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Tornadoes v Fleet, preview
August 17, 2007 - 7:08am
Story by: Sportal
Venue & time
Ballymore, Sunday August 19, 4pm (AEST)
Head to head
Debut clash
Walking wounded & team changes
World Cup-bound Wallaby Berrick Barnes makes his first and only appearance on the Mazda ARC after he was a late scratching from last week's match. He will start at flyhalf, with the experienced Tim Sampson slotting in at inside centre. Josh Mann-Rea replaces Wallabies hooker Sean Hardman, who suffered a slight Achilles tendon strain at training. Former Wallabies tourist Leroy Houston makes his debut for the Tornadoes starting at No.8 for Scott Higginbottom, who moves back to the bench, while Daniel Linde starts at blindside flanker in place of Jared Hanna.
Fleet lock Will Caldwell is out with a groin strain – his place is taken by Matt Whittleston while former Australian Sevens representative Arthur Little comes into the Fleet XV in place of suspended winger Alfi Mafi. Little starts at fullback with Gavin Debartolo switching to the wing. Lock Lachlan McCutcheon and centre Anton La Vin are the new faces on the bench.
Form
Both teams looked flat in the first half of their opening matches in the Mazda ARC but mounted strong comebacks in the second half to give a better indicator of their potential.
The Tornadoes stormed home against the Aces and gave themselves a real chance to win the match but the fact that they had leaked so many points meant the task was too much. But with they will carry some strong momentum into this week's clash.
The Fleet looked a little lost at the start of last week's match before finding their feet and moving play forward through the centres and out wide.
Who's hot
Tornadoes outside centre Blair Connor put in an eye-catching performance in last week's loss to the Aces, while winger Elia Tuqiri showed promise. Up front, Tom McVerry led from the front along with Wallabies lock James Horwill. Reserve scrumhalf Will Genia showed plenty of spark when he came on.
Fleet centre Tom Azar put in a man-of-the-match performance last week, while scrumhalf James Price who came in for Valentine at last minute also impressed. Tim Davidson led from the front and Daniel Halangahu was good as well.
Teams
Ballymore Tornadoes
1. Greg Holmes,
2. Josh Mann-Rea,
3. Shon Siemonek,
4. Ed O’Donoghue,
5. James Horwill,
6. Daniel Linde,
7. Tom McVerry (capt),
8. Leroy Houston,
9. Sam Cordingley,
10. Berrick Barnes,
11. Peter Hynes,
12. Tim Sampson,
13. Blair Connor,
14. Elia Tuqiri,
15. Clinton Schifcofske.
16. Geoff Abram,
17. Ernest Skelton/Brett Naylor (one to be omitted),
18. Jared Hanna,
19. Scott Higginbotham,
20. Will Genia,
21. David Collis,
22. Anthony Sauer.
Sydney Fleet
1. Sean Baker
2. Atonio Halangahu
3. Dayna Edwards
4. Matt Whittleston
5. Adam Byrnes
6. Dean Mumm
7. Tim Davidson [c]
8. Chris Houston
9. James Price
10. Daniel Halangahu
11. Leo Afeaki
12. Tom Azar
13. Morgan Turinui
14. Andrew Barrett
15. Gavin Debartolo
16. Daniel Lewinski
17. Jeremy Tilse
18. Lachlan McCutcheon
19. Patrick McCutcheon
20. Anton La Vin
21. Danny Kroll
22. Jackson Mullane