SPIRIT NAMED FOR COUNTRY EAGLES CONTEST

Sep 22 • General News, International • 1369 Views • Comments Off on SPIRIT NAMED FOR COUNTRY EAGLES CONTEST

The Perth Spirit have made five changes to the starting XV for Saturday morning’s highly anticipated top four clash with the NSW Country Eagles in New South Wales.

Western Force stars Brynard Stander and Ben Tapuai return to the starting side along with Manihera Eden, Cottesloe’s Hadleigh May and Michael Ruru of Nedlands named for their first starts of the season.

Spirit head coach Dwayne Nestor says the team is fully prepared for the challenge the Eagles pose in what is a massive game for the Western Australians.

“We are going to have to play 80-minutes of rugby this weekend to be a chance of leaving with the win,” he said. “If we drop off against these guys defensively then they will punish us.”

“The team understands that this is the biggest game of the season so far. The message in our review sessions, at training and in preparation for this week is that we have to fix some things up for a big challenge this week and I’m confident our boys will step up to the plate.”

The front row remains unchanged from the side that took down QLD Country last week with Laione Mulikihaamea (Joondalup) and Shambeckler Vui (UWA) to start at loosehead and tighthead respectively with Harry Scoble at hooker.

After a man-of-the-match performance at blindside flanker last week Ross Haylett-Petty moves into the second row to link up with fellow Cottesloe Seagull, Kieran Stringer.

In the backrow, Brynard Stander returns in the No.6 jersey after a one week absence, Hadleigh May will look to have an impact at openside in his run-on debut while Wallaby Ben McCalman will lead the pack at No.8.

Scrumhalf Michael Ruru will make his first run-on start of the season and the Nedlands playmaker will be keen to bring his trademark intensity when he links up with skipper Jono Lance.

With Bill Meakes sidelined due to a concussion suffered against QLD Country, Ben Tapuai and Ammon Matuauto will look to test the NSW Country defence when they run out at inside and outside centre.

In the back three, Marcel Brache and Eric Vasukicakau will man the wings with Palmyra young gun Manihera Eden at fullback replacing Luke Morahan who has been called up for Wallabies duties.

In the reserves, Ian Prior and AJ Alatimu will provide valuable play-making ability when called upon while Wests Scarborough’s Nick McLennan and Louie David are in line for their Buildcorp NRC debuts.

The venue for Saturday’s top four clash is still to be confirmed after the pitch in Orange was deemed unplayable after torrential rain in country New South Wales.

Buildcorp NRC – Round Five

NSW Country Eagles vs Perth Spirit

Saturday, 24 September

Kick-off: 11:00AM AWST

Venue: TBC

Broadcast: Fox Sports 2 (502), 11:00AM AWST or live stream HERE

#	NAME
1	LAIONE MULIKIHAAMEA (Joondalup)
2	HARRY SCOBLE (UWA)
3	SHAMBECKLER VUI (UWA)
4	KIERAN STRINGER (Cottesloe)
5	ROSS HAYLETT-PETTY (Cottesloe)
6	BRYNARD STANDER (Nedlands)
7	HADLEIGH MAY (Cottesloe)
8	BEN McCALMAN (Kalamunda)
9	MICHAEL RURU (Nedlands)
10	JONO LANCE (Associates)
11	ERIC VASUKICAKAU (Cottesloe)
12	BEN TAPUAI (Wanneroo)
13	AMMON MATUAUTO (Nedlands)
14	MARCEL BRACHE (Perth Bayswater)
15	MANIHERA EDEN (Palmyra)
16	TOM SHEMINANT (Nedlands)
17	NICK McLENNAN (Wests Scarborough)*
18	JERMAINE AINSLEY (Nedlands)
19	ONEHUNGA HAVILLI (Palmyra)
20	RUSSELL BURGES (Kalamunda)
21	IAN PRIOR (Nedlands)
22	AJ ALATIMU (Wests Scarborough)
23	LOUIE DAVID (Wests Scarborough)*