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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.