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By David Berrie on Thu 8th September
The Perth Spirit have opted for a strong split of professional Western Force players and local Pindan Premier Grade stars for the match-day 23 to take on the Western Sydney Rams at Concord Oval in Sydney on Saturday morning.
Coach Dwayne Nestor has tweaked the side that went down to the Sydney Rays last week bringing in classy Joondalup outside back James Wepener for his Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) debut while Nedlands’ Tom Sheminant and Kalamunda’s Russell Burges are both a chance to make their debut off the bench.
With a 13-10 split of club players to professional Western Force players Nestor says it is fantastic to see so many Pindan Premier Grade players pulling on the jersey for what is sure to be a physical encounter with the Rams.
“I think it’s awesome that we have so many club guys in the team this week,” he said. “I’ve said it before, the enthusiasm the club guys bring to the group and the skill level they are bringing is really good and a huge benefit to the team.”
“For the club guys to come in and show their willingness to learn and develop alongside the professional guys is fantastic and I’m loving that we have them in the group and are giving them an opportunity.
“The Rams are a big unit, they have some big guys and we will have to match their physicality. If we can do that it will stand us in good stead and I think the team knows that it will be a key area on Saturday.”
“One of our focus points over the last few weeks has been on winning collisions, if you aren’t winning the collisions then you aren’t winning rugby games.”
In the only change to the front-row hooker Harry Scoble comes in for Anaru Rangi who will miss with a quad strain. Joondalup powerhouse Laione Mulikihaamea and UWA young gun Shambeckler Vui have been rewarded with another start after strong performances against the Rays.
In the second row, Cottesloe captain Kieran Stringer will link up with Future Force Foundation product Onehunga Havili who shifts to lock after starting at No.8 in the opening two rounds.
Rounding out the starting forward pack, Brynard Stander will look to be at his imposing best at blindside, Kane Koteka returns to the Spirit at openside after a one week absence with concussion, with Richard Hardwick shifting to the back of the scrum.
Ryan Louwrens and skipper Jono Lance will lead the backline in the halves and the pair will be intent on sparking the Spirit attack after limited opportunities on the attacking end in Round Two.
In the centres Bill Meakes moves into the No.12 jersey with Ammon Matuauto selected at outside centre for his first run-on start of the season.
In an all Pindan Premier Grade back three James Wepener replaces Luke Morahan who has been called up for Wallabies duties with Eric Vasukicakau of Cottesloe and Palmyra’s Manihera Eden completing the starting team at fullback.
In the reserves, Ben Tapuai and Michael Ruru will look to inject some pace into the game when called upon, while Russell Burges and Tom Sheminant will be keen to show what they can do if they get on for their Buildcorp NRC debuts.
Buildcorp NRC – Round Two
Greater Sydney Rams vs Perth Spirit
Saturday, 10 September
Kick-off 11:00AM AWST
Concord Oval, Sydney
Live Stream Available HERE
1 LAIONE MULIKIHAAMEA (Joondalup)
2 HARRY SCOBLE (UWA)
3 SHAMBECKLER VUI (UWA)
4 KIERAN STRINGER (Cottesloe)
5 ONEHUNGA HAVILI (Palmyra)
6 BRYNARD STANDER (Nedlands)
7 KANE KOTEKA (Wests Scarborough)
8 RICHARD HARDWICK (UWA)
9 RYAN LOUWRENS (Cottesloe)
10 JONO LANCE (Associates)
11 ERIC VASUKICAKAU (Cottesloe)
12 BILL MEAKES (TBC)
13 AMMON MATUAUTO (Nedlands)
14 JAMES WEPENER (Joondalup)*
15 MANIHERA EDEN (Palmyra)
16 TOM SHEMINANT (Nedlands)*
17 MEES ERASMUS (Palmyra)
18 CHRIS HEIBERG (Perth Bayswater)
19 RUSSELL BURGES (Kalamunda)*
20 HADLEIGH MAY (Cottesloe)
21 MICHAEL RURU (Nedlands)
22 AJ ALATIMU (Wests Scarborough)
23 BEN TAPUAI (Wanneroo)
https://www.westernforce.com.au/arti...western-sydney
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