Tooheys New Shute Shield :: Round 1 Preview
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Friday, 28 March 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
Club Rugby returns this weekend when the 2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield kicks off around Sydney.
Sydney Uni's Nick Haydon
Sydney University scrumhalf Nick Haydon stretches the Manly defence (2007 Tooheys New Shute Shield, Round 4)
The Match of the Day takes place at Manly Oval, with the hosts doing battle with the defending champions.
MANLY V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY at Manly Oval (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)
Defending champions Sydney University have rarely been out of the top two in recent times, however their resolve will be tested this year as they attempt meet their expectations over a 22 round home-and-away competition.
Their campaign kicks off on the northern beaches where Manly will be looking to score the first major upset of the season.
Rugby league legend Phil Blake has come through the coaching ranks at Manly and this year has the top job, with many eyes on how his side will perform in the opening round.
On paper Sydney University seem extremely strong with a number of representative players in action. Wallaby David Lyons is expected to get some game time in his first hit-out since breaking his leg at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, while Alfi Mafi will be keen to show what he can do after missing out on HSBC Waratahs selection this week.
With great weather during the week and a hard ground still recovering from a full summer of cricket, a fast and expansive game is expected from both sides.
The match will be screened live on ABC 1 from 3:00pm.
Manly: 15. Adam D'Arcy 14. Matt Bell 13. Jarrod Murphy 12. Jack Joy 11. Lupini Siale 10. Stephen Locke 9. Chris Cottee [c] 8. Mark Fisher 7. Will Brame 6. Ryan Melrose 5. Sean Maloney 4. Pat Maile 3. James Lakepa 2. Tim Donnan 1. Eddie Aholelei
Sydney University: 15. Nathan Trist 14. Alfi Mafi 13. Lachlan Mitchell 12. Mitch Inman 11. Hayden Bushell 10. Dan Kelly 9. Nick Haydon 8. Tim Davidson [c] 7. Jono Jenkins 6. Pat McCutcheon 5. Ben McCalman 4. Lachlan McCutcheon 3. Laurie Weeks 2. Nathan Charles 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
Referee: Ian Smith
EASTERN SUBURBS V GORDON at Woollahra Oval (3:00pm)
Having made it to the Grand Final in 2007, Eastern Suburbs will settle for nothing but the best this season and have a tough opening match against a talented Gordon lineup.
The Beasties have been boosted by the selection of HSBC Waratahs half Luke Burgess in the No.9 jersey, while more interest will be shown in Gavin DeBartolo than ever before after he collected the Catchpole Medal last season.
The Highlanders go into 2008 with more of a target on their backs than in many a season, thanks to their Trevor Allan Cup victory. Mark Preston is a renowned tryscorer, while brother Terry's move from half to wing this season sets up an exciting combination at the back.
The battle of the forward packs will be exciting at both extremes, with each prop tipping the scales at over 120kg while the mobility and skill of players such as Tim McGann and Ed Gower will be a highlight.
Eastern Suburbs: 15. Lloyd Jones 14. Gavin DeBartolo 13. Anton LaVin 12. Tom Azar 11. Pat Smith 10. Ben Ward 9. Luke Burgess 8. Fergus Dorney 7. Tim McGann 6. Ed Brenac 5. Adam Byrnes 4. Tom Egan [c] 3. Aaron Tawera 2. Sam Zlatevski 1. Mike Ross
Gordon: 15. Mark Preston 14. Terry Preston 13. Josh Whitaker 12. Billy Rainima 11. Donny Nepia 10. Dave Harvey 9. Vinnie Byrne 8. Paul Tuala 7. Craig Thomas 6. Ed Gower [c] 5. Nifo Nifo 4. Kingsley Seale 3. Steve Taylor 2. Alex Gluth 1. Ofa Fainga'anuku
Referee: Nathan Pearce
PENRITH V NORTHERN SUBURBS at Nepean Rugby Park (3:00pm)
While Penrith may have been looked upon as easybeats in seasons gone by, no side looks forward to travelling to Nepean Rugby Park which the Emus are hoping to turn into a fortress this season.
Coach Ian Moyes is confident his side is on the rise, with a nice mixture of youth and experience forming the backbone of his starting XV. The average age of the backline is 23, a figure boosted dramatically by the inclusion of clever captain Sia'a Taveuveu and durable scrumhalf Ian Schein.
Northern Suburbs will start favourites for this match with the inclusion of Junior Waratahs Andrew Smith, Corey Brown, Sam Latinipulu, Chris Thomson and Al Manning, however they will certainly not have it all their own way.
With temperatures expected to get near the mid-20s at Penrith, off-season conditioning could be a major factor as this match hits the latter stages.
