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The Melbourne Rising will host the Perth Spirit at AAMI Park in the opening match of Round 4 of the NRC. Join The Roar from 7:25pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary.
Melbourne Rising have been in sublime form in the NRC’s inaugural year, largely owing to their mercurial backline led by skipper Nic Stirzaker and vice-captain Mitch Inman.
Rising have now scored an astonishing 25 tries in three games, however this is partly the product of law variations that facilitate running rugby intended to promote try-scoring and the game as a spectacle at the semi-professional level.
Yet 25 tries can’t simply be attributed to law amendments.
Melbourne, however, have also benefited from Super Rugby players of the calibre of Luke Burgess and Lloyd Johannsson, both of whom will be making an appearance off the bench.
Moreover, the recent outstanding form of try-scoring machine Sefanaia Naivalu has been deemed so impressive that the Melbourne Rebels have awarded the Fijian flyer a contact for the 2015 season.
If form is indicative of future success then the performance of Naivalu and his backline compatriots will see the Rebels maintain their status as the competitions team to beat.
In the forwards, Brett McKay rated Sean McMahon as Rising’s best last week, and Lopeti Timani is building on the Timani reputation established by brother and ex-Wallaby and Sitaleki Timani.
Are Perth Spirit the immovable object then?
On last week’s showing against the Rams, you would have to suggest they are not, and consequently the Rising should be staring down the barrel of a fourth straight win.
The NRC so far has been a difficult tournament to forecast, and that’s the beauty of this new competition and the unpredictability of the results as teams find their feet under the new format and law variations.
In their Round 3 clash, Spirit will rue missed opportunities that saw them fail to close out the Greater Sydney Rams – eventually going down my 10 points, 34-44 in a rain-soaked match.
Beating Melbourne will take an 80 minute effort, and might force something of a rethink in the Spirit’s coaching ranks.
It will be critical to the success of Perth to limit quick backline ball, however, Rising may well be too strong across the park.
Tip: Rising by 25.
FINAL SCORE:
Melbourne Rising – 44
Perth Spirit – 24
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.