Round 1 of the NRC produced no great upsets, but it was clear that teams have upped their defensive intensity and base fitness levels; no doubt major lessons learned from last year.
We had 36 tries across the weekend’s four games, at an average scoreline of 33-30. This further emphasised the point I made on Tuesday of the importance of kicking three-point conversions.
And there were yellow cards everywhere, carrying on from last year, proving that cynical penalties won’t be tolerated.
The second weekend of the competition sees the University of Canberra Vikings play their first match of the season, while several teams have been hit by players being selected for the Barbarians to face Samoa in London on Saturday, with half a dozen or more players out of their NRC sides.
Action kicks off at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney tonight – there’s the after-work drinks venue sorted – with three more games to follow on Saturday afternoon and evening.
Get out to a game this weekend if you can, or get your www.FoxSports.com.au account sorted early and tune into the three live streams via NRC on demand.
Tonight: Sydney Stars v Queensland Country at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney; 7:35pm (AEST)
The Stars started with a impressive win last week against North Harbour – their second straight win, in fact – and they’re a good chance to jag their first ever win at home tonight.
New coach Peter Playford has his team playing a good brand of rugby for each other, with a nice mix of youthful backs and experienced forwards.
Queensland Country pushed Melbourne in the first half last week, and they’ll fancy their chances tonight, too.
Sydney have a few tweaks here and there. Hooker Tolu Latu played loosehead prop, but is out of the side this week, with Jeremy Tilse coming into the starting side and Al Ryan on the bench. Balmain backrower Ofa Finau also comes in for Jake Wainwright on the bench. James Hanson looks like he’ll squeeze one more NRC game in, too; my mail is that he’ll fly out with the Wallabies squad bound for Chicago on Friday afternoon.
Country have been hit by Saia Fainga’a’s BaaBaas selection, with Campbell Wakely – who played throughout last season – coming back into the pack. In another blow, Radike Samo is also out, but young Jack Cornelsen moves to Number 8, and Australian Under-20s flanker Maclean Jones earns his first Country start at blindside in an all-Uni of Queensland backrow with Conor Mitchell. Rockhampton product Duncan Paia’aua comes into the starting side at 12.
Sydney: Jeremy Tilse, James Hanson, Tom Robertson, Andrew Leota, Matt Philip, Dave Dennis, David Hickey ©, Pat Mccutcheon, Jake Gordon, Angus Roberts, Harry Jone, Andrew Robinson, Jim Stewart, Henry Clunies Ross, Tom Kingston (vc).
Reserves: Tom Coolican, Al Ryan, Matt Sandell, Rohan O’Reagan, Ofa Finau, Richard Draper, Jordan McGregor, John Hale.
Queensland Country: Haydn Hirsimaki, Campbell Wakely, Sef Fa’agase, Phil Potgieter, Richie Arnold, Maclean Jones, Conor Mitchell, Jack Cornelsen, James Tuttle (C), Sam Greene, Izaia Perese, Duncan Paia’aua, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Tom Pincus, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.
Reserves: Alex Mafi, AJ Campbell, Reuben Leilua, Milton Sikuea, Tyrell Barker, Scott Gale, Dion Taumata, Matt Gordon.
Referee: Graham Cooper
Tickets: At the gate, or via www.starsrugby.com.au and start at $15 for adults, with kids under 12 free. You can also snap up a four-game undercover seating membership for $50 – head to www.sydneystarsrugby.com.au/membership/ for all the details.
Saturday: Melbourne Rising v Brisbane City at Harlequin Rugby Club in Ashwood, Melbourne; 2pm (AEST)
For about half an hour last Sunday the Rising were in a bit of trouble against Queensland Country on the Gold Coast, and the Horan-Little Shield looked like changing hands on its first challenge.
It didn’t in the end, and Brisbane City will get a crack at it at Melbourne’s first home game this season.
And there’s plenty of motivation for City, too; the Queensland Rugby Union would love nothing more than for their heavily-anticipated Round 3 Country vs City match at Toowoomba next weekend to be a challenge for the Shield, in front of a big crowd who first saw the two great centres playing as schoolboys.
Melbourne have been hard-hit by the Barbarians selectors, with Tom English, Dom Shipperley, and Luke Jones all in line to face Samoa in London. My Melbourne spies tell me prop Tim Metcher is out with a hamstring problem, and that with all the changes, there could be anywhere up to five debutants, one of which I hope is the brilliantly named scrumhalf Maradona Farao, from the Harlequin club in Melbourne.
