McCalman Headlines Spirit to Tackle QLD Country

[sandgroperrugby]

Adam looked spent and a man three times his age trying to get up and sitting down. The rain held off nicely until we had packed the car. What a spectacle and great day for the kids

[Scozzie]

Scrum turned to shit in the 2nd half when Erasmus came on. He got owned by the tongan thor.

I watched the game on TV, and they showed that the Spirit pack was 120kg lighter than Qld Country. So, that probably had a bit to do with why the got monstered a couple of times. They did well to hold their own in the 1st half though. They could also do with a bit more height at lock, although it did help having Benny Mac as a lineout option in the 1st half.

[choice]

A much better game viewed live, even though our set piece was smashed. Our props have good technique but the locks didn't give them the support they needed. We need a bit of grunt in the 2nd row.
Lots of tries, but both sides were a bit boring in attack and a lot of the time were content to just shuffle the ball through the hands.
Looking forward to watching them again in a couple of weeks.

[volvo]

McCalman returns as Spirit thump Queensland Country

Nick Taylor - The West Australian on September 18, 2016, 3:22 pm

Western Force and Wallabies No.8 Ben McCalman made his comeback from injury in Perth Spirit's 63-33 rout of Queensland Country in today's National Rugby Championship clash at UWA Sports Park.

He may have a further hit-out with Spirit when they play NSW Country on Saturday and will be hoping to re-join the Wallabies who play South Africa in Pretoria in two weeks before taking on Argentina in London.

McCalman re-injured his right shoulder in the second Bledisloe Cup match after fracturing it in the second Test against England when he had to play on because the Wallabies had run out of reserves.

"I was very excited just to be out here playing," Morahan said after being replaced at half-time.

"It was a good hit-out for the shoulder, a lot of defence in that first 20 minutes.

"There was a lot of solid hits on it. It was good to pull through that.

"The plan was always just to play the first half. Since the end of May I've played under 100 minutes of rugby. It was a good test.

"The real test is always to play, prove to myself and staff that I can get through."

Winger Luke Morahan gave his Wallabies hopes a boost with a hat-trick of tries but new Force signing, centre Bill Meakes, left the field after just a couple of minutes with concussion and is doubt for next weekend.

Spirit spent the first 30 minutes camped in their own half with little ball but finally broke the drought and scored nine tries to Queensland's five to grab a bonus point and cement themselves in fourth spot.

They went into the break with a 30 point lead but there was another period late in the second half where they again fell off the play.
Coach Dwayne Nestor said the side needed better game management at crucial times.

"Most of the first half Queensland had all the possession and most of the field position but the pleasing thing was our scramble defence was good," Nestor said.

"Our set piece defence especially through the middle wasn't great though and that allowed them too much ground.

"But we frustrated them and when you frustrate teams for that long and then score points it hurts.

"It was 36-all in the second half and both team's defence became optional at times.

"Better game management and playing smarter would help us. A couple of times we put ourselves under pressure and they took advantage of that.

"There's a fair bit we've got to work on from the second half but getting the bonus point was important for us, first and foremost the win, but the extra point was very handy."

SCOREBOARD
Perth Sprit 66
Tries: L. Morahan 3, R. Haylett-Petty 2, S. Vui, R. Louwrens, M. Brache, A. Matuauto
Cons:J. Lance 6/9
Queensland Country 36
Tries: F. Kaitu’u, D. Paia’aua, J. Cornelsen, M. Mason, T. Banks
Cons: M. Third 1/1, M. Mason 2/4

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...country/#page1

[volvo]

Great defense by the spirit in the first 20 mins and some really great tries from both sides. Louwrens definitely looking like he could be that starting no.9 next year, he has been in great form in this years NRC. Ben Tapuai really starting to come back into form again, Eric once again showed he has lots of potential. Morahan was classy, Big dog had a great game back from injury, and both these players need to be back in the wallabies set up. Jono, great as always. Ross had a very good game. Kane koteka again another hard working 7 the ruck, hodgo has taught him well.

[Kalahard]

A much better game viewed live, even though our set piece was smashed. Our props have good technique but the locks didn't give them the support they needed. We need a bit of grunt in the 2nd row.
Lots of tries, but both sides were a bit boring in attack and a lot of the time were content to just shuffle the ball through the hands.
Looking forward to watching them again in a couple of weeks.

Erasmus is an average scrummager. Big Beau King had him for breakfest both times Paly played Kala this season. Not much a good lock can do if your prop is getting done over. Mulikihaamea is starting for a reason.

Go back through all the Spirit threads, ive been saying all along the lack of size at lock would be a problem. Stringer is very mobile and has a high workrate but at 100kgs is too light to be a battering ram lock as evidenced by his 34 mtrs gained on 22 carries. RHP showed what a big body can do yesterday. A lock must be able to earn the post colision metres to get over the gain line.

http://www.rugby.com.au/players/kier...r#247-2017-228

[westies man]

Beau King has shot through, got a gig playing in France. There is no 2nd rowers in the Perth club comp that can step up to NRC level hence loose forward Hunga Havillia playing there and Rusty as a back up.

[The InnFORCEr]

Great job by the Piggies to get up in such a big way.

RHP, Mozza and Jono were the best for mine in a full team effort.

I watched on Fox and spotted a few TWFers in the crowd enjoying the day

Any word on Billy??

[Kalahard]

Meakes has a concussion and is in doubt for next week. I read it in one of the articles.

[volvo]

Well done to Jono Lance, Marcel Brache, Ben Tapuai and Eric Vasukicakau who have made the green and gold NRC team of the week. Special mentions to Shambeckler Vui, RHP and Luke Morahan.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc...m-of-the-week/

[Kalahard]

Beau King has shot through, got a gig playing in France. There is no 2nd rowers in the Perth club comp that can step up to NRC level hence loose forward Hunga Havillia playing there and Rusty as a back up.

Riley Winter could but seems to be down the pecking order for some reason. He was one of the best on ground in the Premier Grade Grand Final. Former Aussie U/20s.

[westies man]

Riley Winter is playing in Ireland, won't be back.

[Kalahard]

Hopefully he does a Jake Ball and flourishes. He could've been turned into a pretty handy 6. Will have to keep track of his progress.

[andrewg]

Apologies for limited time to comment.





Impressed by the defensive effort/coolness under pressure to keep Qld Country scoreless for 25 minutes.
And then to continue to keep them scoreless until 56 minutes.

Koteka had another good game.

Impressive workrate by Hadleigh May off the bench.
Would like to see him given a start and play a full game.

Not sure if Havili is a Lock but very useful around the park.

Scoble involved all game.

Pleased to see Ben Mac get through 40 minutes.
Hope he gets to travel with the Wallabies.

Best efforts by Backs: Vasukicakau - 13 Total (8A/5D); Brache - 11T (7A/5D)

[chiraag]

Great work as usual Andrew.

Really impressed with how Koteka and Hardwick have come along, and hoping they see more game time for the Force next year. Our backrow is looking damn good with them supplementing Cottrell, Hodgo, Big Dog and Stander. Havili looks like he could be a good option at 8 also.

Only 6 rucks in a half for McCalman is rather low, but I guess it was more of a warm-up coming back from injury and he did make 7 runs and 4 tackles also.