Sydney Fleet vs Perth Spirit, preview

[Burgs]

Sydney Fleet vs Perth Spirit, preview

25/08/2007

Venue & time

North Sydney Oval, Saturday August 25, 3.10pm (AEST)

Head to head

Debut clash

Walking wounded & team changes

Scrumhalf Nathan Sievert has recovered from a blood infection and makes his debut for the Fleet, while prop Jeremy Tilse, flanker Patrick McCutcheon and winger Anton La Vin earn their first starts this season. Lock Will Caldwell returns from a groin strain while captain Tim Davidson shifts from openside flanker to number eight.

The Spirit have also made wholesale changes. Captain Matt Henjak has recovered from a knee injury and returns to the starting XV but prop Pek Cowan (ankle) and winger Ratu Siganiyavi (hamstring) are out after being injured in last week's loss to the Vikings. Fortunately, dynamic winger Haig Sare is fit and ready to make his debut for the Spirit. His injection sees a backline re-shuffle with Lachlan MacKay to start at inside centre, Junior Pelesasa at outside centre and Ryan Cross goes to the bench. In the forwards, Troy Takiari also moves into the starting team at tight head prop, while AJ Whalley switches to the loose head. Hooker Tai McIsaac and flyhalf James Hilgendorf come into the starting XV on the rotation policy for Luke Holmes and Scott Daruda respectively.

Form

The Fleet came home strongly over the top of the Rays to score a first-round victory before going down to the Ballymore Tornadoes last week in Queensland. They have been scoring enough points to win matches but have let the opposition get away to big leads. If they show 100 per cent intensity from the kick-off they will be a force in this competition.

The Spirit lived up to their pre-tournament favourites tag by overpowering the Rams in round one but then showed their fallibilities by getting beaten by the Vikings last week in Perth. They created enough opportunities to win but did not display the patience needed to convert to points. The leadership of Henjak should provide a claming influence this week.

Who's hot

Fleet centre Morgan Turinui showed he has plenty in his bag of tricks with a great solo kick and chase try last week while inside him, flyhalf Daniel Halangahu is in good creative form. Skipper Tim Davidson has been leading from the front with flanker Dean Mumm giving good support in the forwards.

Test player Cameron Shepherd continues to show his class in the Spirit backline while winger Nick Cummins put in an eye-catching display last week. Luke Doherty is proving to be just as handy in the lineouts as he is at the breakdown for the Spirit.

Teams

Sydney Fleet

1. Jeremy Tilse,
2. Atonio Halangahu,
3. Dayna Edwards,
4. Will Caldwell,
5. Adam Byrnes,
6. Dean Mumm,
7. Patrick McCutcheon,
8. Tim Davidson (c),

9. Nathan Sievert,
10. Daniel Halangahu,
11. Andrew Barrett,
12. Tom Azar,
13. Morgan Turinui,
14. Anton La Vin,
15. Gavin Debartolo.

16. Daniel Lewinski,
17. Laurie Weeks,
18. Matt Whittleston,
19. Chris Houston,
20. James Price,
21. Danny Kroll,
22. Jackson Mullane.

Perth Spirit

1.AJ Whalley
2. Tai McIsaac
3. Troy Takiari
4. Tom Hockings
5. Sitaleki Timani
6. Luke Doherty
7. Richard Brown
8. Scott Fava

9. Matt Henjak (c)
10. James Hilgendorf
11. Nic Cummins
12. Lachlan MacKay
13. Junior Pelesasa
14. Haig Sare
15. Cameron Shepherd.

16.Luke Holmes
17.Kieran Longbottom
18. Scott Fardy
19. Will Brock
20. James Stannard
21. Scott Daruda
22. Ryan Cross.

[felixnelson]

ryan cross comes within a bee's willy of going to france but cant get a spot in the run on side

the force really should have been more willing to send players abroad. there are sydney club players getting much better oppo's in other states than senior WF players (cross, daruda)

we wont see much of daruda this year...

[James]

Ryan Cross had a stomach bug during the week. I think thats the main reason he's benched. I do agree that the Force should have sent Mackay or Daruda over to Melbourne though. As for Sydney their perrogative will be to develop players for the Waratahs that means playing Beale, NK and Halangahu at fly-half. It's probably better having Scott Daruda as a rotating fly-half with the Spirit and develop his combinations than over there perhaps getting a touch more game time but not playing with his team.

[Burgs]

Yeah agreed James, but at the same time I'm hoping Daruda won't be required much in 2008 as that will mean Hilgers, Giteau and maybe MacKay are all injured!
He still has potential at S14 but is yet to do anything to blow my hair back...