Team Announcement:
:)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtXtIxxPQ-s
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Team Announcement:
:)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtXtIxxPQ-s
Very youthful side, great to see the mix of club and Super 15 players
They still seem to be chopping and changing. It looks like a better mix this week, but will the constant disruption affect the performance.
yesQuote:
Originally Posted by GIGS20
BOND UNIVERSITY QUEENSLAND COUNTRY SIDE NAMED FOR ROCKHAMPTON CLASH
Bond University Queensland Country head coach Jason Gilmore has named his side that will travel to Rockhampton to host Perth Spirit this Saturday, 19 September, at Victoria Park in Round 5 of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC).
The starting XV features seven changes from the team that ran out against the Greater Sydney Rams in Sydney last Saturday.
St.George Queensland Reds loose-forward Ed Quirk has been named at Number 8 and will make his NRC and Queensland Country debut, while 2014 campaigner James Turner, who was part of the Souths team that claimed the 2015 BLK Queensland Premier Rugby title, returns to the side at blindside-flanker.
Lock duo Tyrell Barker and Sam Reiser will make their NRC starting debuts this Satuday, taking the place of Phil Potgieter and Milton Sikuea who have both been ruled out through injury. Haydn Hirsimaki also returns to the starting XV at loose-head prop after missing Round 4.
In the backs, Campbell Magnay will miss Saturday’s clash through injury which see’s Souths playmaker Teti Tela promoted to the 12 jersey with Matt Gordon moving to outside centre. Tom Pincus also returns to the wing after missing Round 4.
In the reserves, Bond University lock Cameron Bracewell is in line for his long awaited NRC and Queensland Country debut. Named as part of the inaugural 2014 squad, Bracewell missed out on selection last year through injury which has once again delayed his opportunities in 2015.
Jason Gilmore believes that while the side has a number of changes from last week, the players coming in will be hungry for the opportunity to play in-front of the home crowd in Rockhampton.
“We’ve had to make a few changes this week due to injury but the players we have coming into the squad bring a lot of experience with them,” Gilmore said.
“To have Ed Quirk in the backrow will be excellent for our younger players like Conor Mitchell and Maclean Jones, while James Turner started in all bar one of his seven games for Country during 2014.
“Teti Tela has been a great addition to the squad since coming into the program and he offers us a lot of attacking options as a ball-playing centre. To have Tom Pincus in the back-three again is also a bonus as he is a player tested at the NRC level having played throughout 2014 as well.
“It’s also great to have Cameron Bracewell back after being named in the squad two-years running but is yet to don the Country jersey due to injury. He’ll be wrapped with the opportunity to get out on field in one of our regional centres.
“2015 marks this 50th anniversary of the Queensland Country Rugby Union (QCRU) and this match in Rockhampton allows up to celebrate the contributions the region has made to the game.
“Growing up in Gladstone as a junior player, I know firsthand that there is a lot of talent coming though the Central Queensland ranks. While our local representatives in Rob Simmons (Theodore), Lolo Fakaosilea (Emerald) and Duncan Paia’aua (Rockhampton) are unavailable for Saturday’s match through representative duty and injury, these three are testament to the pathway that exists in the region.”
Queensland Country’s match against Perth Spirit will form the second-leg of the 2015 Queensland Country Tour, which will see the side play its NRC home games on the Darling Downs, in Rockhampton and on the Sunshine Coast. The tour is proudly supported by the Queensland Government.
Tickets are now on sale for all Queensland-based NRC matches at www.redsrugby.com.au.
QRU has introduced a new ticket offer for the 2015 season, with registered junior club participants under the age of 16 given free entry to any Queensland-based NRC game when accompanied by a paying adult.
Tickets start at just $5 for juniors, $10 for concession and $15 for adults.
The match kicks-off at 6:00pm with tickets available for purchase online at www.redsrugby.com.au and at the gate. The match will also be LIVE streamed at www.foxsports.com.au.
