Sydney Fleet vs Perth Spirit, preview
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.
