The Shute Shield grand final is shaping as the ultimate pre-season for Greater Sydney Rams squad members, with feeder clubs Eastwood and Southern Districts facing off at Concord Oval, this Saturday afternoon.
Upwards of 20 contracted players will run out for the two sides, onto what is also the Rams training base.
As well as players, both of head coach Brian Melrose’s assistants, John Manenti and Stu Woodhouse, share the coaching duties for the ‘Woodies’, while a number of Eastwood’s medical staff are also a part of the Rams family for the inaugural National Rugby Championship.
Across the board, there are so many match-ups that will go a long way toward forming Melrose’s thoughts around selections for his opening XV to take on NSW Country Eagles, at Coogee Oval on August 23.
Up front, young Waratahs and Eastwood hooker Hugh Roach will go up against Souths’ Maile Ngauamo, with both players eyeing off the Rams No.2 jersey.
The battle of the backrow will be worth the price of admission alone, with Eastwood’s Michael Kovacic, skipper Hugh Perrett, and Pat Sio set for a ding-dong battle against Souths’ blindside flanker Marcus Carbone, and No.8 and captain, Jed Holloway.
On the two skippers, Melrose and the Rams have a couple of wonderful leaders at their disposal, with Perrett’s experience at both Shute Shield and Super Rugby level speaking for itself, while Holloway is already in the Waratahs set-up as one of the genuine young flanker/lock prospects. Holloway’s versatility and ability to play second or backrow is sure to be a major bonus for both player and selectors.
Steering the respective backlines around will be two guys with the Rams’ No.10 jersey in their sights, Eastwood flyhalf Jai Ayoub, and Souths’ Ben Volavola.
Ayoub was the spark in so much of the Woodies’ attack and counter-attack in the semi-final against Manly on Saturday, while Volavola’s composure with the boot was on show at Sydney University No.1 Oval, as he calmly slotted a penalty goal five metres in from touch and more than 40 metres out to sink the Students by two points on Sunday.
In midfield is where it will get really interesting, with both sets of centres in the Rams squad. Four into two obviously doesn’t go, but Eastwood’s Tom Hill and Michael McDougall and Souths’ Apo Latunipulu and Paul Asquith will battle away regardless.
Hill and McDougall both bagged tries last Saturday against Manly – Hill slicing through from close range, and McDougall winning a foot race after a counter-attack from well inside their own half – and shape as major attacking weapons for Eastwood this weekend, and for the Rams thereafter.
Keep a close eye on Eastwood and Rams fullback Ben Batger, too. Despite carrying a leg injury into the semi against Manly, Batger managed to kick a couple of conversions and get the job done, as he’s done so often at this level.
The Shute Shield decider shapes a cracking decider, the perfect lead-in to the first Bledisloe Test on Saturday night (shuttle buses will be available from Concord Oval after the grand final), and onto the NRC the following weekend. May the best Greater Sydney Rams’ feeder club win!
First published on www.ramsrugby.com.au.
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