles share the best defensive record in the comp. So there’s two pars that cancel each other out, right there.
Country won through to the Final with an initially patient but ultimately ruthless 50-24 demolition of Melbourne Rising in Newcastle last Saturday. After trailing 16-0 inside the first ten minutes, the Eagles put on 42 unanswered points between the 12th and the 61st minutes to ice the game.
Perth were favoured by only 35 per cent of you lot in The Crowd (and by none of Geoff, Paddy, and myself!), yet took out their semi in such dominant fashion against the Sydney Rays, that I know I was left wondering why on earth I doubted them. Their 42-24 win over the Rays required plenty of hard work in the first half, but after taking the lead before halftime, they went on with the job in the second half. The Rays’ injury toll was a factor, no doubt, but I think Perth would’ve beaten a fully fit Rays side anyway.
SATURDAY: NSW Country Eagles v Perth Spirit; Scully Park, Tamworth, 7:45pm AEDT
Once the teams were named, it quickly became a search for which key names were in or out for both sides.
Country will be very happy for Tom Robertson and Tolu Latu earning Wallabies squad selection against this week, but it does immediately re-raise concerns about their scrum. With those two out, hooker Folau Fa’ainga comes back into the starting side, as does Sam Needs, with Luke Holmes and Cam Betham coming onto the bench.
Otherwise, it’s an unchanged line-up for the Eagles, including the standout backrow of Sam Figg, Rowan Perry, and Sam Ward, and their all-star backline.
Perth have also made two changes, and one of them is huge. 2015 NRC Player of the Year Jono Lance has been named at ten for his return from a hamstring injury, forcing Ian Prior back to the bench. Flanker Kane Koteka comes onto the bench, and AJ Alatimu and Russell Burges are the unlucky pair to miss out.
The ‘Perth pigs’ are unchanged, and will be high on confidence after their set piece and backrow domination of the Rays in the second semi last Sunday. With the Eagles having lineout issues and now a weakened scrum, the Spirit pack will be chomping at the bit to get into this contest.
NSW COUNTRY EAGLES (1-15): Paddy Ryan (c), Folau Fa’ainga, Sam Needs, Rohan O’Reegan, Tim Buchanan, Sam Figg, Rowan Perry, Sam Ward, Jake Gordon, Andrew Deegan, Alex Newsome, Kyle Godwin, David Horwitz, Reece Robinson, Andrew Kellaway.
Bench: Luke Holmes, Jed Gillespie, Cam Betham, Ryan McCauley, Tom Cusack, Mark Baldwin, Tayler Adams, Tom Hill.
PERTH SPIRIT: Pek Cowan, Heath Tessmann, Jermaine Ainsley, Kieran Stringer, Onehunga Havili, Ross Haylett-Petty, Richard Hardwick, Brynard Stander, Ryan Louwrens, Jono Lance, Semisi Masirewa, Ben Tapuai, Billy Meakes, Marcel Brache, Luke Morahan.
Bench: Anaru Rangi, Laione Mulikihaamea, Shambeckler Vui, Grayson Knapp, Kane Koteka, Michael Ruru, Ian Prior, Eric Vasukicakau
Referee: Nick Berry
Assistant referees: Will Houston, Rohan Hoffmann
Television Match Official: ‘TV’ George Ayoub
The Final will complete Fox Sports’ Super Saturday of rugby on Fox Sports 2, starting with the Women’s International at Eden Park from 2:55pm AEDT, followed by the third Bledisloe Cup Test, and then the main event, the NRC Final.
Plus, we’ll have live scores and chat right here on The Roar.
Last week: Everyone got 1. Except Geoff. Who got none. For the second time…
Geoff
“And so to the final showdown, the ‘big dance’, which being in ‘Golden Guitar’ country, and with respect to Billy Ray Cyrus devotees, might mean a half-time show of old folk in check shirts boot-scooting around Tamworth Rugby Park. If so, let’s hope there aren’t any Janet Jackson style wardrobe malfunctions!
“As for the game, it’s very hard to tip against NSW Country, they have an excellent balance between backs and forwards and a whole heap of ‘x-factor’ in Jake Gordon and Sam Figg.
“That said, that’s exactly what I’m going to do, Perth choked the life out of the Sydney Rays last week, away from home, and really, it is only the travel factor which I can find as a negative for them. Matching the two sides up, Perth has Jono Lance and has the better bench. And I really like how Ross Haylett-Petty and Brynard Stander have been going in that key 6-8 role.
“So that’s enough to get Perth home in what has been a fully entertaining and worthwhile NRC, and we can look forward to captain Heath Tessmann accepting the trophy from Brett Papworth on Saturday night!”
Paddy
“The good people of Tamworth get the NRC the final! What a boon for the home of country music!
“You would have to think that nothing will bring rugby people from the country together more than the Country Eagles playing for the title in such a place.
“With all that said, the Country Eagles should win this weekend. A glance at that team shows a wealth of talent, a good amount of experience, and a winning attitude.
“Then again… the Spirit have a bunch of classy guys playing for them too.
“Flip a coin if you like, but I feel like good folks of the region will turn out for this game and get the Country boys home, and it will be a great story.”
Brett
I say this not for the sake of hyperbole, but because it’s true; I genuinely think this is the toughest tip I’ve considered this year.
I’m going with NSW Country, because I have to pick one, but in all honesty, I’ll be cheering for both sides.
The Eagles are playing some exceptional rugby, and were absolutely brilliant against Melbourne last weekend, but I can’t help but be concerned about their set piece. If the Eagles allow this game to become a set piece game, they’re going to struggle, there’s no two ways about it.
Perth have the better pack, and certainly the better set piece pack, but are they as mobile as Country? The backrows actually match up quite well, though the Spirit’s is largely unheralded. As are the two backlines, and in particular the centre pairings. Godwin-Horwitz against Tapuai-Meakes could be one of the highlights of the season; fitting that it plays out in the biggest game of the season.
So I’ve picked Country. But I could just as easily make a case for Perth. Helpful, aren’t I…
The summary
Now over to you guys…
Make your selection for the National Rugby Championship Final below, and we’ll collate all the votes and publish the results before kick-off Saturday night.