UC Vikings v Melbourne Rising,
Where: Viking Park, Canberra
When: Friday 2 October. Kick off at 7:30pm AEST
Match Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
Assistant Referees: Matt Hogan, Sarah Corrigan
Broadcast Information: foxsports.com.au and FOX SPORTS NOW
2015 UC Vikings Form Guide: BWWWWW
2015 S Melbourne RisingForm Guide: WLWBWL
Last Time They Met: 25/09/14; Melbourne Rising 34 - 13 UC Vikings; AAMI Park, Melbourne
Match Notes: The Vikings have scored a staggering 139 points in the last two weeks, moving to the top of the 2015 Buildcorp NRC ladder for the first time this season after seeing off the Rays last Saturday. Melbourne Rising lost the final undefeated away record in the history of the competition last weekend in Perth, though Jack Debreczeni did become the first player to pass 200 points in the competition.
It’s been a wonderful campaign thus far for the UC Vikings in 2015, with the Canberra side sitting pretty at the top of the Buildcorp NRC table with a perfect record from their five matches.
Their two home matches have seen them score a combined 134 points, while Saturday saw them score a comprehensive 63-37 win over North Harbour Rays in Sydney.
The Rising, meanwhile, were blunted 31-21 by the Perth Spirit in Western Australia on the weekend, and will need to regroup quickly; after returning to Melbourne on Sunday, it’s a short turnaround before again jumping on the plane to Canberra as a squad later this week. Just think about the frequent flyer points, lads!
Scott Fuglistaller (shoulder) and Tom English (knee) have this week been ruled out for the remainder of the 2015 NRC, allowing them to be appropriately prepared for the start of pre-season with the Melbourne Rebels ahead of their 2016 Super Rugby campaign.
The Vikings:
The Vikings not only benefit from the presence of plenty of 2015 Brumbies Super Rugby players, but also have a number of 2016 Brumbies recruits and a number of players still pushing for a contract with Stephen Larkham’s side next year.
Their backline features the silky Wallaby Christian Leali’ifano, who is averaging six conversions per game in the NRC, talented playmakers Nigel Ah-Wong (six tries so far!) and Rodney Iona, and try-scoring outside backs in youngsters Jerome Niumata and James Dargaville, and the hugely experienced Aidan Toua and Francis Fainifo.
Look at the pack, and it tells a familiar tale of experience and young talent. Brumbies mainstays Jordan Smiler, Jarrad Butler and Ita Vaea have been keeping boom back rower Rowan Perry out of the starting side at the moment, while Albert Anae, Robbie Abel, Allan Ala'alatoa and Ben Alexander lead the front row stocks. Brumbies starting locks Blake Enever and Rory Arnold also boast considerable ability; they’re one of the competition’s top, if not the lone standout, side on paper.
Rising player to watch:
Stacey Ili’s name wasn’t known in Victoria at this time last year, however the pacy Melbourne Uni winger was familiarising himself with the Melbourne Rising and the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) ahead of a Trans-Tasman move which has seen him put his name up in lights on the national stage.
The Aucklander is one of many players who have moved either interstate or overseas since the inception of the NRC in search of exposure and opportunities, and after playing in the Melbourne Rising’s last four matches he is quickly making a name for himself.
He scored one try against the Perth Spirit on Saturday, his second in the competition, and set up another. His defensive work has been impressive, showing genuine strength despite being one of the shorter players in the Melbourne Rising squad, and he possesses electric feet. Watch out if Stacey gets the ball with a bit of time on his hands this Friday night; anything could happen!
http://melbournerebels.com.au/news/article/rising-match-preview-round-seven-vs-uc-vikings-2015
G&GR Preview says (@Rugby Reg) http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-round-7-preview-2/ :
Another in a series of wonderful matches for this round of the NRC. The Vikings continue to roll forward and are undefeated in first spot. The Rising are currently in fourth sport and need a win to help secure their position in the top four.
There is no doubt that when they click the Rising are good enough to take it to the Vikings. But they will have to be damn good because the Vikings are just so clinical across the park.
Key Matchups:
So much will be dictated by what happens in the ten jerseys. Christian Lealiifano and Jack Debreczeni are wonderful players – both borderline Wallabies. Lealiifano thrives in an environment where every backline member is a weapon. Meanwhile Debreczeni is probably more individually dangerous as a player and can create something out of nothing. Both are wonderful kickers in general play whilst their goal kicking will be crucial.
You will have to go a fair way to finding two more dynamic back rowers then Ita Vaea and Luke Jones. If Michael Cheika really wanted a like-for-like replacement for Wycliff Palu then Ita was the man to fly in to London. Another from the ‘overlooked club’ is Rising Luke Jones, playing at blindside flanker this week. Arguably one of the form locks in Australian Super Rugby, Jones’s workload has been managed by the Rising but returns as the type of player to really match Vaea around the park.
Teams
1. Allan Ala'alatoa
2. Robbie ABEL
3. Ben ALEXANDER
4. Rory ARNOLD
5. Blake ENEVER
6. Jordan SMILER
7. Jarrad BUTLER
8. Ita VAEA
9. Joe POWELL
10. Christian LEALIIFANO
11. Lausi TALIAULI
12. James DARGAVILLE
13. Nigel AH WONG
14. Jerome NIUMATA
15. Aidan TOUA
16. Albert ANAE
17. Sione TAULA
18. Leslie LEULUAI’ALI’A-MAKIN
19. Dean OAKMAN-HUNT
20. Rowan PERRY
21. Brent HAMLIN
22. Isaac THOMPSON
23. Francis FAINIFO
1. Fereti SA’AGA
2. Mitch ANDREWS
3. Cruze AH-NAU
4. Sam JEFFRIES
5. Steve CUMMINS
6. Luke JONES
7. Jordy REID
8. Pom SIMONA
9. Ben MEEHAN
10. Jack DEBRECZENI
11. Stacey ILI
12. Sione TUIPULOTU
13. Dom SHIPPERLEY
14. Justin MARSTERS
15. Jonah PLACID
16. Jordan UELESE
17. Duncan CHUBB
18. Tom MOLONEY
19. Murray DOUGLAS
20. Sione TAUFA
21. Maradona FARAO
22. Lloyd JOHANSSON
23. Filipe VILITATI
