With the first two games of the 2016 Buildcorp NRC done and dusted, it’s now time to look ahead to the final two clashes in round one and it all kicks off with a local derby in North Sydney.
Sydney Rays vs Western Sydney Rams
North Sydney Oval at 1:00pm streaming live on Foxtel Go
In the first all-NSW clash of 2016, the Rays and the Rams will square-off in their season openers. Both sides are playing under new banners after four NSW sides were condensed to three. New Rays coach Simon Cron will hope to transfer his success with Norths in the Shute Shield to the Buildcorp NRC while former Wallabies Assistant John Muggleton will call the shots for the Rams.
Key Match up
The battle between the two up and coming scrumhalfs is sure to be a belter. Matt Lucas is currently deputising at the Waratahs while Scott Gale will use this season of the Buildcorp NRC to further his development in the hope of more Super Rugby minutes in 2017.
Sydney Rays
Rory O'Connor, Damien Fitzpatrick, Angus Ta'Avao, Connor Vest, James Brown, Jack Dempsey, William Miller, Hugh Sinclair, Matt Lucas, Angus Sinclair, Harry Jones, Irae Simone, Sebastian Wileman, Richard Woolf, Jonathon Malo.
Reserves: James Hilterbrand, Ezra Luxton, Lawrance Hunting, Angus Ryan,Harrison Bergelin, Dewet Roos, Samuel Lane, Tyson Davis.
Western Sydney Rams
Matt Gibbon, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, David Lolohea, Filimone Tufui, Vaitoa Senio Toleafoa, Rhys Allen, Tupou Sopoaga, Tyrone Viiaga, Scott Gale, Paul Asquith, Fabian Goodall, Apolosi Latunipulu, Samuel Denny Godinet, Rob Buaserau, Albert Nikoro.
Reserves: Aaron Blacklock, Andrew Tuala, Jack Payne, Tom Alexander, Bradford Kapa, Waldo Wessels, Mitchell Walton, Luke Smart.
Queensland Country vs UC Vikings
Bond University at 3:00pm - Live on Fox Sports 2
In what could be the match of the round, last year’s runners-up UC Vikings travel to the Gold Coast to take on Queensland Country. Country have received a massive boost with the inclusion of Rob Simmons and will be coached by Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu. The Vikings also boasting a number of players with Super Rugby experience including lock Rory Arnold, scrumhalf Joe Powell and winger James Dargaville.
Key Match up
The battle between Wallabies Rob Simmons and Rory Arnold in the second row promises to be a beauty. Simmons will be desperate to prove himself after being dropped from the national team following the Wallabies loss in the first Bledisloe, while Arnold will also be looking to get back on Michael Cheika’s radar in his return from an elbow injury.
Queensland Country
Sef Fa’agase, Feleti Kaitu’u, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Izack Rodda, Tyrell Barker, Conor Mitchell, Apisai Naiyabo, James Tuttle, Mack Mason, Eto Nabuli, Duncan Paia’aua, Tyrone Lefau, Tom Pincus, Tom Banks.
Reserves: Alex Casey, Ben Daley, Kirwan Sanday, Phil Potgieter, Lolo Fakaosilea, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Mitch Third, Izaia Perese.
UC Vikings
Sione Taula, Robbie Abel, Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, Rory Arnold, Blake Enever, Tom Staniforth, Jarrad Butler, Jordan Smiler, Joe Powell, Nick Jooste, Lausii Taliauli, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Andrew Smith, James Dargaville, Robbie Coleman
Reserves: Connal McInerney, Faalelei Sione, Nick Dobson, OJ Noa, Dean Oakman-Hunt, Brent Hamlin, Isaac Thompson, Henry Speight
For all of the action from this year’s Buildcorp NRC action, tune in to Fox Sports 2.
