National Rugby Championship: Round 4 preview, team lists

Great news from the Rams tonight: Greater Sydney Rams v Sydney Stars blockbuster to be streamed LIVE via ramsrugby.com.au 11th September, 2014 Already boasting the biggest social media following of all nine Buildcorp National Rugby Championship franchises, the PCS Greater Sydney RAMS today announced that NRC fans and supporters will be further looked after, with confirmation that Saturday’s local derby match against the Sydney Stars will be streamed live via the RAMS website. Produced by Newcastle-based BAR TV Sports, the RAMS-Stars stream and commentary will be available live and free on RAMS website and YouTube channel, and will be the perfect way for country, interstate and overseas RAMS fans to see the team take on the Sydney Stars at Pirtek Stadium. In their first year of operation, BAR TV Sports have produced top quality live coverage of sporting events including the Newcastle Rugby League competition, Newcastle Knights VB Cup games, Illawarra Rugby League, Newcastle & Hunter Rugby Union matches, NSW Country Rugby Union Championships, National Premier League football, the Australian Ice Hockey League, and the NSW Suburban Rugby Major Semi Final played at a sodden University of NSW last weekend. The RAMS will use the Stars game to trial the Live Streaming platform, with a decision to be made in the coming weeks about its use for remaining home games not covered by NRC Broadcast Partner, Fox Sports. Of course, with pleasant conditions for afternoon rugby on Saturday and a maximum temperature of 19°C forecast in the golden west, the absolute best way to see the game is by heading to Pirtek Stadium in person. Tickets and FREE RAMS Membership (which will get access to discount tickets) is available now via www.ramsrugby.com.au. NOTE TO MEDIA: Outlets are welcome to embed the RAMS-Stars live stream on their own site with the acknowledgement, “Stream courtesy of PCS Greater Sydney RAMS and www.ramsrugby.com.au”.

I like the Schatz, Gill, McDuling combo in the forwards. You might be right about the rest.

Brett you may or may not know but I've heard whispers that Lalakai Foketi is to join the Waratahs next year. Have you heard any of this? He was a great schoolboy and under 20 player and fingers crossed its true and that we can nab Kellaway too to really bolster the Tahs for next year and seasons to come.

NSW Country side is out. A couple of changes force through injury: Charles Sturt University NSW Country Eagles head coach Darren Coleman has named a strong side for this weekends clash against Brisbane City at Oakes Oval in Lismore. Whilst the Country Eagles lose Matt Carraro and Mitch Chapman through injury, the side welcomes back hooker Josh Mann-Rae from national duty and former Brumbies back rower Ita Vaea to the side. “It’s disappointing to lose both Matty and Mitch, they have both been great so far and take away a lot of experience from our side. But fortunately we have some depth in the squad and there are guys very excited about getting an opportunity,” Coleman said. Samu Wara shifts to outside centre with John Grant set to play his first match of the season on the wing. Ethan Ford also returns to the bench, after a strong start to the year. He’ll be joined by Lennox Head junior Sam Croke who will also make his debut from the bench. “I’m confident all of those guys will do a great job. I’m particularly rapped for Sam, he’s been working hard throughout the program and to play in front of his home crowd is something he’ll never forget.” Coleman expects Brisbane City to be a tough test for his side, who are yet to lose this season. “They had a big loss last week, but we aren’t looking too much into that. They’ll be tough to beat particularly with the inclusion of (Will) Genia and Turner.” The squad will spent a number of days on the Far North Coast, with players set to attend both the junior and senior Far North Coast Grand Finals over the weekend. Tickets for the match are available online and at the Oakes Oval gate. Charles Sturt University NSW Country Eagles 1) Ben Suisala 2) Josh Mann-Rae 3) Michael Aloaatoa 4) Ben Matwijow 5) Mitch Chapman 6) Tala Gray 7) Will Miller 8) Steven Hoiles 9) Brendan McKibbin 10) Sam Windsor 11) Andrew Kellaway 12) Ed Stubbs 13) Samu Wara 14) John Grant 15) Paddy Dellit 16) Clay Brodie 17) Jake Ilnicki 18) Will Weeks 19) Cam Treloar 20) Ita Vaea 21) Sam Croke 22) Darcy Etrich 23) Ethan Ford

It looks like Perth are trying to blood club players to se if they are good enough to step up, while Melbourne are trying to win the comp. Different approaches - both equally valid. And TV gets a game with lots of tries, so "entertainment".

