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Thirteen current and recent Wallabies squad members were in action this weekend, but plenty of those who took the field on Sunday had a fairly hard time of it.
Rob Simmons scored Queensland Country’s first try in Melbourne, but wasn’t able to stamp his authority on the match as the Melbourne Rising forwards dominated the contest. Simmons’ Country, Reds, and Wallabies teammate James Slipper had a frustrating afternoon too.
Hanson only played 18 minutes, though, after coming from the field in the opening stages after a head knock.
In Canberra, lock Sam Carter was well and truly outplayed by young Waratahs and NSW Country opposite Ned Hanigan, while Rory Arnold and Henry Speight were also on the wrong end of the Vikings’ annihilation at the hands of the Eagles.
5. Young punks taking the next step
While their better-known teammates mightn’t have quite enjoyed things as they hoped, it was notable to see the performances of some very promising young players standing out.
Isaia Perese and Conor Mitchell were prominent as Queensland Country jumped out to their early lead, while impressive Rising and Australian Under-20s centre Sione Tuipulotu scored a bustling try amidst his side’s comeback in the second half.
In Canberra, and though Jordan Jackson-hope had some nice touches for the Vikings, it was hard to separate lock Ned Hanigan and flanker Rowan Perry as the best players on the ground.
Hanigan gets through a mountain of work, while Perry plays a lot like Michael Hooper and arguably might be even more effective at the breakdown.
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/09...wo-five-things
Good to see the young guys coming through giving the returning Wallabies a solid hit out. NRC and U/20s are only new on the scene but are looking the goods in terms of giving a pathway to the top level. The games do get a bit sloppy at times skills wise because of the extra time the ball is in play but over time these skills will get better. Overall it's been a really good start to NRC 2016.
The competition is achieving the results both on the field and exposing developing players and allowing local and club to be a part of the next level.
It's got the beginnings of a really brilliant long term competition. Just need more people there.
If the weathers good for the next home game, there could be a monster crowd at the hill.
They really need to figure out the marketing and profile, 'cos the product is really good...enjoyed the two televised games this weekend enormously.
It's a better product than Aus SuperRugby right now!
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Agreed, I haven't seen any advertising letting people know the NRC is on.
Fair enough people here on TWF and other that may already be Force members or involved with Community Rugby will know, but the ARU/RugbyWA are missing out on exposing any casual fans or possible new fans to Rugby. Give the newbs free entry to the Spirit games, get them hooked on Rugby and then they might become paying for tickets or memberships down the track. Straight out of the drug dealer play book..
I didn't even know there were two televised games on over the weekend.
Last edited by jargan83; 05-09-16 at 08:14.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/nrc/nrcondemand
Spirit Replay is up.
Not having the size at lock robbed us a bit for impact around the colisions. Lost too many lineouts in the 1st half to establish any kind of mauling game. We should have looked to have Jono Lance keep pinning the corners in the wet and try and force errors out of the Rays in field position, play to the conditions more.
Can we get Sharpie back as a lineout consultant please? Im sure Elwee would learn a thing or two, like not using all your 4 man option lineouts one after the other and having nothing left for attacking opportunities.
Check out a young bloke playing at the Rams. A Baysie lad who spent a couple weeks at Paly this year, before heading over east. Lock/8, Ngaruhe Jones 21yrs old 6'7"/6'8" 115+kgs approx.
3 months in Sydney rugby and drafting into the NRC.
Young, raw, but talented with a great work ethic.
I doubt it, he's on the Reds Board as the Player Appointed Director
http://www.redsrugby.com.au/News/New...-Director.aspx
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Watching the replay of Brisbane City vs Canberra, geez Tom Staniforth must be getting close to an EOYT call up for the Wallabies. Big and abrasive in the mould of Rocky Elsom.
so called up as a 6? or replacing the invisible Kane Douglas?
C'mon the![]()
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http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/nrc/nrcondemand
Spirit v Rams replay is up.
Replacement for Simmons or Mumm i would say. Douglas does a lot of the dirty work around the rucks and clean outs and makes a mountain of tackles and is a good scrummager so im not sure why the criticism, he's there to do the hard stuff that goes unnoticed. You gotta have that balance in the locks, one needs to be the bash and crash ball running lineout winner while the other needs to put his shoulder into every ruck and tackle he can while also being capable of winning a lineout. Douglas and Coleman will get better the more they play together.