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The ET Perth Spirit Squad 2007
ET Perth Spirit coach John Mulvihill has named a mix of experienced veterans and fresh new faces in his 27-man squad for the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship, which kicks off on 10 August.
No fewer then 21 members of the Emirates Western Force senior squad have been selected, including four players with Wallaby Test caps and recent signings Nick Cummins and Scott Fardy.
The squad also includes six members of the Firepower RugbyWA Academy currently playing in WA’s Home Building Society First Grade competition.
Only nine of the 27 are uncapped at Super 14 level, with the squad registering a total of 452 Super rugby caps and 19 Tests between them.
As announced last week, scrumhalf Matt Henjak will captain the team, with hooker Tai McIsaac his deputy.
Emirates Western Force vice-captain Scott Fava leads a swathe of additional senior players, including former Wallaby Lachlan MacKay and 2007 Australia A representatives Gareth Hardy, Troy Takiari, David Pocock, Ryan Cross, Junior Pelesasa and Haig Sare.
Among the fresh faces in the Spirit squad are giant winger/fullback Ratu Siganiyavi, flanker Will Brock, hooker Ryan Tyrrell, prop Kieran Longbottom, scrumhalf James Stannard and outside back Dan Bailey.
Mulvihill said he was excited by the prospect of bringing new players into the mix to combine with the experienced core group.
“It’s a strong squad with a good mix of players. Having 18 guys who have played in the Investec Super 14 and know what professional rugby entails will help the new players adapt quickly,” Mulvihill said.
“Newcomers like Scott (Fardy), Ratu and Ryan (Tyrrell) have had experience at Academy level, and will bring the added enthusiasm that young, hungry players have. We’re keen to see whether they can step up a tier and keep performing at high levels”.
Ratu is the son of Iliesa Siganiyavi, who played alongside Tim Horan, Ewen MacKenzie & Peter Fitzsimons for Australia B against the British & Irish Lions in 1989. Iliesa also played with and against Mulvihill on several occasions.
Brock is a former Australian Sevens representative who became one of the faces of WA’s bid for the new Super 14 team in 2004.
Stannard is the reigning PG Hampshire Award winner for Best and Fairest in the WA First Grade competition after leading the Palmyra club from last position in 2005 into the finals in 2006.
Rockingham RUFC products Tyrrell and Longbottom have been touted as future front row prospects, and toured New Zealand in 2006 with the Emirates Western Force as part of Woodside’s sponsorship of local talent.
Bailey featured prominently in the Western Force Gold development tour of South Africa during 2006.
The ET Perth Spirit Squad:
Position/Club/Super 14 caps/Wallaby caps
Gareth Hardy, Prop - Palmyra 39
Pekahou Cowan, Prop - Nedlands 1
Kieran Longbottom*, Prop - Rockingham 0
Tai McIsaac (vc), Hooker - Wests Subiaco 43 9
Luke Holmes, Hooker - Nedlands 4
Ryan Tyrrell*, Hooker - Rockingham 0
Troy Takiari, Prop - Nedlands 13
AJ Whalley, Prop - Cottesloe 7
Tom Hockings, Lock - Associates 0
Rudi Vedelago, Lock - Kalamunda 39
Scott Fava, Backrow - Associates 74 5
Luke Doherty, Lock/Backrow - Kalamunda 47
David Pocock, Flanker - University 13
Will Brock*, Flanker - Nedlands 0
Richard Brown, Flanker - Cottesloe 19
Scott Fardy, Backrow - N/A 0
Matt Henjak (c), Scrumhalf - Cottesloe 41 4
James Stannard*, Scrumhalf - Palmyra 0
Jimmy Hilgendorf, Flyhalf - Wests Subiaco 15
Scott Daruda, Flyhalf - Associates 6
Junior Pelesasa, Centre - Wanneroo 50
Ryan Cross, Centre - University 13
Lachlan MacKay, Flyhalf/Centre - Perth Bayswater 13 1
Nick Cummins, Wing/Fullback - N/A 0
Ratu Siganiyavi*, Wing/Fullback - Palmyra 0
Dan Bailey*, Wing/Fullback - Nedlands 0
Haig Sare, Wing/Fullback - Nedlands 15
*indicates a member of the Firepower RugbyWA Academy
Not considered due to injury: Pat O’Connor (knee), David Pusey (ankle), Angus Scott (ankle).
