ARC - The Battle Begins.... OTHERS

[travelling_gerry]

The Battle Begins

August 8 2007 | by Amanda Shalala


http://www.abc.net.au/sport/rugby_union/arc/news.htm //



After many years of planning, the Australian Rugby Championship is finally here, and you can be sure it's ready to live up to its self-generated hype. The significance of the competition should not be underestimated- it's the first of its kind in Australia in a quest to fill the void between club rugby and the Super 14. Australia's Tri Nations counterparts South Africa and New Zealand have been running similar set-ups for many years, so it was only natural that we should (belatedly) follow. It's not going to be easy for the ARC to make its presence known in the already bulging ranks of Australian football, as its season will overlap with the AFL, NRL, and A-League. But we are a nation of sports ravishing fiends, and if any country is going to sustain four pro football competitions, it has got to be Australia.

The ARC will feature eight teams, with five states and territories represented, including feeder teams for the four Australian Super 14 sides. The Australian Rugby Union has decided to flirt with a Melbourne team, with hopes the self-proclaimed sports capital of Australia will embrace the Rebels. The rugby strongholds of NSW and Queensland will field five teams- the Sydney Fleet, Western Sydney Rams, Central Coast Rays, East Coast Aces, and Ballymore Tornadoes. The Perth Spirit will ride off the back of the Force's success, while the Canberra Vikings will round out the sides. The ARU's big hook for the competition is the promise of seeing “tomorrow's Wallabies today”, and with names like Kurtley Beale, Digby Ioane, and Anthony and Saia Faingaa, it might just live up to its grand billing. There’s no lack of high profile players either- there's over 90 Super 14 players spread across the 8 ARC teams, with the rest of the squads filled by local club players.

The ARC will also test eight Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), developed in South Africa, and trialled in various club competitions around the world, including Sydney and Brisbane. The ELVs are being touted as the best thing to hit rugby in a long time, as they're designed to promote more open and exciting play, as well as keeping the ball in play a lot more. Whether or not this will actually be the case, well you'll just have to watch this space.

At any rate, the ARC will give club footballers a real chance to make the leap to the Super 14, as well as giving higher profile players much needed competitive rugby. And if you’re not among those lucky enough to be heading over to France for the World Cup, you can substitute the experience with heading out to your nearest ARC game, whacking on a beret, and yelling “Allez les Rams.” After all when you think about it, Parramatta isn't really that far removed from Paris…

And if you can't get to the games, the ABC will be broadcasting two live matches a week, as well as having live streaming on this very site, so there's no excuse for missing any ARC action. It all begins on the 10th of August, so here's a preview of round one.

Friday 10th August
Sydney Fleet vs Central Coast Rays, North Sydney Oval 7pm
The NSW Rugby Union was the most vocal opponent to the ARC, with the Sydney Club Competition arguably the strongest of its kind in Australia. But they've had to accept the gale force winds of change bearing down on the game, and the first ever match of the ARC will see many of the Sydney Club combatants face off in this elevated arena. The toughest task for both sides will be an internal struggle, as they learn to play with teammates who they've come to hate through the deep seeded club rivalries such as Sydney University and Randwick for the Fleet, and Manly and Warringah for the Rays. The Fleet should have a slight edge though, with many crucial combinations surviving the club amalgamation.

Players to Watch:
Sydney- Daniel Halangahu
Central Coast- Sam Norton-Knight

Perth Spirit vs Western Sydney Rams, Members Equity Stadium 7pm
The Western Force will perhaps be the greatest beneficiary out of the entire ARC experiment, as they’ve struggled to keep their players occupied in the Perth club competition at the conclusion of the Super 14 season. Western Sydney has a host of Wallaby potentials, with the grand jewel in their crown 18-year-old sensation Kurtley Beale. But Perth at home is a formidable task, and the Spirit can expect a host of public support to kick off their ARC campaign with a win.

Players to Watch:
Perth- Ryan Cross
West Sydney- Lachie Turner

Saturday 11th August
Canberra Vikings vs Melbourne Rebels, Manuka Oval 2:30pm, ABC TV from 3pm (AEST)
Although the Rebels are starting from scratch in Melbourne, they have a multitude of Super 14 players amongst their ranks to give them more than a fighting chance this season. Meanwhile, Canberra is fortunate in being able to call upon the strength of the Brumbies as well as players from the local comp. It will be interesting to see how the Melbourne experiment fares, and whether the public will take to the band of imports.

Players to Watch:
Canberra- Saia Faingaa
Melbourne- Peter Playford

Sunday 12th August
East Coast Aces vs Ballymore Tornadoes, Gold Coast Stadium 4pm, LIVE on ABC2
The local derby between the two Queensland sides will be a real test of mettle, with the bulk of the Reds lining up for these two sides. There'll be a lot of pressure on the teams to perform, though they don’t boast the marquee players of other sides. They'll be out to prove that Queenslanders can play footy, after the Reds finished the 2007 Super 14 in last position.

Players to Watch:
East Coast- Quade Cooper
Ballymore- Leroy Houston

[Skiza]

Good article

[JediKnight]

Good article

But terrible odds. Looks like the vBookie is licking his wounds & trying to recoup some of his losses from recent times!!!