0
Venue & time
Parramatta Stadium, (Sydney). Saturday September 29, 7.30pm (AEST)
Head to head
Played 1. Spirit 1, Rams 0
Last time
August 10, 2007. Member's Equity Stadium (Perth), Spirit 21-13 Rams
Team changes
The Rams have stuck with the same starting XV that demolished the Vikings last start. The only change to the squad sees utility back Mark Preston return to the bench alongside dynamic centre Chris Siale, who is nearing full fitness after an ankle injury midway through the season.
Test scrumhalf Matt Henjak is back to lead the Spirit after being rested last start, while James Stannard, who scored one of the team's three tries, reverts to the bench. In-form prop AJ Whalley is back in the squad after also having a rest last week, while flanker Richard Brown is set to take his place in the side despite being under an injury cloud after sustaining a wrist injury against the Tornadoes.
Form
The Rams are sitting on top of the Mazda ARC table with just two losses all season, one of those to Perth in the opening round. More recently, they have been in sparkling form. They easily out-pointed the Tornadoes and the Aces and smashed the Vikings 51-17 last start. Their only slip-up was a tight 24-17 loss to the Fleet a fortnight ago, but it must be said injuries to key players played a big part in that loss.
Perth Spirit went into the Mazda ARC as one of the teams most likely to succeed but mid-way through the season sat on the bottom of the table with just one win from three starts. But since then they have surged to live up to their pre-tournament favourtism. They put in workman-like performances to stifle the Rays and the Rebels in consecutive weeks before steamrolling the Aces 60-15. However, they were forced to work hard for a 21-17 win over the Tornadoes last start in Brisbane. They beat the Rams in the opening round, but the Sydneysiders are a much more accomplished outfit these days and will take some beating.
Who's hot
Rams flyhalf Kurtley Beale has lived up to all the hype surrounding him with some dazzling displays this campaign. The same can be said for young guns Lachie Turner and Josh Holmes, while Siale was in terrific form before his injury. Queensland-bound lock Van Humphries has also been impressive up front as has Test hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau.
The front row has been outstanding for the Spirit in the back-half of the season. Whatever the combination, Gareth Hardy, Luke Holmes, Troy Takiari, Tai McIsaac and Whalley have performed superbly and laid the platform for the flashy Spirit backs. Matt Henjak, Scott Daruda, Ryan Cross, Nick Cummins and more recently Ed Jenkins have taken advantage of good ball with some eye-catching displays for the Western Australians.
Teams
Perth Spirit
1. Gareth Hardy
2. Luke Holmes
3. Troy Takiari
4. Tom Hockings
5. Sitaleki Timani
6. Scott Fardy
7. Richard Brown
8. Scott Fava
9. Matt Henjak (c)
10. Scott Daruda
11. Jackson Mullane
12. Ryan Cross
13. Nick Cummins
14. Ed Jenkins
15. Luke McLean
16. Tai McIsaac
17. AJ Whalley
18. Luke Doherty
19. Will Brock Brown
20. James Stannard
21. Todd Feather
22. Kane Allen.
Western Sydney Rams
1. Ben Alexander, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (vc), 3. Aaron Broughton-Rouse, 4. Ben Hand (c), 5. Van Humphries, 6. Hugh Perrett, 7. Wil Brame, 8. Tom Egan, 9 Josh Holmes, 10. Kurtley Beale, 11. Fa'atonu Fili, 12. Rory Sidey, 13. Luke Johnson, 14. Ben Martin, 15. Lachie Turner (vc).
Reserves: 16. Peter Niumata, 17. James Lakepa, 18. Marty Wilson, 19. Mark Howell, 20. David Rimmer, 21. Chris Siale, 22. Mark Preston.
ET Perth Spirit v Rams - Preview
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