Penrith: 15. Nick Richardson 14. Campbell Sione 13. Patrick Mekuri 12. Sia'a Taveuveu [c] 11. Robbie Hunt 10. Jono Rolfe 9. Ian Schein 8. Henele Schaaf 7. Rob Carlson 6. Shemaiah Evans 5. Liam Winton 4. Shannon Rushworth 3. Nick Barber 2. Elvis Levi 1. Dave Coventry
Northern Suburbs: 15. Chris Oxford 14. David Bond 13. Andrew Smith 12. Codie Medway 11. Corey Brown 10. Todd Sly 9. Steven Evans 8. William Hunt 7. Sam Latinipulu 6. James Fitzgerald 5. Anthony Reed 4. Chris Thomson 3. Ben Alexander 2. Al Manning [c] 1. Nick Lah
Referee: Damian Mitchelmore
EASTWOOD V PARRAMATTA at T.G. Millner Field (3:00pm)
Gary Ella's men are looking forward to a strong 2008 campaign, however they have a tough task ahead of them as they travel to T.G. Millner Field for the opening round of competition.
Both sides have recruited well in the off-season, with tryscoring centre Dave Alo moving from Manly to the Two Blues, while former Australian Schoolboy Gray Viane will start for the Woodies after returning from rugby league stints with the Wests Tigers, St Helens, Widnes, Castleford and Salford.
Journeyman Fijian flanker Seva Rokobaro will turn out for Eastwood for the first time having joined the club from Parramatta in the off-season, while fullback Ben Batger will be looking for a strong performance to push for higher honours.
Eastwood: 15. Ben Batger 14. Jesse Leota 13. Chris Donnelly 12. Gray Viane 11. Filipo Toala 10. Barney Wood 9. Dave Rimmer 8. Josh Dunning 7. Hugh Perrett [c] 6. Seva Rokobaro 5. Marty Wilson 4. Phil Mathers 3. Will Scott 2. Todd Pearce 1. Simon Norris
Parramatta: 15. Paula Kaveinga 14. Roland Herea 13. Josh Weeks 12. Dave Alo 11. Tito Mua 10. Aaron Mattin 9. Luke Tabutoa 8. Winney Paulo 7. Andrew Cox 6. Campbell Maxwell 5. John Natadra 4. Andrew Brown [c] 3. Kris Zvirbulis 2. Scott Podmore 1. Kruger Roache
Referee: James Scholtens
WARRINGAH V WEST HARBOUR at Pittwater Rugby Park (3:00pm)
Much interest in this match centres on Sam Harris who will be looking to wreak havoc in the midfield as he attempts to win back his place in the Waratahs squad.
However the biggest showdown will see the Rats' 126kg Brumbies prop Salesi Ma'afu pack down against his 118kg younger brother Campese Ma'afu, with bragging rights on offer between the pair.
While Warringah start as slight favourites, West Harbour remain buoyant from their appearance in the 2007 Trevor Allan Cup Final. The Pirates are now looking to extend that form over a full home-and-away season, with fullback Ben Martin and centre Rory Sidey ready to add some spark for the Pirates.
Warringah: 15. Pat McCabe 14. Andrew Wiles 13. Clint Eadie 12. Sam Harris 11. Ed Doyle 10. Michael Ruthven 9. Sam Hutcheron 8. James Catt 7. Mitchell Scott-Fell 6. Saia Lutu 5. Luke Hanvey 4. Scott Flint 3. Salesi Ma'afu 2. David Mason 1. Dan Raymond [c]
West Harbour: 15. Ben Martin 14. John Sinisa 13. Rory Sidey 12. Lester Salanoa 11. Sam Raymond 10. Dave Paurini 9. Steve Massey 8. Isaiah Pine 7. Mark Porpiglia 6. James King 5. Damian Lloyd 4. Ben Lonsdale 3. Michael Rigney 2. Ben Roberts 1. Campese Ma'afu
Referee: Andrew Lees
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS V RANDWICK at Forshaw Park (3:00pm)
Southern Districts are looking to bounce back from a disastrous 2007 campaign when they failed to win a match.
Amazingly, they still managed to finish off the bottom of the table due to their bonus points which goes a long way to showing just how close they were to winning a handful of matches and turning their season around.
With the likes of Dan Palmer and Kane Douglas setting the platform in the forwards, Souths will give the Randwick pack a run for their money this week.
The glamour club of the 1980s and 1990s, Randwick have raised the Shute Shield just once in the last 11 seasons and will be looking to kick off their 2008 campaign with a strong all-round performance at Sylvania Waters.
Southern Districts: 15. Michael Black 14. Jackson Mullane 13. Dennis Pili 12. Sean Rudder 11. Andrew Barrett 10. Matthew Adair 9. Timothy Small 8. Grant Trouville 7. Terry Autagavia 6. Luke Smart 5. Kane Douglas 4. Matthew Trouville 3. Dan Palmer 2. James McCormack [c] 1. Duncan Chubb
Randwick: 15. Matthew Nethery 14. Awais Ali 13. Metui Maile 12. Bernie Orbell 11. Ratu Nasiganiyavi 10. Toby Browne 9. Tony Luxford 8. Chris Houston [c] 7. Rodney Voullaire 6. Tim Maxwell 5. Mat Whittleston 4. Steve Brennan 3. Daniel Spencer 2. Atonio Halangahu 1. Lotu Taukeiaho
Referee: Daniel Cheever