Queensland Country side to play Perth Spirit at Victoria Park in Rockhampton, Saturday 19 September:
1. Haydn Hirsimaki – Sunnybank/Sunshine Coast
2. Saia Fainga’a – Reds/GPS
3. Sef Fa’agase –Reds/University of Queensland/Beaudesert
4. Tyrell Barker- Easts**
5. Sam Reiser – University of Queensland**
6. James Turner (VC) – Souths/Cairns
7. Conor Mitchell – University of Queensland/Sunshine Coast
8. Ed Quirk – Reds/Easts*
9. James Tuttle (C) – Reds/GPS
10. Sam Greene – Reds/Brothers
11. Pierce Fitzgerald – Brothers/Townsville
12. Teti Tela – Souths**
13. Matt Gordon – Easts/Toowoomba
14. Tom Pincus – University of Queensland/Gold Coast
15. Elliott Hagen – Easts/Sunshine Coast
Reserves
16. Alex Mafi – Reds/Bond University/Gold Coast
17. Reuben Leilua – University of Queensland/Bowen
18. Taniela Tupou - Reds/Brothers
19. Cameron Bracewell – Bond University/Gold Coast***
20. Maclean Jones – University of Queensland/St George
21. Scott Malolua - Souths
22. Dion Taumata – Bond University/Gold Coast
23. Tom Banks – Reds/University of Queensland
*Debut
**Starting Debut
***Potential Debut
At 846kg perhaps the lightest starting pack we've had in the NRC.
Gain nearly 20kg when the replacements come on.
11 Western Force squad v 8 Reds squad.
One of my bosses son making his debut for Qld country, please win Spirit!
Only caught the end of the game but it was Spirit 64: 13 Qld Country at 71 minutes before The Hoff gave two quick Yellows (Hardwick & Heiberg) which saw Country close the gap with 3 tries for Spirit 64: 34 Qld Country.
Good to see the lads get a win on the road.
Update: Tries as follows:
Koteka (6)
Prior (19)
Havilli (33,50)
Konelio (39)
Hardwick (40)
Nikoro (43)
Godwin (46)
Ian Prior kicked all 8 conversions.
Qld Country had only the single try in 1st half.
Looks like well-sustained pressure for the 1st 50 minutes - with a try every ~6 minutes
god awful online commentary.
what did you expect-least they spoke semi English!
Spirit played really well,apart from the scrums
Good overall performance, we were monstered in the scrums but the backline looked good.
Even with three yellows we were better disciplined than previous and many more line breaks.
Konelio and Matatua really played well Godwin and Burton directed well and Prior kicked sensationally.
Hardwick and Koteka worked hard again and Walton great first half.
Look forward to some of the same again this week
Perth Spirit Far Too Strong for QLD Country in Rockhampton
By David Berrie on Sat 19th September 15 in NRC
The Perth Spirit have won their first match of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) with a dominant 64 – 34 win over the Queensland Country, at Victoria Park in Rockhampton.
The Spirit were exceptional in attack and fierce at the break down. It was a tough day at the office in the scrums, with the Queensland Country showing their strength, but the Spirit were far too strong in open play and hurt them on the scoreboard.
Ian Prior was brilliant off the kicking tee, with eight from eight conversions made, which allowed the Spirit to streak away, leading by 56 points at one stage in the second half.
Perth Spirit captain, Heath Tessmann, said was very happy with the team’s performance and was glad to come away with the win.
“It was just great out there today. It was tough in those scrums but we worked so hard all over the park and the outside backs turned it on today.
“It was just nice to have everything click, we set out to play that brand of rugby and we held to our word. I’m really proud of the boys and I know Tai is too.
“We won’t be getting ahead of ourselves though, with the Rising next week we have a lot of work to do. They are a strong side and we can’t just fall back on that performance we need to bring that momentum and attitude into next week’s match.”
The Spirit started with a bang, regathering the kick-off with a brilliant chase and jump from No. 8 Richard Hardwick. Perth then put a strong set of phases together, which led to a Spirit lineout and Kane Koteka at the back of a rumbling maul from just outside the 22 put the first points on the board. Ian Prior split the middle and it was 8-0.
Perth Spirit struck again with a lineout steal from Cottesloe’s Adrian Hall, which then sent captain Heath Tessmann on a blistering run, he was brought down just shy of the try line, where Ian Prior dove over for an easy five points. He made it two conversions from two kicks and extended the lead to 16-0.
Queensland Country hit back after a brutal scrummaging performance in their 22 that went for nearly 10 minutes. Francois van Wyk was sent to the bin and the Spirit were down to 14 men, which made the opportunity for the Country’s first try as Sam Greene found a gap. Greene made the conversion and took the score to 16-8.
It was then that the Spirit took the game to another level, when Joondalup’s Maalonga Konelio was flicked an outside ball just outside the 22 with no space between him and the sideline, he tip-toed his way down the line and slammed down the Spirit’s third try of the game. Ian Prior made the conversion look easy and sent the score back out to 24-8.
