The Sydney Stars are at home for the first time as they host a Melbourne Rising coming off a strong opening win in Melbourne. All the action kicks off from 3:00pm (AEST).
Packed with Super Rugby players, the Rising are a side to watch out for this season and will be looking to continue their impressive opening-round form, when they ran eight tries past a spirited Northern Rays.
The Rising played an exciting brand of rugby, showing a willingness to move the ball around, and their backs look particularly threatening.
The midfield combination of Mitch Inman and Sefanaia Naivalu is one to watch and could cause some real headaches for opposition defences throughout the competition.
The only change to the Rising line-up is the inclusion of Australian Under 20 captain Sean McMahon at openside flanker. Expect the talented young breakaway to have a big impact on the outcome of the game.
The Stars suffered an opening day loss in Brisbane and will look to the inclusion of boom Waratahs and Wallaby lock Will Skelton to add some punch to their forward pack. It will be interesting to see how Skelton copes with the speed of the game; if it’s anything like last week he may be wishing he was on the reserves bench.
The Stars got off to a quick start in the opening round, grabbing four quick-fire tries, but eventually ran out of steam and will be looking for a more sustained effort this weekend in front of their home fans.
The loss of Peter Betham into the Wallabies camp will affect the Stars attack and experience at the back but there should be enough talent in their squad to cover this.
Prediction
On paper this Rising side looks a little too strong for the Stars but home ground advantage is a great leveller. On that basis I am picking the Rising by 5 in a high scoring spectacle.
Can the Stars pick up their first win of the season or will the Rising make it two from two?
Rollaway7
Roar Guru
Everyone is crying about broadcasting but in the end it will be up to the rugby lovers to push for this and vote with our feet. Get of your backside, take the family and go to the games, your home ground is not far and tickets are cheap. If more people go to the games they will start to show them. the alternative is, you sit at home complaining about not seeing local rugby while this comp dies out too. Pack a bag, grab the family and head out for some rugga, the games are good, loads of talent, running and intrigue. Build a supporter base take some mates, get into the games as loud as you can GET TRIBAL Post game come on here (the roar) and smash the other teams fans and make as much noise online as you should do at the game so the media profile gets lifted. Not only will you have fun but you will be directly responsible for the success of the game in Australia.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
The Spirit bombed about 4 tries. Not try scoring opportunities but actual tries with poor handlng from what I've been told. From the highlights their skills to that point looked very slick.
Peter Evans brit47 on superbru
Guest
This competition is the best thing that can happen to Aussie Union. Shame it is so poorly marketed with so few opportunities for the public to view and genuinely get behind it.Is money really that tight? Here in US there are 3 main sports, not unlike Aus. Yet on a per capita basis the broadcast companies pay a fortune to cover. Murdoch, a native Aussie would rather spend his money supporting Americans than his own country. Kick the bastard to the curb. On another note. Can someone explain to me what I missed about the Perth game. It looked on paper like a good strength Force team of solid pros against mostly amateurs who have travelled the breadth of the country. I thought Perth should slaughter Brisbane by 40 pts. Only the Bok can barely beat a team of amateurs. On top of this I hear Perth will only field their Force players at home so they don't get worn out with all the travel. If I were coach I'd put all those pros on notice and make them travel to games on their own dime and prove they still have heart and skills. I maintain a team of pros should always beat a team comprised mostly of amateurs by a minimum of 5 or 6 tries. Hardly alot over 80 mins.
Daveski
Guest
Jack Deb played well in what is probably the best backine in the comp.... Stirzaker, Inman, English plus Veanu, Placid and the Fijian flyer at no13 who does indeed look the goods. Timani was decent - made some big hits and good charges. Between him and Skelton there wasn't much ( or much difference in size ). Skelton had more touches but made more mistakes, was trying too hard to get offloads away.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Can anyone tell me how Lopeti Timani and Jack Debreczini went? That Scott McMahon - he is a future superstar. Anyone see him in the 7s and the U20s? Just a class above some good players. Still growing (out at least) too. Problem for Rebs is they have three 7s (Fuglistaller and Colby as well). McMahon is really a 7.
Mike
Guest
"The bulk of the Waratahs are Villains anyway, so there’s not too many non-Wallabies shared between the other Sydney based NRC teams." Really ??? So, where are all these Waratahs that we have squirelled away? "Perhaps this is one reason why the Sydney based teams have so far been uncompetitive, in having to split the Super Rugby players from the Waratahs between 3 teams, most of which go to the Villains." Wow. So now the only teams that get Waratahs are "Sydney based teams"? I suggest you don't go into a pub in Dubbo or Lismore after a NSW Country game and say that!
Londoner
Guest
Thanks was scanning for the perth city versus brisbane result Bummed about the lack of streaming of matches.........
nmpcart
Guest
Sounds like a couple of entertaining matches today, disappointing that it had to be followed via Twitter feeds. Given Sydney Uni's training resources (I understand that they have a great setup) I'm surprised that they didn't have live streaming, especially as it was mentioned the other day that there is a Sydney company offering this for 5k per match. I'm also surprised at the small crowd for their first game in Sydney - don't they have a strong following from their Shute Shield matches that could be tapped into for the NRC? Clubs need to actively promote their games to the rugby public to get them along - we're seeing some great games and good players but a bit of marketing wouldn't hurt surely?
Crazy Horse
Guest
That would be about right, not counting the couple of hundred UWA members staffing the place who did not pay to get in. The weather in Perth has been appealing for the last couple of days and looked threatening this morning so that May have put a few people off coming. In the end it turned out to be a very pleasant afternoon at the rugby.
Charcoal
Guest
The bulk of the Waratahs are Villains anyway, so there's not too many non-Wallabies shared between the other Sydney based NRC teams. Most of the other Sydney club teams' Super Rugby talent is based in the one city teams in other States because they are obliged to play in the local competitions (with a few exceptions). Perhaps this is one reason why the Sydney based teams have so far been uncompetitive, in having to split the Super Rugby players from the Waratahs between 3 teams, most of which go to the Villains.
Brett McKay
Expert
2300 is what Perth Spirit are reporting..
Crazy Horse
Guest
Well over 2000' could have been twice that. the hill at Uni was packed.. Brisbane won 26 to Perth's 21.
El Gamba
Roar Guru
Sounds like it was a good game RobC, I'm annoyed that there was no streams this weekend, that's the main disappointment!
Mike
Guest
Sure looks that way. We will have to resort to something villainous.
Mike
Guest
That's true. If I were you, I would abuse the Sydneysiders. That will make them turn up, for sure.
What was the crowd figure at Perth, heard its the largest so far this season
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Luke. A surprise. And a nice one for Brisbanite Sorry to hear for you EG.
Luke Reds
Guest
In the other match Brisbane City have defeated Perth Spirit 26 - 21 to remain undefeated.
Eddard
Roar Guru
The population of the inner west of Sydney is around 200k. That is the catchment area for the Stars.
Londoner
Guest
Yes enjoyable sunny day at leichardt with my wife and daughter and friend of hers. Agree with Digs - backs completely outclassed by the Melbourne Rising backs.... Definitely back again as bought season membership as nice to watch some quality players and attacking running rugby at a shoestring price....the free entry for kids is also great..... Clearly with waratahs sprinkled across 4 NSW teams it means the one city teams of perth, canberra and melbourne and even the two team qld will have an advantage..... Great concept and hope this competition last the distance as not much marketing of this competition which is a pity as great value for money for entertainment with law changes and opportunities to see rugby's next upcoming stars