There’s a bit of excitement around Box Hill winger Filipe Vilitati, too, who could be the second graduate of the Island Breeze Rugby Plus program which last year unearthed none other than ‘Super’ Sefanaia Naivalu.
Brisbane City have also been hit, with skipper Liam Gill on BaaBaas duty, and some uncertainty around Samu Kerevi’s availability, having been named in the Wallabies’ train-on squad. I think he’ll play though, based simply on the fact that he’s not with the Wallabies in Sydney this week though several other extended squad players are.
Coach Nick Stiles has been talking about needing to give everyone in the squad game time, so we could see several changes when the side is announced. One change will be bench backrower Criff Tupou, who went off with a knee problem last week against Perth.
Teams to be announced today, and the referee is Angus Gardner.
Tickets: Tickets at the gate, or via www.melbournerising.com.au. Adults $15, kids under 12 free.
Saturday: NSW Country Eagles v University of Canberra Vikings at Woollahra Oval, Sydney; 3pm (AEST)
NSW Country only won by a point last weekend against the Greater Sydney Rams, but sitting on the sideline, I never really thought they were in danger of losing. Still, they need to be better against a Canberra side laden with Super Rugby-contracted players.
The Eagles have a couple of players needing to get through training today before being named later this afternoon, my Akubra-wearing spies tell me. And there will be at least one forced change for Country, being Wallabies training squad lock Sam Carter, who after a successful comeback from a knee medial ligament last week is likely to be on the plane to the US on Friday afternoon.
The Vikings are blessed with options to the degree that if Ben Alexander doesn’t start, as is being rumoured, they could still name a forward pack with seven contracted Brumbies. One of them will be Ita Vaea at No.8, who will be lining up against the side who regenerated his rugby career this time last year. Young Joe Powell will almost certainly get first crack at the no.9 jersey, as he launches a bid at the same number for the Brumbies in 2016.
One reason to head out to Woollahra on Saturday will be the first of four food and wine festivals at Eagles home games around the state this year. Before, during, and after the game you’ll be able to enjoy some proper country hospitality, with all the major food groups covered: craft beer, fine wine, beef jerky, and cup cakes.
I’m a little dirty I have the weekend off commentary duty now…
Teams to be announced today, and the referee is Mike Lash from New Zealand, in Australia on a trans-Tasman exchange, which will also see a couple of Australian refs doing ITM Cup games.
Tickets: Tickets at the gate, or via www.nswcountryeagles.com, with adults $15 and kids under 16 free.
Sunday: Perth Spirit v North Harbour Rays at McGillivray Oval, UWA Park, Perth; 5:30pm (AEST)
I was really impressed with Perth in last week’s opening game, and particularly their second half in which they finished with clear dominance at the scrum.
Bench prop Jermaine Ainsley was really good in this regard, and he even backed up to play in Nedlands’ grand final win on Sunday. Hooker Heath Tessmann was making breaks for fun, and if some of the young guns start firing, the Spirit will become a handy side in no time at all.
North Harbour were out of the blocks in a flash against the Stars, but faded worse than my 3-iron and were essentially out of the game by halftime. The Rays believe their performance was probably indicative of the limited time the side had preparing together.
Flyhalf Luke Burton will be out for a few weeks after suffering a broken nose in the first few minutes at Ballymore, and though its understood Kyle Godwin will named later today, it will likely be in the centres. It seems there will be as many as six changes from the side that played in Brisbane last week. Ian Prior was very good, but I’ll be interested to see if Ryan Louwrens starting in the no.9 is one of those changes.
The big-ticket item for the Rays is the return of Manly flyhalf Sam Lane. Melbourne Rebels-bound Reece Hodge will also come back into the side at fullback, after Dave Feltscheer picked up a broken hand that may well rule him out for the season. There’s likely to be a few changes out wide, and I’m told young lock Harry Rourke impressed in the Rays’ development side’s game, to the point he might be elevated to the NRC pack alongside the evergreen Cam Treloar.
One blow for the Rays is that lock Ed Gower is off to the UK to take up an opportunity with Premiership club Saracens.
Teams to be announced today, and the referee is Andrew Lees.
Tickets: Available at the gate at McGillivray Oval, where the Spirit want you in numbers to #FillTheHill. Adults $15 and kids under 16 free, or you can pick up a 4-for-3 Spirit season tickets for just $45 at www.westernforce.com.au/product/perth-spirit-season-ticket.
Greater Sydney Rams have the bye.
Brett McKay
Expert
Haven't been to much club rugby, I take it, George?
DM
Guest
Well, Horan and Little did play together as schoolboys in rep teams.
