Wallabies return for Tooheys New Shute Shield local derbies
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Thursday, 12 June 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has released a number of players back to club Rugby this weekend which sees Brett Sheehan, Lachie Turner and Ben Alexander all primed to play in the first local derby round of the 2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield.
Brett Sheehan passes.
Brett Sheehan passes. [Tooheys New Shute Shield 2007 - Rd 9]
Round 11 kicks off with a huge double header on Friday the 13th at St Marys' Western Weekender Stadium, while the ABC TV Match of the Day on Saturday features Warringah and Manly doing battle for the Bayfield Cup.
Friday 13 June 2008
PENRITH (11th) V PARRAMATTA (8th) at Western Weekender Stadium (6:30pm)
Penrith are playing seven home games at Western Weekender Stadium in 2008 however no match will hold more weight than this clash against western Sydney rivals Parramatta to kick off a Friday Night Football double header.
The Emus continue to impress with their tryscoring ability, however defence has been their downfall this season. With such a big build up to this match however, expect Penrith to up the ante on both sides of their game.
Parramatta edged towards and then into the top six in April-May, however a last round loss to Gordon saw them slip to eighth. A win could return them to the upper echelon if other results go their way.
The ability to play to a well-structured game plan will prove crucial in this match which will no doubt be played in slippery conditions with the heavy dew affecting the evening kick-off.
Penrith: 1. Dave Coventry, 2. Adam Parbery, 3. Nick Barber; 4. Shemaiah Evans, 5. Liam Winton; 6. Rodney Ma'a, 7. Rob Carlson, 8. Luke Williams; 9. Brendan Craig, 10. Jono Rolfe; 11. Campbell Sione, 12. Patrick Mekuri, 13. Sia'a Taveuveu [c], 14. Solomona Fainifo; 15. Nick Richardson.
Parramatta: 1. Kris Zvirbulis, 2. Scott Podmore, 3. Matt Toli; 4. Andrew Brown [c], 5. Andrew Cox; 6. Ropati Matangi, 7. Winney Paulo, 8. Junior To'o; 9. Bryce Alley, 10. Josh Weeks; 11. Roland Herea, 12. Dave Alo, 13. Brian Sefanaia, 14. Tito Mua; 15. Ben Borg.
Referee: Steve Hardy
EASTWOOD (7th) V WEST HARBOUR (4th) at Western Weekender Stadium (8:10pm)
This is set to be one of the matches of the round with one of the improving sides of the competition taking on an early season high-flyer.
Eastwood have given up home field advantage to ensure the western Sydney double header is a success, and will welcome back Wallaby squad member Lachie Turner for this match. This clash also sees Junior Waratah and 2007 Australian Schoolboys skipper Damien Fitzpatrick start at hooker, and many eyes will be on his performance.
West Harbour have fielded the most consistent lineup on a week to week basis in the competition and it is no different in round eleven. The Pirates average 36.7 points per match - the highest in the competition - and if their defence is in order they could move as high as second, dependent on other results.
Eastwood will be keen to hit back after going down to competition front-runners Sydney University in the final ten minutes last weekend, while it will be interesting to see whether West Harbour's bye will prove to be a blessing or a curse.
Eastwood: 1. Simon Norris, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 3. Aaron Broughton-Rouse; 4. Marty Wilson, 5. Phil Mathers; 6. Seva Rokobaro, 7. Hugh Perrett [c], 8. Josh Dunning; 9. Dave Rimmer, 10. Chris Donnelly; 11. Filipo Toala, 12. Tim Corcoran, 13. Jesse Leota, 14. Lachie Turner; 15. Ben Batger.
West Harbour: 1. Michael Rigney, 2. Ben Roberts, 3. Luke Hunter; 4. Damian Lloyd, 5. Ben Lonsdale; 6. James King, 7. Mark Porpiglia, 8. Isaiah Pine; 9. Steve Massey, 10. Dave Paurini; 11. Nick Reily, 12. Lester Salanoa, 13. Rory Sidey, 14. John Sinisa; 15. Ben Martin [c].
Referee: Angus Gardner
Saturday 14 June 2008
WARRINGAH (5th) V MANLY (9th) at Pittwater Rugby Park (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)
The Bayfield Cup will be up for grabs in the ABC TV Match of the Day when Warringah host Manly at Pittwater Rugby Park.
Warringah may be without Sam Harris and Mark Gerrard, however they do welcome back Brett Sheehan who has been released from Wallaby duty and always puts in a strong performance when representing the Rats.
Manly were on fire in round nine when they upset Eastwood, however they will need to maintain that momentum this week without George Smith.
After losing their first five matches, Manly have since won four of their last five and could finish the first half of the season on the fringe of the top six with an upset over the Rats.
Warringah: 1. Dan Raymond [c], 2. David Mason, 3. Pingi Talaapitaga; 4. Scott Flint, 5. Luke Hanvey; 6. Scott Fardy, 7. Mitchell Greenway, 8. Andrew Rasmus; 9. Brett Sheehan, 10. Michael Ruthven; 11. Ed Doyle, 12. Clint Eadie, 13. Pat McCabe, 14. Dan Baxter; 15. Michael Letts.
