Spirit v Vikings, preview
Spirit v Vikings, preview
August 16, 2007 - 10:51am
Story by: Sportal
Venue & time
Members Equity Stadium, Friday Aug 17, 7pm (WA) 9pm (AEST)
Head to head
Debut clash
Walking wounded & team changes
Spirit skipper Matt Henjak injured his knee last week against the Rams but is making a faster than expected recovery and has been bracketed alongside James Stannard at scrumhalf for this Friday night's match. Hard-working flanker David Pocock is also out with a knee injury. Richard Brown moves to openside flanker with Luke Doherty coming in at blindside and Scott Fava going to No.8. The Spirit's rotation policy sees Scott Daruda switch with James Hilgendorf at flyhalf and Luke Holmes in for Tai McIsaac at hooker, while winger Dan Bailey makes his debut on the wing.
The Vikings have made only one change to their starting XV with flanker Jack Vanderglas taking over from Mark Chisholm, who re-joins his Wallabies team-mates in camp for the World Cup. Lock Dan Guinness comes into the 22-man squad for the first time this season off the bench.
Form
The Spirit confirmed their Mazda ARC favourites tag with a dominant display to down the Rams 21-13 in their opening-round match, only letting the Sydneysiders in for a try in the final minutes. Before that, Perth dominated the breakdown and showed they can spread the ball from wing to wing to expose a tired defence.
The Vikings looked good early against the Rebels last week before tiring noticeably around the edge of the breakdown and allowing Melbourne to over-run them. Their combinations seem to be working in attack, they just need to stay disciplined in defence.
Who's hot
Test player Cameron Shepherd oozed class in last week's win scoring 16 points looking safe in defence and dangerous in attack, while Richard Brown and the injured Pocock took to the new experimental rules with relish.
Vikings skipper Alister Campbell, hooker Saia Faingaa and prop John Ulugia worked hard for the Vikings last week, while teenage flyhalf Christian Lealiifano showed plenty of promise at pivot.
Teams
Perth Spirit
1. Pek Cowan
2. Luke Holmes
3. AJ Whalley
4. Tom Hockings
5. Sitaleki Timani
6. Luke Doherty
7. Richard Brown
8. Scott Fava
9. James Stannard (Matt Henjak)
10. Scott Daruda
11. Nick Cummins
12. Junior Pelesasa
13. Ryan Cross
14. Dan Bailey
15. Cameron Shepherd
16.Tai McIsaac
17.Troy Takiari
18. Scott Fardy (Kitone Fuluna)
19. Will Brock
20. James Hilgendorf
21. Lachlan MacKay
22. Ratu Siganiyavi
Canberra Vikings
1. Nic Henderson,
2. Saia Faingaa,
3. John Ulugia,
4. Alister Campbell (c),
5. Adam Wallace-Harrison,
6. Jack Vanderglas,
7. Julian Salvi,
8. Jone Tawake,
9. Nick Haydon;
10. Christian Lealiifano,
11. Francis Fainifo,
12. Gene Fairbanks,
13. Matt Carraro,
14. Eddie McLaughlin,
15. Tim Wright.
16. Anthony Hegarty,
17. Dan Raymond,
18. Dan Guinness,
19. Peter Kimlin,
20. Anthony Faingaa,
21. Rowan Kellam,
22. Tim Cornforth,
23. Pauliasi Taumoepeau. ???23