Emirates Western Force players in Melbourne Rebels squad: Matt Hodgson, Jon McGrath.
NB - A 28th player may be added to the squad at a later date. The selection of the Wallabies RWC squad on Monday 23 July will determine the availability of some players, including Cameron Shepherd.
Disclaimer: Although the contents of this post are from a RugbyWA News Feed, no RugbyWA staff member or representative actually made this post - the username and avatar are used purely to identify the source of the information.
Awesome stuff for Kieran, Ryan, Will, Chucky, Ratu and Dan, well done fellas
Also congrats to Bails up in HK, I bet you are quietly chuffed![]()
Last edited by Burgs; 19-07-07 at 10:05.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
bout time they got this up,
looks good
hopefully cam will be off to rwc so he wont be playing. any news on the injured players? will they be availible later on in the year?
<>
Well, I'll take a punt on the first team to play.
Have selected with a mind to I imagine the Force Staff, while wanting to win, will want to see as much as possible of the local lads so will play the relatively weaker Rams and Rebels (both home matches) with the locals in the Squad.
This will give the likes of Shep more time to recover as well.
Burgs Spirit Selection:
1. Gareth Hardy,
2. Tai McIsaac (vc),
3. Troy Takiari,
4. Luke Doherty,
5. Rudi Vedelago,
6. Scott Fardy,
7. David Pocock,
8. Scott Fava,
9. Matt Henjak (c),
10. Jimmy Hilgendorf,
11. Nick Cummins,
12. Lachlan MacKay,
13. Ryan Cross,
14. Ratu Siganiyavi*,
15. Haig Sare,
16. Ryan Tyrrell*,
17. Kieran Longbottom*,
18. Tom Hockings,
19. Will Brock*,
20. James Stannard*,
21. Junior Pelesasa,
22. Dan Bailey*.
Pack Weight: 871kg @ Pre S14 '07 quotes (I doubt Bam-Bam is 98kg anymore for one!)
Lineout: 198cm, 198cm, 195cm, 189cm
365 Combined S14 Caps and 19 Test Caps in starting XV.
I can also see Jimmy going to #15, Lachie to #10, Haig to the Wing or Bench and Junior to #12 because Mitch seems to think Junior is an Inside Centre, hopefully Mulvers has his own view on that!
Last edited by Burgs; 19-07-07 at 10:45.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
sweet looking team cant wait to see them play and what combos they will come up with, Menacing looking lineout and scrum to take it to them.
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I don't mean to be picky about this, especially as Bails hasn't even been on yet, but didn't Dan get injured during the first match of that Tour???Originally Posted by RugbyWA
I'm sure he deserves to be there on other performances but I think the Media Dept may have spun that one a tad?
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Not really the right place to be asking this and I'm sure it has been posted before but I'm at work so not much of a chance to go looking for past posts.
Just wondering how many of the Spirit games are going to be shown on TV? I heard that ABC2 is going to be picking up some of the games. Anyone know if the coverage is only going to be local or national? I'm in Adelaide and hopeing to get a chance to see some of the up and coming Force players in action.
Also this squad is going to be tough to beat I think. Only other team that looks good on paper is the Canberra team.
no telecast details have been released that I am aware of, but ABC and ABC2 will be were you can watch and I'm sure you'll get it in churchtown.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Great to see a good number of the locals. Hope Burgs is right about them getting some exposure. In time they might silence some of the Force-Bashing in the east.
I'll lay odds the battle for the biggest crowds/best supporters will be between us and the Mexicans.
I would Like to see Lachy have a run at #10.
Every forwards dream is to become a back...
Works for me - I'd like to see what Hilgendorf offers at 12.
kool good team there gonna dominate
Dan Baileys brother is in my rugby team
things are looking good with a squad like this!
Being looking at Fox Sports News for the last hour waiting to see pickys - kindda want to see team in their new threads - nought - under the active bit there is a spiel indicating the Wallaby Caps on the team - looks impressive - I want more !
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
Found these broadcast details-
http://aru.rugby.com.au/fixtures_res...ils,52646.html