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PERTH SPIRIT MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 10 September 2015
COTTRELL TO LEAD SPIRIT AGAINST VIKINGS
Hard running back rower Angus Cottrell, will captain the Perth Spirit for the first time this year in the round four clash against the UC Canberra Vikings at McGillivray Oval on Saturday, 12 September. The Perth based team is still trying for their first win of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) season and have their work cut out for them, with the Vikings sitting second on the table after back-to-back wins.
Spirit head coach Tai McIsaac, continues to make changes to the side, trying to find the right combinations with 10 changes to the team that lost to the Sydney Stars last Saturday.
The front row has been bolstered with the return of in-form loosehead Francois van Wyk, while coming into tighthead will be Wallaby prop Tetera Faulkner for his second game of the season.
Cottesloe product Adrian Hall has been rewarded for his good form coming off the bench last week, with a starting spot and he’ll be pairing up with fellow Gull Ross Haylett-Petty.
Future Force member Kane Koteka makes his comeback from a quad strain and will play alongside Associate’s Al Rovira and captain Angus Cottrell in the back row.
Luke Burton makes his long awaited return in the 10 jersey after badly breaking his nose in the first five minutes of the round one clash against Brisbane City.
Associates outside centre Ammon Matuauto, will make his second start for the year at 13 and will be keen to replicate his last minute game winning try from round one in last years competition.
Brad Lacey and Joondalup’s Maalonga Konelio will start on the wing, with Kalamunda’s Daley Harper running on at fullback.
McIsaac said the team is not happy with the performances they have been putting out on the field and will look to rectify that this weekend.
“We haven’t been playing a full 80 minutes and it’s showed the last two weeks, we’ve come out firing but haven’t been able to hold off and finish the game.”
“We’ll look to be a lot cleaner this week, not just in skills but also around the ground with the decisions we make at crucial points in the game.”
“Our forward pack will need to be at its best this week, the Vikings will come at us hard in that area, but I’m confident we can match up well. With Tet and Francois coming back in the fold, we’re looking pretty strong there.”
Watch Tai McIsaac deliver the team here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-m4pZrooAU
2015 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship – Week Four
1. Francois van Wyk UWA
2. Anaru Rangi Nedlands
3. Tetera Faulkner Wanneroo
4. Adrian Hall Cottesloe
5. Ross Haylett-Petty Cottesloe
6. Alex Rovira Associates
7. Kane Koteka Wests Scarborough
8. Angus Cottrell (C) Associates
9. Ryan Louwrens Cottesloe
10. Luke Burton UWA
11. Brad Lacey Wests Scarborough
12. Solomoni Rasolea Cottesloe
13. Ammon Matuauto Associates
14. Maalonga Konelio Joondalup
15. Daley Harper Kalamunda
Reserves
16. Conan Houkamau Wests Scarborough
17. Joe Savage Palmyra
18. Oliver Hoskins Cottesloe
19. Riley Winter Wests Scarborough
20. Auega Seumanutafa Kalamunda
21. Michael Ruru Nedlands
22. Nick Jooste Hale School
23. Davis Tavita Nedlands
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
much better team than the previous 2 rounds but would rate Jooste above Burton for a start at 10
Where's DHP? Is he injured or just being rested from the NRC?
I think they should be the Force starting props
From the Western Force
A great curtain raiser to be played before the Perth Spirit v UC Vikings game at McGillivray Oval this weekend with a schoolboy Invitational XV taking on the CSC representative side! With Alby Mathewson and Rory Walton coaching the CSC boys and Dane Haylett-Petty and Oli Hoskins coaching the Invitational XV!
Gates open at 2pm, with kick off for the curtain raiser at 2:10pm and the Spirit v UC Vikings at 3:30pm. Get down and #fillthehill!
Answers some of the questions as to what the WF players have been doing.
Great initiative having a curtain raiser.
Good team. Will be tough to beat a classy Vikings outfit. Little thin in the forwards. Was waltons week to rotate out of nrc team. Seems a shame when he's been in good form. Would've loved to see both hps out there. Excited to see Ammon. Great from the force to have players coaching those kids in the curtain raiser
Like the idea of the curtain raiser and how it's being done.
Although persons the likes of whatsdoin are hell bent on being negative about everything, the work to build depth and build numbers has only been done correctly the last couple of seasons, and to incorporate Force players into coaching roles into upcoming tiers is fantastic.
It's very evident that WA doesn't have the continual conveyor belt of players that NZ or SA has, but this is absolutely the way to make that happen. - as many players as possible getting game time, players not playing in coaching roles, incorporating as many juniors into everything. It's a good foundation for the future Force empire.
On a national level, it's exactly what the NRC is about.
Negative is not the word - Reality is the correct description of where the force is at!
You are kidding by stating that the way everything is being handled is the right way to go!!
Professional sport is a result driven operation. Last in Super XV and currently LAST in NRC and you are telling me/us that what they are doing is working???!!!
Mr G.Beard, they must be stoked that they have a supporter like you! And good on you sir, but it aint reality.
no need to belittle a fellow poster because of a differing view,whatsdoing.
that's about what I expected from you
Speaking of coaches,the Force should get the Tasman attack coach. Good team to watch. What do those letters mean please?