The New 1st XV to play Shore is:
1. A. Ala'alatoa (c)
2. D. Vea
3. E. Amituani
4. A. Vlahos
5. M. Whyman
6. O. Prior-Lees
7. M. Baldwin
8. J. Morris
9. O. Smyth
10. J. Lussick
11. C. Vlahos
12. J. Pennington
13. B. Roods
14. N. Roye
15. T. Vrachnas
Pretty much a full strength squad as only McDonald (fly half) will return this season from injury.
The inclusion of David Vea (NSW Under 16s) as hooker gives New a massive front row. God help View at scrum time.
The backrow battle will be a cracker as Baldwin and Prior-Lees go head to head with Dempsey and Wells. Could well decide the outcome of the game.
Having a massive front row doesn't mean that they scrummage well... Lets see how they are going in the last 10 minutes of the 1st half and the last 15 of the 2nd. Esra's fitness is terrible.
For me the weak links are 2, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12 in defence. Typical leaguey - Scots showed him up badly last week with decoy runners and he had no idea. Wells and Dempsey are better than Baldwin and Prior-Lees and the 7 for view is very underrated - meaning their collective backrow will be much stronger than News. 9 and 10 for New will struggle - expect Lussick to get A LOT of attention.
Should be a cracking match!
I will look forward to the reports on here tomorrow evening. Always interesting to compare what people see compared to how i see the game. May the best team win...