SPIRIT SIDE NAMED FOR 2016 BUILDCORP NRC SEASON OPENER
Perth Spirit Head Coach Dwayne Nestor has named his side for Saturday morning’s 2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) season opener against the Melbourne Rising at McGillivray Oval.
With early season wins key to each side’s title aspirations Nestor has opted for a mix of Western Force players and standouts from the Pindan Premier Grade competition for Saturday’s battle.
10 Spirit players are in line for their Buildcorp NRC debuts and Nestor says there is a real sense of anticipation ahead of the weekend’s clash with the Victorians.
“It is brilliant to have so many guys getting their first crack at this level,” he said. “I said to the boys at training that the enthusiasm that the new players and the club players bring to the group is invaluable.”
“With those new guys coming in we look towards Jono Lance and Ben Tapuai to really take charge and even Ryan Louwrens and Harry Scoble. We expect those professional guys to lead by example all season.”
“The fact that we have Luke Morahan coming back to us from the Wallabies is just awesome for us and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do in the back three with Manihera (Eden) and Eric (Vasukicakau).”
Nestor says the team is expecting a good challenge against the Rising and are looking forward to running out in front of a packed out hill at McGillivray Oval.
“If the Rising play anything like the Rebels then we know they will keep coming at us and recycle the ball quickly. If it’s wet then Jack Debreczeni will no doubt look to kick but we have prepared for that and will look to put a lot of pressure on them.”
“It’s always good to kick off the season with a home game, a lot of guys will have friends and family there to watch and the atmosphere is always fantastic for Perth Spirit matches.”
The Spirit will field a young but immensely capable front row with 2016 Western Force debutants Harry Scoble and Jermaine Ainsley to start at hooker and tighthead respectively while Future Force Foundation prop Mees Eramus will make his Spirit debut after impressing for Palmyra this season.
In an all Pindan Premier Grade second row Cottesloe skipper Kieran Stringer will link up with Nedlands young gun Grayson Knapp.
In the backrow, Western Force flankers Brynard Stander and Richard Hardwick will look to make their impact felt with Future Force Foundation product Onehunga Havili rounding out the starting pack in the No.8 jersey.
In the halves, scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens will spark the attack by providing quality service to Western Force playmaker and last year’s Buildcorp NRC ‘Player of the Year’, Jono Lance.
Ben Tapuai will aim to take on the Rising defensive line when he runs on at inside centre while Western Australian rugby fans will get their first look at former Gloucester centre and new Western Force recruit Billy Meakes, with the hard running inside back selected at No.13.
In the back three, Western Force flyer Luke Morahan will man the right wing with Cottesloe and Western Force World Club 10s speedster Eric Vasukicakau on the left while Palmyra’s Manihera Eden rounds out the starting side at fullback.
In the reserves, Future Force Foundation and Australian U20s representative Shambeckler Vui will be keen to show what he can do when he comes off the bench for his Spirit debut. Wests Scarborough Premiership winning captain, Kane Koteka will look to ignite the Spirit when called upon along with PG Hampshire Award winner Michael Ruru of Nedlands.
Perth Spirit vs Melbourne Rising
Saturday, 27 August
Kick-off 11:00AM
McGillivray Oval, Mount Claremont
FREE ENTRY
1 MEES ERASMUS (Palmyra)*
2 HARRY SCOBLE (UWA)
3 JERMAINE AINSLEY (Nedlands)
4 KIERAN STRINGER (Cottesloe)
5 GRAYSON KNAPP (Nedlands)*
6 BRYNARD STANDER (Nedlands)
7 RICHARD HARDWICK (UWA)
8 ONEHUNGA HAVILLI (Palmyra)
9 RYAN LOUWRENS (Cottesloe)
10 JONO LANCE (Associates)
11 ERIC VASUKICAKAU (Cottesloe)*
12 BEN TAPUAI (Wanneroo)
13 BILLY MEAKES (TBC)*
14 LUKE MORAHAN (Kalamunda)
15 MANIHERA EDEN (Palmyra)*
16 TOM SHEMINANT (Nedlands)*
17 LAIONE MULIKIHAAMEA (Joondalup)*
18 SHAMBECKLER VUI (UWA)*
19 KANE KOTEKA (Wests Scarborough)
20 HADLEIGH MAY (Cottesloe)*
21 MICHAEL RURU (Nedlands)
22 AJ ALATIMU (Wests Scarborough)*
23 AMMON MATUAUTO (Nedlands)
* Buildcorp NRC debut
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