George
Guest
$15 a ticket - that is a bit stiff for an NRC game.
Brett McKay
Expert
Maradona Farao is still in front for me... NMP, Jack Dempsey played a couple of games off the Tahs bench this year, Sam Lane has been in both the Reds and Tahs programs, and I get the distinct impression we might see a lot more of Reece Hodge next year with the Rebels..
Markus
Guest
They do have Boyd Killingworth though, one of the greatest names I have ever heard.
Boris
Guest
Frankie Fainifo peaked years ago when he was playing for Robb College in Armidale but we'll see how he goes.
Don
Roar Rookie
The match between Brisbane City and QLD Country in a fortnight is being heavily promoted on radio now. The QRU seem to be giving it a red hot go. I expect a really good crowd at the game and it is a great venue to watch footy. Shame it is Sunday arvo though. Saturday arvo would have seen more Brisbane fans do the drive.
nmpcart
Guest
Interesting, the Rays don't seem to have any current SR players that I recognise. Not sure what that pack is like but Perth Spirit pack was very good last week against Brisbane.
Markus
Guest
Very strong looking team indeed. Albert Anae was the eighth Brumby signing I had in mind for hooker to make up the pack but I assume unavailable. Also hoping Aidan Toua isn't injured again.
Brett McKay
Expert
North Harbour out now, too: Hodge and Lane get their chance in Perth MACQUARIE Uni North Harbour Rays selectors have brought classy Manly Marlins duo straight into their starting side to take on Perth Spirit in the week two Buildcorp National Rugby Championship game in Perth on Saturday . Reece Hodge will start the match at fullback while Sam Lane will share flyhalf duties throughout the afternoon with Hamish Angus, who did so well against the Sydney Stars at times last weekend. Hodge gets the chance in the No.15 jersey in the wake of the hand injury sustained by Dave Feltscheer just before halftime against the Stars at Manly Oval last Saturday. Feltscheer will undergo scans later this week to see if his broken hand requires surgery, but he is almost certainly out for the rest of the NRC season. Lane rested an ankle injury that he nursed through the Marlins’ surge to the Shute Shield grand final, but trained earlier this week and will get his chance to impress in Perth. He will need to train on Thursday night and come through without any major side effects to take his place on the plane to Perth on Friday. Another Marlin Dennis Pili-Gaitau has been brought into the side at outside centre and will work with Tom Hill, who impressed enough last week to make several NRC team-of-the-week selections. That sees Michael Adams, who scored a neat try in the early stages of the match v the Stars, move to the wing. The only change in the starting XV sees Harry Rorke (Gordon) come into a starting role at lock. Rorke played in the Emerging Rays’ nice win over the Galaxy (the Sydney Stars’ development team) and will bring his abrasive style to the table in Perth. He can play in the backrow as well as lock and is handy at lineout time. Mark Johnson moves back to the bench and takes the place of Ed Gower after the workhorse Manly lock took up an option to play for Saracens in the UK on a two-year deal. Ryan Melrose, who was part of the inaugural Rays squad in 2014 and has been playing well for Manly in the Shute Shield, has come into the group to cover for Gower. MACQUARIE UNI NORTH HARBOUR RAYS V PERTH SPIRIT 15. Reece HODGE (Manly) 14. Alex NORTHAM (Manly) 13. Dennis PILI-GAITAU (Manly) 12. Tom HILL (Eastwood) 11. Michael ADAMS (Warringah) 10. Sam LANE (Manly) / Hamish ANGUS (Warringah) 9. Josh HOLMES (Warringah) 8. Sam WARD (Warringah) 7. Boyd KILLINGWORTH (Warringah) 6. Jack DEMPSEY (Gordon) 5. Cameron TRELOAR (Warringah) 4. Harry RORKE (Gordon) 3. Wayne BORSAK (Warringah) 2. Luke HOLMES (captain, Warringah) 1. Mitch LEWIS (Manly) RESERVES: 16. Vance ELLIOTT (Manly) 17. Rory O’CONNOR (Warringah) 18. Lawrance HUNTING (Northern Suburbs) 19. Mark JOHNSON (Gordon) 20. Harry BERGELIN (Manly) 21. Tim DONLAN (Manly) 22. Tyson DAVIS (Warringah) 23. Richard WOOLF (Northern Suburbs)
El Gamba
Roar Guru
Great stuff Brett.
Bill
Guest
Thanks Brett, didn't even think about social media I'll go off and get onboard via that medium.