Yep and Hegarty too.

I'll definitely be watching the Melbourne v Perth one tonight. In fact I'm really looking forward to it. Melbourne seem to have a cracker of a forward pack. Almost all of them are very near Wallaby level. Cadeyrn Neville was the next big thing not too long ago and I think he's still a great prospect. Luke Jones too. With big question marks over the Wallaby locks, surely these guys must be pumped to have the opportunity to prove themselves. For the Melbourne backs, I really like the look of Debreczeni. I don't know what it is - he's done nothing to set the world on fire yet - but there is something about him that screams potential to me. Very good boot, fast and balanced runner - reminds me of Campo a bit! but biggish guy doesn't seem afraid of contact, good hands and skills for a young 10... and now has the competition to give him the experience he needs.

And Colby Faingaa too. Is Fuglistaller in the same boat? Haven't seen his name in any NRC squads. The Rebels really have a lot of promising young opensides. Surprised they've held onto all of them.

Sydney Stars side, with Skelton released from Wallabies duty, and Laurie Weeks on the bench: Sydney Stars team announced for Greater Sydney Rams clash The Sydney Stars coaching team have announced their side to take on the Greater Sydney Rams in Round 4 of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) at Pirtek Stadium this Saturday. Following their bye week, the Sydney Stars side has undergone a number of slight changes, welcoming some injured players back, as well as some brand new faces. Released from Wallabies camp this weekend, Will Skelton will start again for the Sydney Stars and is ready to come up against a very strong Rams forward pack. Joining him for the very first time, is Balmain Rugby Club flanker Tipiloma Kaveinga, who has been very keen to make his debut in the Buildcorp NRC after undergoing rehabilitation for an injury he sustained during the latter end of the NSW Suburban Rugby competition. Another new inclusion to the side coming from the Melbourne Rebels, is former Sydney University prop Laurie Weeks. Following a strong season in Super Rugby and making his Test debut for the Wallabies against France earlier this year, Laurie suffered an injury to his hamstring and arrived in Sydney just this week after completing his rehab in Melbourne. Named on the bench, he will be a great replacement to add some strength in the forwards. The backline will also see some different combinations. NSW Waratah Michael Hodge will return to inside centre after recovering from his nasty head knock very early in the Round 1 game against Brisbane City. Matthew Kenny will move into the left wing as a result of the exclusion of young winger Henry Clunies-Ross due to a groin injury, seeing Jack Macklin named at fullback for his first starting appearance for the Stars. Jake Gordon has been promoted from the bench to also make his first start for the side as halfback. While James Willan and Jono Sullivan pull on the Sydney Stars jersey for the first time as replacements. Coming off their first win of the Buildcorp NRC, the Great Sydney Rams will be keen to stay in the winning circle, but after a hard week in training the Sydney Stars will make this no easy feat. Greater Sydney Rams vs. Sydney Stars (Pirtek Stadium, 13th September) 1. Jeremy Tilse 2. Tom Coolican 3. Paddy Ryan 4. Andrew Leota 5. Will Skelton 6. Tipiloma Kaveinga 7. Patrick McCutcheon (C) 8. Sam Quinn 9. Jake Gordon 10. Stuart Dunbar 11. Matthew Kenny 12. Michael Hodge 13. Jim Stewart 14. James Dargaville 15. Jack Macklin Replacements 16. James Willan (FR) 17. Tom Robertson (FR) 18. Laurie Weeks (FR) 19. Matthew Philip 20. Hugo Dessens 21. Jock Merriman 22. Jonathan Fakai 23. Jono Sullivan

Agree. Nick Frisby's one of the form players of the NRC! Agree with RL's point on the forwards though. City have the quality backline, and it appears Country have the better forwards pack, of the Queensland split..

strong backline maybe, remains to be seen how the piggies fare Feel a bit for Nick Frisby - with Ben Lucas gone, he's now the Reds go-to man off the bench, and would have thought he should see a lot of game time in this comp. But I guess you have the exceptional circumstancesof a Wallaby scrumhalf returning, and I suspect Genia will only be given a half.

That is a strong team.