Manly: 1. Reuben Bijl, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. James Lakepa; 4.Pat Maile, 5. Dylan Sigg; 6. Daniel Collins, 7. Will Brame, 8. Mark Fisher; 9. Paddy Pearce, 10. Josh Gamgee; 11. Stephen Scoles, 12. Jarrod Murphy, 13. Luke Johnson, 14. Lupini Siale; 15. Matt Hopper.
Referee: James Scholtens
EASTERN SUBURBS (6th) V RANDWICK (3rd) at Woollahra Oval (3:00pm)
While all local derbies this weekend will be hard-fought, few have as much passion as the Eastern Suburbs-Randwick clash where sparks are sure to fly at Woollahra Oval.
Randwick enter the match as favourites, however they are without a number of stars who have helped them to third on the ladder. Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Australia U20), Stephen Hoiles (ribs), Josh Valentine (ankle) and Patrick Phibbs (Australia A) are all out of action, and while the forward pack remains strong, the backline will need to fire against a talented Beasts line-up.
Easts welcome back a number of stars this week, with Brumbies Saia Faingaa, Matt Toomua and Afusipa Taumoepeau taking their place in a side which snapped a three-match losing streak with a nail-biting one-point win over Norths a fortnight ago to reclaim their place in the top six.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Mike Ross, 2. Saia Faingaa, 3. Aaron Tawera; 4. Tom Egan [c], 5. Ed Brenac; 6. Ben Hopkins, 7. Tim McGann, 8. Will Brock; 9. Vitori Buatava, 10. Matt Toomua; 11. John Collignon, 12. Tom Azar, 13. Anton LaVin, 14. Afusipa Taumoepeau; 15. Lloyd Jones.
Randwick: 1. Sekope Kepu, 2. Atonio Halangahu, 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Steve Brennan, 5. Tim Maxwell; 6. Mat Whittleston, 7. Rodney Voullaire, 8. Chris Houston [c]; 9. Tony Luxford, 10. Toby Browne; 11. Matthew Nethery, 12. Michael Berne, 13. Metui Meile, 14. David Batiratu; 15. Bernie Orbell.
Referee: Andrew Lees
GORDON (2nd) V NORTHERN SUBURBS (10th) at Chatswood Oval (3:00pm)
Their respective positions on the table place Gordon as hot favourites in this match however the Highlanders will not be taking their local derby with Northern Suburbs lightly.
Gordon have been consistent all season and after conceding 50 in the opening round to Easts, their only other loss has come against defending champions Sydney University.
Northern Suburbs have fallen away dramatically since their blistering start to the season, and they came within a missed conversion of getting back on track in their last round.
Ben Alexander returns from the Wallaby squad which keeps Norths' front row strength in tact, and an upset at Chatswood could see Norths putting pressure on the top six going into matches against sides they have already beaten this season.
Gordon: 1. Ofa Fainga'anuku, 2. Alex Gluth, 3. Steve Taylor; 4. Nifo Nifo, 5. Kingsley Seale; 6. Ed Gower [c], 7. Craig Thomas, 8. Viliame Ratu; 9. Vinnie Byrne, 10. Dave Harvey; 11. Lachie Mitchell, 12. Billy Rainima, 13. Sinclair Fischer-Grey, 14. Sisa Waqa; 15. Mark Preston.
Northern Suburbs: 1. Ben Alexander, 2. Ryan Dalziel, 3. Nick Lah; 4. Chris Thomson, 5. Anthony Reed, 6. James Fitzgerald, 7. David Maunsell, 8. Jason Peseta; 9. Steve Evans, 10. Chris Burnett; 11. Ryno Delport, 12. Codie Medway, 13. Andrew Smith, 14. Dan Watson-Wood, 15. Seamus Ross.
Referee: Julian Pritchard
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (1st) V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (12th) at University Oval No.1 (3:00pm)
Southern Districts have been competitive in many matches this season, however they have a big task ahead of them when they travel to University Oval to take on the competition leaders.
While they are still missing a number of players through representative duty and injury, the Students look even stronger to the side which edged past Eastwood last week. HSBC Waratahs lock Will Caldwell moves into the second row, while Brumby Runners flanker Pauliasi Taumoepeau comes onto the side of the scrum.
Brumbies prop Nic Henderson and Junior Waratah lock Kane Douglas will line up for the Rebels, however with Guy Shepherdson, Dan Palmer and Rob Horne all on representative duty for their toughest match of the season, this is going to be a tough one for the visitors.
Sydney University: 1. Jeremy Tilse, 2. Nick Hensley, 3. Laurie Weeks; 4. Lachlan McCutcheon, 5. Will Caldwell; 6. Pauliasi Taumoepeau, 7. Pat McCutcheon, 8. Tim Davidson [c]; 9. Nick Haydon, 10. Dan P Kelly; 11. Ed Jenkins, 12. Mitch Inman, 13. Lachlan Mitchell, 14. Lachlan Rosengreen; 15. Jacob Taylor.
Southern Districts: 1. Nic Henderson, 2. James McCormack, 3. Charles Williamson; 4. Matt Trouville, 5. Kane Douglas; 6. Israel Stephens, 7. Terry Autagavia, 8. Grant Trouville; 9. Tim Small, 10. Michael Black [c]; 11. Dennis Pili, 12. Ben Tickle, 13. Marc Leadbeater, 14. Jackson Mullane; 15. Andrew Barrett.
Referee: Damien Mitchelmore