Brett McKay
Expert
Rugby News has... well, news of a blow for NSW Country scrum half Michael Dowsett: "Brumbies halfback Dowsett will undergo scans in Sydney today after dislocating his shoulder at training on Monday. Although the Eagles are hopeful the 23-year-old could be back in 6 weeks, he may be forced to return to Canberra for surgery." http://www.rugbynews.net.au/dave-feltscheer-and-michael-dowsett-expected-to-miss-remainder-of-nrc/
Brett McKay
Expert
Canberra team named, chockers with Brumbies, james Dargaville at 12, and the return of Frankie Fainifo... UC Vikings name side for season opening match against Eagles University of Canberra Vikings Head Coach Brad Harris has named a side mixed with youth and plenty of experience for the team’s opening match of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship this weekend. The 23-man side to take on NSW Country Eagles at Woollahra Oval on Saturday, contains nine Vikings debutants that are either NRC rookies, or have moved to the nation’s capital for the 2015 season. Allan Alaalatoa and Leslie Leuluai’ali'i-Makin will start in the front row, alongside 2015 UC Vikings recruit and former Perth Spirit hooker Robbie Abel. Abel made his rise through the ranks with Canberra Royals side, before taking a two-year hiatus from rugby as he undertook a Mormon mission. He made his NRC debut against the UC Vikings last year for the Perth Spirit and went on to score five tries from just six appearances. Rory Arnold and Blake Enever, who were named joint recipients of the Aquis Brumbies Shawn MacKay Most Outstanding Young Talent Award following their standout Super Rugby seasons, will link up in the second-row. It will be Enever’s first match for the Vikings after playing for Queensland Country in 2014. The UC Vikings have named arguably one of the best back-rows in the 2015 NRC. Brumbies trio Jordan Smiler (vice-captain), Jarrad Butler (captain) and former NSW Country Eagles No. 8 Ita Vaea will link up at the back of the scrum. At scrumhalf is Joe Powell. The Australian U20 representative recently signed on with the Brumbies Extended Playing Squad following three Super Rugby appearances with the club in 2015. At flyhalf will be Rodney Iona. The Tuggeranong Vikings playmaker already has a strong relationship with Powell and showed up a number of opposition players with his fancy footwork in the 2014 NRC. At inside-centre will be Brumbies youngster James Dargaville. The 23-year old played for Sydney Stars last season and will be looking to make a great impression in the number 12. Joining Dargaville in the centres will be one of the competition’s most elusive try-scorers from 2014, Nigel Ah Wong. On the wings will be Lausii Taliauli and Jerome Niumata. Niumata is one of the John I Dent’s best finishers, while Taliauli was one of the stars for the competition’s champions, Royals. At fullback will be former New Zealand schoolboy, Isaac Thompson who made a great impression for the Vikings during the 2014 NRC. If the starting side wasn’t impressive enough, the reserves list contains a mixture of some of the best young players in Australian rugby, and the most experienced prop in Wallabies history, Ben Alexander. Alexander will be making his debut for the UC Vikings alongside another experienced campaigner, Frankie Fainifo who has returned home from three-years of professional rugby in France. Joining the ‘veterans’ on the bench will be NRC rookies, Dean Oakman-Hunt, Brent Hamlin and Mitch Third. Hamlin, a former Ausralian schoolboy representative scrumhalf, starred for Royals in the 2015 John I Dent Cup. Dean is one half of the Oakman-Hunt twins named in the UC Vikings squad from the Tuggeranong Vikings program and Third has linked with the Vikings from the Queensland U20 program. The other reserves listed are 2014 UC Vikings squad members Sione Taula, Connal McInerney and Rowan Perry. After having the bye in round one, the UC Vikings travel to Woollahra Oval in Sydney to take on the Eagles on Saturday. Kick-off is 3pm. In 2014, the Eagles defeated the UC Vikings 42-37 at Viking Park. UC VIKINGS v NSW Country Eagles – 29 August 2015, Woollahra Oval 1. Allan Alaalatoa 2. Robbie Abel 3. Leslie Leuluai’ali’i-Makin 4. Rory Arnold 5. Blake Enever 6. Jordan Smiler (vc) 7. Jarrad Butler (c) 8. Ita Vaea 9. Joe Powell 10. Rodney Iona (vc) 11. Lausii Taliauli 12. James Dargaville 13. Nigel Ah Wong 14. Jerome Niumata 15. Isaac Thompson RESERVES 16. Connal McInerney 17. Sione Taula 18. Ben Alexander 19. Dean Oakman-Hunt 20. Rowan Perry 21. Brent Hamlin 22. Mitch Third 23. Francis Fainifo I'm genuinely scared about pronouncing 'Leslie Leuluai’ali’i-Makin' next week in commentary.... :eek:
Brett McKay
Expert
It's a good point about the Viking pack, Markus, I wish I mentioned that............................... Vikings team out imminently, for what it's worth.