Brisbane City make seven changes, including Will Genia starting, and Lachie Turner - who I thought had been named in the Country squad - returning injury: McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City team to play NSW Country Eagles McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City head coach Nick Stiles has made seven changes to his starting lineup for this weekend’s Buildcorp National Rugby Championship match against the NSW Country Eagles in Lismore. Brisbane City suffered its first loss of the competition last weekend, 79-18 to Melbourne Rising, and Stiles said his team knew what was required to bounce back from the result. “Our tackling was poor in the last match and that really let us down. We know we need to be better in that area,” Stiles said. “The Eagles will be a very difficult challenge. They’ve got a squad with some very experienced players from both club and Super Rugby, so they’ll be a very tough proposition.” Headlining the changes is the return of St.George Queensland Reds winger Lachie Turner, who will make his Brisbane City debut this weekend in his first game since the conclusion of the Super Rugby season. “We’ve got some experienced players returning to our lineup this weekend, with Lachie Turner and Will Genia both in the starting lineup for the first time, so I’ll be expecting a marked improvement from our guys this weekend,” Stiles said. “That being said, our club Rugby players have been outstanding in the opening weeks of this competition and it’s important to continue to give them opportunities. We need to ensure the NRC leaves both the Reds and Queensland Premier Rugby in a better position and we can do that by continuing to challenge all our players.” Turner’s inclusion in the starting XV in place of winger Harry Parker is one of three changes to the backline, with Will Genia starting at scrumhalf ahead of Nick Frisby and Brando Va’aulu returning from injury to start at fullback ahead of Matt Feaunati. Flyhalf Jake McIntyre retains his spot, along with centres Samu Kerevi and Toby White and winger Chris Kuridrani. In the forwards, Souths’ prop David Feao gets his first start for Brisbane City, with Pettowa Paraka moving to the bench. Tighthead prop Sef Faagase also earns his first start for City, after returning from injury via the reserves last weekend. He replaces Sam Talakai, who moves to the bench. They are joined by Andrew Ready, who has started all three games at hooker. University of Queensland skipper Tim Buchanan returns to the starting second row, alongside City captain Dave McDuling, with Marco Kotze moved to the bench for a deserving rest after three workmanlike performances. The backrow features University of Queensland’s Adam Korczyk in his first start, along with Reds regulars Liam Gill at openside and Jake Schatz at Number 8. The reserves bench features a five-three split, with Paraka, Matt Mafi and Talakai covering the front row, Kotze the second row and Sunnybank loose forward Chazz Mahina in line to make his NRC debut. Frisby provides cover at both scrumhalf and outside back, while Easts’ scrumhalf Jack Mullins can cover scrumhalf and flyhalf and Sunnybank’s Junior Laloifi covers the outside backs. Brisbane City play NSW Country Eagles at Oakes Oval in Lismore this Sunday, 14 September, at 3:00pm. McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City v NSW Country Eagles Oakes Oval, Lismore 1. David Faeo - Souths 2. Andrew Ready – Reds EPS/Easts 3. Sef Faagase – Reds WTS/University of Queensland 4. Tim Buchanan – Reds WTS/University of Queensland 5. Dave McDuling (C) – Reds/University of Queensland 6. Adam Korczyk – University of Queensland 7. Liam Gill – Reds/Sunnybank 8. Jake Schatz – Reds/Sunnybank 9. Will Genia – Reds/Wests 10. Jake McIntyre – Reds WTS/Sunnybank 11. Lachie Turner – Reds/Easts 12. Samu Kerevi – Reds/GPS 13. Toby White - Easts 14. Chris Kuridrani – Reds/GPS 15. Brando Va’aulu - Sunnybank 16. Pettowa Paraka – Reds WTS/Easts 17. Matt Mafi - Brothers 18. Sam Talakai – Sydney University 19. Marco Kotze - GPS 20. Chazz Mahina - Sunnybank 21. Nick Frisby – Reds/GPS 22. Jack Mullins - Easts 23. Junior Laloifi - Sunnybank

