NRC: Buildcorp NRC Preview: ACT/WA/VIC

Fri, Aug 26, 2016, 7:12 AM
Marty Cambridge
by Marty Cambridge

With the competition underway this weekend, much of the talk is around the Queensland and New South Wales sides. We take a look at the other sides vying for the Buildcorp NRC trophy. 

University Canberra Vikings

Squad

Robbie Abel, Allan Alaatatoa, Rory Arnold, Jarrad Butler (c), Edan Campbell-O’Brien, Robbie Coleman, James Dargaville, Nick Dobson, Ray Dobson, Blake Enever, Brent Hamlin, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Nick Jooste, Jamie Kotz, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, Josh Mann-Rea, Connal McInerney, OJ Noa, Dean Oakman-Hunt, Dan Penca, Joe Powell, Jake Rakic, Andrew Robinson, Eli Sinoti, Scott Sio, Faalelei Sione, Jordan Smiler, Andrew Smith, Tom Staniforth, Darcy Swaim, Lausii Taliauli, Sione Taula and Isaac Thompson.

Coach

Recently announced head coach Wayne Southwell is keen to beat out Brisbane City for the 2016 title, after going down to them in the final last season.

Strengths

Experience. Among the 36-man squad are 20 players with Super Rugby minutes under their belt and six capped Wallabies.

James Dargaville is one of many with Super Rugby experience in the Vikings squad. Photo: Getty Images

Weaknesses

Adjusting to a new coach is always difficult and with Scott Sio and Allan Alaataoa on Wallabies duties the front row will be severely depleted.

2015 result

Brisbane City beat out the Vikings in last year’s grand final 21–10. With plenty to prove this year, UC Vikings will have a target on their back.

X-factor

Speedster Henry Speight is making a return to the 15-man format fresh from being a part of the Australian Sevens squad for Rio. The Brumbies winger had an injury riddled 2016 and will need to impress in his NRC performance this year if he wants to get back on Cheika’s radar.

Henry Speight will make his long awaited return to the 15-man format in the NRC. Photo: Getty Images.

Predictions

5th. Dropping down the ladder, the 2015 runners-up could struggle to make the semi-finals this time around.

Season Opener

v Queensland Country on the 28th of August at Bond University. 

 

Perth Spirit

Squad

Jermaine Ainsley, AJ Alatimu, Marcel Brache, Brad Campbell, Pek Cowan, Louie David, Manihera Eden, Mees Erasmus, Richard Hardwick, Onehunga Havilli, Ross Haylett-Petty, Beau Kin, Grayson Knapp, Kane Koteka, Jono Lance, Ryan Louwrens, Semisi Masirewa, Liaone Mulikihaamea, Ian Prior, Anaru Rangi, Michael Ruru, Harry Scoble, Auega Seumanutafa, Brynard Stander, Ben Tapuai, Heath Tessmann (c), Eric Vasukicakau, James Verity-Amm, Shambeckler Vui, James Wepener and Riley Winter.

Coach

Dwayne Nestor gets his first crack at a senior head coaching role after a spending the last two years as an assistant at the Perth Spirit.  Nestor has developed Super Rugby talent such as Dane Haylett-Petty and Kyle Godwin.

Strengths

A Super Rugby halves combination of Jono Lance and Ian Prior will give the Spirit direction around the park. While capped Wallaby Heath Tessmann will lead the team from the front row with Pek Cowan, Ben Tapuai and Marcel Brache also providing loads of Super Rugby experience.

Western Force Heath Tessmann will skipper Perth Spirit in the Buildcorp NRC. Photo: Getty Images.

Weaknesses

Travel. It’s always a concern for the Western Australians, they’ll have to travel three times to Sydney and once to the nation’s capital.  And with only three home games, no matches in Queensland is the silver-lining for Spirit.

2015 results

The Spirit just missed out on the semi-finals last year, finishing 6th.

X-Factor

Can Shambeckler Vui provide more of this for the Spirit in the Buildcorp 2016 and push his way into the Western Force line-up next year.


Predictions

6th. It will be a tough 2016 for the only Western Australian side.

Season Opener

v Melbourne Rising on August 27 at UWA Sports Park.

Centre Ben Tapuai has plenty of Super Rugby experience. Photo: Getty Images.

Melbourne Rising

Team

Cruze Ah Nau, Steve Cummins, Jack Debreczeni, Murray Douglas, Tom English, Colby Fainga’a, Harley Fox, Reece Hodge, Sam Jeffries, Lloyd Johansson, Pat Leafa, Taiso Silafai-Leaana, Rob Leota, Tyrel Lomax, Jack Maddocks, Ben Meehan, Tim Metcher, Tom Moloney, Sefa Naivalu, Jonah Placid, Fereti Sa’aga, Dom Shipperley , Siliva Siliva, Mick Snowden, Nic Stirzaker, Alex Toolis, Sione Taufa, Ah-Mu Tuimalealiifano, Sione Tuipulotu, Jordan Uelese.

Coach

Melbourne Rebels assistant Zane Hilton will take charge for the second consecutive year.

Strengths

The squad has remained mostly unchanged from last year with 19 players chosen again, they also have seven players who were involved in Australia’s 2016 World Rugby U20s Championship campaign.

Rebels scrumhalf Nic Stirzaker will guide the Rising around the paddock in the Buildcorp NRC. Photo: Getty Images.

Weaknesses

There’s no doubt the Rising have a star-studded nine through 15 but their challenge in 2016 will be ensuring the forwards win the battle through the middle to unleash the full potential of their outside backs.

2015 results

The Rising made the semi-finals for the second year in a row but went down to the UC Vikings.

X-Factor

The return of Sefa Naivalu. The try scoring machine crossed the line five times in 2014 before a broken leg saw him miss all of last year’s competition.  Now he’s back and will want to prove he’s still a threat in the NRC.


Predictions

3rd. The Rising will again be a big threat in the Buildcorp NRC and will give the competition heavyweights plenty to think about.

Season Opener

v Perth Spirit on August 27 at UWA Sports Park.

 

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