The Spirit were in no mood to play it safe, when a quick ball was thrown in, in the Country’s 22, it then made it’s way out to Konelio who put on some incredible footwork and got around two Queensland defenders, he offloaded to Ammon Mautauto who beat another defender and then gave back on the outside to Konelio who finished off one of the best tries we have seen in the Buildcorp NRC. Ian Prior didn’t look like missing and with the conversion pushed the score out to 32-8.
The Spirit weren’t done yet, after another strong set of phases a gap opened up for Wests Scarborough’s Pierre Roberts and he crashed over for his first Buildcorp NRC try and with Ian Prior’s conversion took the Spirit into the sheds at half time 40-8.
Perth came out firing again in the second half, after pushing the Queensland Country deep in their own 22, a hurried kick was caught by fullback Albert Nikoro who sliced through three defenders and dotted down his second try of the season. Ian Prior didn’t change a thing and the Spirit were 48-8 up.
The Spirit struck again when Onehunga Havili showcased what we have been waiting for. The big winger streaked down the sideline, bounced off two defenders, offloaded to Kyle Godwin who stepped in and away from two more Country defenders and went in for a brilliant try. Once again Ian Prior made it look easy from the sideline and extended the lead to 56-8.
Cottesloe’s Adrian Hall decided to go for a run of his own after a steal from the Country break down, he beautifully offloaded to Kyle Godwin who once again showed great composure and awesome skill to weave through the Queensland Country defence, he was brought to ground inches from the line and no one could stop Onehunga Havili from that range, he smashed over for his first try in the competition. Prior made it eight from eight and the Perth Spirit shot out to 64-8.
After some substitutions to the Country side, they put together a strong set of phases which led to a great try to Taniela Toupou. Greene couldn’t convert which left the score at 64-13.
The Spirit then showed a lack of discipline, with two yellow cards in the space of five minutes. When Richard Hardwick and Chris Heiberg were sent to the bin the Country pounced. Rolling in three tries, with Taniela Toupou going over for his second, James Turner found space and winger Pierce Fitzgerald cut through the Spirit defence. Sam Greene could only convert twice to take the Country up to 64-34.
Richard Hardwick then finished the game off as he started, with a courageous turnover penalty, which Luke Burton calmly kicked into the Victoria Park grand stand to give the Perth Spirit their first win of the season.
http://www.westernforce.com.au/artic...ry-rockhampton
Well done Spirit. A dominant win, fantastic!
Well worth watching the highlights, and given the scoreline it will take long enough. But if you've got time, watch the second half of the Rising-Rams match...great intense rugby.
The commentators for this match were simply terrible (especially for the 2nd time!).
Rucks stats for the Perth Spirit Forwards as follows:
Remember:
1. Early means 1st or 2nd of player’s team AFTER the ball carrier has been tackled and brought to ground.
2. Impact means active engagement: strong physical contact, changed shape of ruck, clean-out, protecting ball etc. (more than hand on someone’s bum or arriving after the hard work has been done). Yes it’s subjective - but as I collect all data at least it’s consistent.
3. Impact DOES NOT equate to Effectiveness. I’ve concluded that coming up with an effectiveness measure is just too hard in the time that I have available – but open to suggestions.
Attachment 4064
Attachment 4065
Comments:
1. Forwards provided about 70% of the Total ruck involvements.
2. Pierre Roberts put in a strong effort supporting the Spirit ball carriers.
3. Adrian Hall had a standout performance in putting pressure on the Qld Country ball carriers.
4. Luke Burton generally punches way above his weight wrt to ruck involvement.
5. Kane Koteka's lack of involvement in Defensive rucks is more of a reflection of the Spirit's possession dominance during his playing time.
6. Strong effort by the Spirit saw the score Qld Country 8:64 Spirit at the 50 minute mark (despite van Wyke's YC).
7. QCountry were making little impact until Hardwick's YC at 62 minutes, but still did not add to the score until Heiberg's YC at 69 minutes. QCountry scored 21 points while Spirit were down to 13 players. They had some big units off the bench.
8. Was impressed by the efforts of those who lifted in the last 10 minutes when the QC were pressing hard. The Spirit did well to restrict them to an unconverted try.
9. Enjoyable win to the Spirit with some exciting, expansive rugby, good goal kicking by Prior (from almost anywhere), some good defence at times but 3 Yellow Cards of concern. The Hoff certainly seems a bit more forgiving of transgressions of others as he also punished us in Perth.
Hoping for a good game against Melb Rising.