S A Presidents XV v Perth Spirit Trial Match

[Burgs]

Rugby fever descends on Adelaide

c/o South Australian Rugby Union

As part of the biggest year in Australian Rugby, Adelaide has its turn to showcase some of the games professional players with hopes of representing their country at the Rugby World Cup.

A selected South Australian Presidents XV will take on Perth Spirit (Perth’s Mazda Australian Rugby Championship Team) in their build up for this year’s inaugural championship. The Mazda ARC has been developed to fill the identified gap between traditional club rugby and the game’s professional or elite level.

The Perth Spirit team to play South Australia next Wednesday 25 July under lights at Brighton Oval, has 13 professional Super 14 players, 4 of which have recently represented Australia as Wallabies.

WHAT - Presidents XV v Perth Spirit
WHERE – Brighton Oval, Corner Brighton Rd and Highett Rd, Brighton
WHEN - Wednesday 25 July
TIME – Kick off is at 7.00pm

Adelaideans have the chance at this game to have their photo taken with The William Webb Ellis Trophy (Rugby World Cup).

The trophy is making appearances around Australia in the build up for this year’s World Cup in France, appealing to all Australians to get behind the Wallabies.

The cup will be on display at the ground for photo opportunities pre and post games as well as visiting schools in the metropolitan area next week.

“This is a great chance for the players to try their skills against some of the best in the game,” says Carl Jones, Coach of the South Australian Presidents XV.

This will be the first game played under the Experimental Law Variations (ELV’s) that are being trialed to simply the game in order to make it more exciting for spectators.

There is also a possibility your children can get on TV as well!
Bring them down dressed in their club gear, and set your recorder to Channel 10!

South Australian Presidents XV

1. Christian Tedge
2. Jon Collins (TBC)
3. Rudolph Timoteo
4. Matty Connor (VC)
5. Charlie Sheppeard
6. Declan Scragg
7. Daniel George
8. Tim Mattin

9. Gareth Brown (C)
10. Aaron Mattin
11. Mika Leawere (TBC)
12. Warren Duff
13. Andrew Lough
14. Tim Lough
15. Keith Mollenux

16. Joseph Matiaha
17. Johno Khoury
18. Ben Hamer
19. Ross Duncan
20. Inosi Tukana
21. Nathan Satala
22. Clint Callaghan

Perth Spirit

1. Pek Cowan - S14
2. Tai McIsaac (VC) - S14
3. A.J.Whalley - S14
4. Tom Hocking
5. Kitty Fuluna
6. Tom Murday (WA Under 19's!)
7. David Pocock - S14
8. Richard Brown - S14

9. Matt Henjak (C) - S14
10. Jimmy Hilgendorf - S14
11. Nick Cummins
12. Lachlan MacKay - S14
13. Haig Sare - S14
14. Dan Bailey
15 Cameron Shepherd - S14

16. Luke Holmes - S14
17. Kieran Longbottom
18. Joe Egan
19. James Stannard
20. Scott Daruda - S14
21. Gareth Ziegler
22. Junior Pelesasa - S14

[Burgs]

Interesting to note that the selectors have gone for five players outside of the Spirit 27 Man Squad:

Kiti Fuluna
Tom Murday
Cameron Shepherd
Joe Egan
Gareth Ziegler

Excellent to see Shep back in action for a WA team and fingers still crossed for a late inclusion in the WC Squad.
I would imagine if he doesn't make the WC Squad then Ziegler is the front runner to gain the 28th spot, allowing Shep a full recovery period rather than risking further injury.
With only two specialist Locks (and one a Force Apprentice in Hocking) and Doherty as a part timer it is a smart move to allow Kiti another run with the Squad while he can.
Likewise, Joe Egan's inclusion would indicate that there is still some concern about the Forces' Hooking depth for 2008.
And a huge congrats to Tom Murday for making the leap from WA Under 19's at the start of the month.
Having scored a hat trick of tries against Qld Suburban, another against Victoria and played in the #'s 4, 5 & 6 jerseys over four matches he has certainly earnt his Trial.

[fulvio sammut]

Interesting to see that Kitti Fuluna played club for Wests on Saturday yet James Stannard and Ratu were made "not available" for their club side. Ratu did not even make the touring party!

What's going on?

[travelling_gerry]

Its all part of "the trap"

[Thequeerone]

Still on for live updates TG - perhaps a quick flutter

[travelling_gerry]

will be doing a margin bet I would reckon......watch this space

[jazza93]

how good is that SA side i dont think ive heard of any of those players before.

[Thequeerone]

Just got this from an email from a mate:

"Bad news The vice Captain and lock Matty Connor has injured a leg and is out. He is apparent in the ARS and is one of their senior players.

His replacement Ben Hamer is a good player.
More of a worry is their powerful tight head Kiwi Rudolf Timoteo has a leg problem as well and has been ruled out.

SA Rugby has asked if RugbyWA would allow Kieren Longbottom to run for them to keep it fair in the scrum.

I reckon that would be a good idea as that would give Angus Scott a run off the bench! "

so our lads should get a good romp on the park - however peps in SA are a bit excited by the fixure and have both the Bledisloe cup and the Webb Elis Trophy on display - so it should be a good outing for the natives - apart from the score line

Anyways reckon this fixture is to see how the lads play together - and have a real look at Lachlan McKay and Jim Cummins in action

[travelling_gerry]

bets are up on this Event...
http://thewholeforce.com/showthread.php?t=8996

[Burgs]

What's going on?

Purely designed to piss you off Fulv

[fulvio sammut]

In that case Burgs, mission accomplished.

[Burgs]

Oh, and that anti Palmyra conspiracy I overheard them talking about the other day...

[fulvio sammut]

Even my psychiatrist agrees with me on that.

[Burgs]

Good way for him to keep the dollars rolling in

[fulvio sammut]

Actually Burgs, if you squeal loud enough, "they" usually tend to leave you alone and pick on somebody else.

This is a preemptive squeal before things get worse.