0
The Perth Spirit will look to continue their charge towards the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) finals when they take on the NSW Country Eagles at McGillivray Oval on Sunday.
The Spirit will look to take the momentum out of last week’s win against the fourth-placed Melbourne Rising, as they target their third win on the trot on Sunday.
Watch Tai McIsaac announce the team here:
The “Pigs” welcome back Western Force prop Oliver Hoskins, who comes back into the starting front row beside Chris Heiberg and captain Heath Tessmann.
Big man Rory Walton returns to the number five jersey, alongside Force teammate Ross Haylett-Petty.
Ian Prior settles back into the starting nine jersey and is set to keep his exceptional goal-kicking rate standing, currently leading the competition at 94%.
Solomoni Junior Rasolea moves into inside centre, while Joondalup’s Maalonga Konelio, who has been hugely impressive throughout the tournament, moves from the wing to outside centre.
The Pindan Premier Grade’s leading try scorer Faamanatu Apineru, will make his Buildcorp NRC run-on debut for the Spirit. The Kalamunda product impressed off the bench last week and showed glimpses of the form that led him to 21 tries during the club season.
McGillivray Oval will also be the site of a mouth-watering battle between two in-form flyhalves and future Western Force teammates in Luke Burton (Perth Spirit) and Jono Lance (NSW Country Eagles).
For the first time this year the entire bench is filled with players from the Pindan Premier Grade. Head coach Tai McIsaac, showing full confidence in the club players, proving the growing depth in rugby in WA.
McIsaac says it’s going to be a good battle against the Eagles and looks forward to seeing a big crowd for the last home game of the season.
“Sunday is another important match for us in terms of our season. So we want to see that hill filled on Sunday.”
“The Eagles have been unlucky in a few games this season, they’ve shown that they can score against the best teams. We’re going to have to be at our best if we want to take the points on Sunday.”
“It’s also great to see so many Pindan Premier Grade players in the team this week. It just goes to show that there is talent in abundance here in Perth, players like Maalonga Konelio and Jermiane Ainsley continued to improve throughout the season and thoroughly deserve their places in the side.
2015 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship – Week Seven
Perth Spirit v NSW Country Eagles
McGillivray Oval, Mt Claremont
Saturday, 26 September 2015
Kick-off: 3pm
Gates Open: 11am
1. Chris Heiberg Perth Bayswater
2. Heath Tessmann (C) Nedlands
3. Oliver Hoskins Cottesloe
4. Ross Haylett-Petty Cottesloe
5. Rory Walton Wests Scarborough
6. Kane Koteka Wests Scarborough
7 Richard Hardwick UWA
8. Angus Cottrell Associates
9. Ian Prior Nedlands
10. Luke Burton UWA
11. Brad Lacey Wests Scarborough
12. Solomoni Rasolea Cottesloe
13. Maalonga Konelio Joondalup
14. Faamanatu Apineru Kalamunda
15. Albert Nikoro Wests Scarborough
Reserves
16. Harry Scoble UWA
17. Joe Savage Palmyra
18. Jermaine Ainsley Nedlands
19. Adrian Hall Cottesloe
20. Pierre Roberts Wests Scarborough
21. Michael Ruru Nedlands
22. Byron Hutchinson Wanneroo
23. Daley Harper Kalamunda
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by MI5_Dog