Markus
Guest
It will be interesting to see the team announced by the Vikings. I'm not up to speed on injuries but their squad list suggests they could field a full Brumbies pack even with Alexander on the bench, and a full starting XV of either current or former contracted Brumbies even without Speight, Tomane or Lealiifano available. That is a lot of depth to call on through the season, hopefully things finally click this year and that depth and experience is taken advantage of.
Brett McKay
Expert
Yep, knew that AJ, but thanks. Great to see the next generation coming through. I caught just a few minutes of Alex Horan at 10 in a Qld U19s trial up at Ballymore last week, and he looked pretty handy too..
AJ
Guest
Greg's son by the way and when he played in the game I posted about below, he killed 'em. Just like Greg, No.8 with great skills, catching, tall and pacey. Greene was brilliant that day also, he pinned Nudgee in a corner all second half.
Brett McKay
Expert
Melbourne Rising have named their team, and I was on the money, with up to six players in line to debut: MELBOURNE RISING TO FEATURE UP TO 6 DEBUTANTS Up to six debutants could feature for the Melbourne Rising in Round Two of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC), after Head Coach Zane Hilton named an exciting lineup to host Brisbane City at Harlequin Rugby Club on Saturday at 2pm. Talented outside backs Stacey Ili (Melbourne Uni) and Justin Marsters (Harlequin) will start, replacing Tom English and Dom Shipperley on the wings after both of those players were selected to travel to London and represent the Barbarians against Samoa at Olympic Stadium on Sunday morning (AEST). English and Shipperley will be joined by Luke Jones, however in his place on the reserves bench comes Sam Jeffries who will feature for the first time this season after returning from injury. Injury rules out Tim Metcher, with Mike Tyler promoted to the starting lineup after impressing against Queensland Country, and Melbourne Uni prop Matt Onesemo one of four potential debutants on the bench. The others are Melbourne Unicorns hooker Mitch Andrews, Harlequin scrumhalf Maradona Farao and Box Hill winger Filipe Vilitati, a member of the Island Breeze Rugby Plus program which last year unearthed current Melbourne Rebels star Sefanaia Naivalu. The Horan-Little Shield will again be on the line this Saturday; Melbourne Rising team to face Brisbane City, NRC Round Two, Saturday August 29th 2015: 1. Mike Tyler (Power House, 1 Rising cap) 2. Pat Leafa (Box Hill & Rebels, 10 Rising caps) 3. Duncan Chubb (Southern Districts (NSW), 1 Rising cap) 4. Murray Douglas (Harlequin, 1 Rising cap) 5. Steve Cummins (Harlequin & Rebels, 1 Rising cap) 6. Jordy Reid (Melbourne & Rebels, 1 Rising cap) 7. Scott Fuglistaller (Moorabbin & Rebels, 1 Rising cap) (Captain) 8. Colby Fainga’a (Footscray & Rebels, 1 Rising cap) (Vice Captain) 9. Ben Meehan (Box Hill & Rebels, 4 Rising caps) 10. Jack Debreczeni (Endeavour Hills & Rebels, 10 Rising caps) (Vice Captain) 11. Stacey Ili (Melbourne Uni) * 12. Lloyd Johansson (Harlequin, 10 Rising caps) 13. Leo Taliu (Harlequin, 1 Rising cap) 14. Justin Marsters (Harlequin) * 15. Jonah Placid (Melbourne Uni & Rebels, 8 Rising caps) 16. Mitch Andrews (Melbourne) ** 17. Fereti Sa’aga (Melbourne Uni, 3 Rising caps) 18. Matt Onesemo (Melbourne Uni) ** 19. Sam Jeffries (Melbourne Uni & Rebels, 9 Rising caps) 20. Pom Simona (Harlequin, 9 Rising caps) 21. Maradona Farao (Harlequin) ** 22. Sione Tuipulotu (Southern Districts, 1 Rising cap) 23. Filipe Vilitati (Box Hill) ** *Denotes Melbourne Rising debut **Denotes potential Melbourne Rising debut
AJ
Guest
I remember a quasi GPS Grand Final a couple of years ago between Nudgee and BGS where QC players Tuttle, Green, Cornelson, Jones and Mafi all played. While I worry about the scholarship arms race in schools it is good to see these boys progress.