The Quensland teams are in now. First Queensland Country, with Saia Fainga'a back from childbirth duties last weekend, and 17yo 98kg outside centre Campbell Magnay getting his first start: Bond University Queensland Country team named to play North Harbour Rays in Round 4 of Buildcorp NRC St.George Queensland Reds hooker Saia Fainga’a is set to earn his first Bond University Queensland Country cap against the Macquarie University North Harbour Rays in Round 4 of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship, at Cbus Super Stadium this Saturday, 13 September. The inclusion of Fainga’a at hooker in head coach Steve Meehan’s team is one of six changes to the starting XV, with the other most notable being the inclusion of 17-year-old Campbell Magnay at outside centre. Meehan said that Magnay’s first start for Queensland Country is a great example of how the NRC is giving opportunities to Australia’s best up-and-coming talent. “Providing Campbell with his first start will give him an opportunity to show us his skill set and to see how he combines with an experienced Super Rugby and Test level centre in Anthony Fainga’a,” Meehan said. “Campbell has been impressive playing both inside and outside centre for GPS Premier Colts throughout 2014 and his approach to the Country program has been excellent. The NRC is about developing Australia’s up and coming talent and Campbell’s inclusion in our team this week at just 17-years-of-age is a great example of what the NRC is aiming to achieve. “I’m also pleased to have the services of Saia heading into Saturday’s game. He is a seasoned campaigner with over 100 Super Rugby Caps and plenty of Test experience so he will bolster our frontrow which has already been performing well. “The match will be a special occasion for many of the players within the Queensland Country squad as it will be their first chance to play at a venue like Cbus Super Stadium,” Meehan added. GPS prop Fred Burke will earn his first start for Queensland Country at loosehead prop with Haydn Hirsimaki move to the bench. GPS halfback Sam Grasso will earn his first Country Cap in the nine jersey after Scott Gale suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes against the Canberra Vikings. Todd Winkley (GPS) and Tom Pincus (University of Queensland) both return to the starting line-up on either wing. In the reserves, Ryan Freney (GPS) will don the 16 jersey while University of Queensland Prop Campbell Wakely and Hirsimaki (Sunnybank) provide cover for the props. Easts’ Sam Fattal will cover lock while University flanker Jack de Guingand joins the bench in place of Mitch King. In the backs, Sam Johnson who was the named the Reds Wider Training Squad player of the year at the 2014 Reds Gala Ball, will be in line to earn his first NRC cap in the 22 jersey after being cleared of a hamstring injury earlier this week. He will be joined by young halfback/flyhalf James Tuttle (GPS) and winger Giles Beveridge (Brothers) who both performed well for Country in Canberra last weekend. Queensland Country will play the Macquarie University North Harbour Rays at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast this Saturday, 13 September, at 5:05pm (AEST). Tickets for the NRC curtain raiser and the Wallabies Test match against Argentina are available through Ticketek. The match will also be LIVE streamed on the www.redsrugby.com.au homepage. Bond University Queensland Country v Macquarie University North Harbour Rays (Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast) 1. Fred Burke - GPS 2. Saia Fainga’a – Reds/GPS 3. Greg Holmes – Reds/Sunnybank (VC) 4. Dan Gorman - GPS 5. Rubin Fuimaono – Bond University 6. James Turner - Souths 7. Beau Robinson – Reds/Souths 8. Ben Adams - Sunnybank 9. Sam Grasso - GPS 10. Matt Brandon - Easts 11. Todd Winkley - GPS 12. Anthony Fainga’a – Reds/GPS (C) 13. Campbell Magnay - GPS 14. Tom Pincus – University of Queensland 15. Jamie-Jerry Taulagi – Reds/University of Queensland Reserves 16. Ryan Freney - GPS 17. Campbell Wakely – University of Queensland 18. Haydn Hirsimaki - Sunnybank 19. Sam Fattal - Easts 20. Jack de Guingand – University of Queensland 21. James Tuttle - GPS 22. Sam Johnson – Reds WTS/GPS 23. Giles Beveridge - Brothers

If those people are in charge of chequebooks Markus, I can happily provide invoices... ;-)

Nope, my bad.

You're doing too good a job, Brett. People assume you're running the NRC singlehandedly at this point.

Steve Mafi played against them last weekend but Alcock was not there. Maybe it's just 2014 force players being embargoed. I have to say it's rather strange. Melbourne and Perth are doing their best to make this competition look like a joke in opposite ways. One hordes so many SR players that they have a Wallaby scrum half on the bench (while the Stars struggle in this position) the other essentially forfeits a TV game by sending a b team. I'd be pretty angry if I were foxtel.

Holy cow...that Rising side is seriously heavy with Rebels players. What a quality squad! Obviously helps that there is only one NRC side from Victoria? Anyway, the whole idea of the NRC is to expose club players to a higher level of rugby before the step up to Super Rugby so it is up to the other teams to aim up and compete. While it is great to see the Perth premiership players get some exposure, surely the ARU would like the Force squad players to play more NRC games if they are not in the Wannabes squad...it would attract more fan interest at the least. The NRC has produced some sparkling rugby so far and I hope it continues this weekend...and the so far win less sides get up!

Jordie Reid? He's recovering from shoulder surgery, I think.