With five rounds now completed all teams have had a mix of dominant wins and games they would rather forget. With seven sides still in the hunt for a finals berth the need to get consecutive wins will be paramount for sides chances. The Rams, one of six sides with two losses, and with the bye behind them are in a good position to gab a finals spot provided they can return to the winning circle after two disappointing losses away from home.The Rams have three of their final four matches at home and as we have seen so far this season the home side has the advantage. Round 5 proved it once again with all four games going their way. In fact home teams have won 17of the 20 games so far decided. The Rams are one of only three sides to have won away from home.

With the bye now behind them the Rams are in a strong position with three home games remaining all against sides above them and yet to have the bye. The Rams push for the finals starts this week against the Fijian Drua who have also won away from home when they beat Melbourne Rising 45 – 24 in round 2. They have had two good wins at home against the Eagles 31 – 14 and Spirit 41 – 5. With the Spirit match it needs to be remembered Perth sent their second string side to Fiji as is their practice in playing away games. Their two losses were against Brisbane 36 – 45 in round 1 and Canberra 5 – 66 last week. With the Drua having the bye next week a win here by the Rams will put them within two points of the Drua not taking into account bonus points and with no points next week the Rams, with a win over Queensland Country, would move ahead of the Drua on the ladder. This game is critical to both sides.

With three straight wins and sitting at the top of the ladder Fiji Drua were looking the goods before Canberra Vikings brought them back to earth last week. The lessons learnt from the Viking game will be well learnt and the Rams will be aiming up to make it two losses in a row for the visitors. While the Drua have put on some entertaining rugby their discipline has left a little to be desired in both of their losses. Eroni Vasiteri and Apisalome Waqatabu have been sited to front the NRC judiciary today over the possible eye gouge on Vikings hooker Folau Faingaa. The outcome of this hearing will have an impact on the team selections for this match.

The bye came at a convenient time for the Rams with a mounting injury toll. The loss against the Rising saw Dion Spice, John Grant and Hugh Roach coming from the field while Mack Mason battled on with a rib injury. This week we see Adrian Hall return after injuring his foot in the first match. Hugh Roach is right to go, John Grant is named on the wing and Dion Spice injury was not as bad as first thought and he has been named on the bench. Mack Mason remains on the disabled list.

The Rams have been disappointed in their last two outings and know they have to start well against the Drua this Saturday. They won the second half against the Rising down in Melbourne and will take confidence from that performance when they almost pulled off a great comeback win. Defence will again be key and controlling the Drua counter attack will be paramount as they have shown how dangerous they can be from broken play. The scum held against a much heavier Rising side last match and will again be looking to dominate and set the platform. The Rams go into this important clash with a number of players unavailable. Captain Jed Holloway has a wedding,Taqele Naiyaraoro has a funeral, Kotoni Ale has work commitments, Mack Mason injured ribs and John Grant doubtful with a calf injury. “Though the squad is down on troops, we've come back off a bye and a few days off refreshed and ready for the Drua.” said John Manenti. “There are a few guys looking to impress and happy to be back at TG after a few weeks on the road.” he added.

The front row remains the same while some reshuffling of the pack sees Adrian Hall partner Sam Thomson in the second row with Fergus Lee-Warner moving to the side of the scrum and Albert Tuisue moving to number eight. Tevita Piukala comes in on the bench. Waldo Wessels, after impressing when he came on in the second half in Melbourne, becomes our fourth starting half. Stu Dunbar shows his versatility and has been named in the wing replacing Taqele whose bulldozing runs will be missed. Ben Cotton and Kodi Drury-Hawkins return to the bench with one of them looking at a start if John Grant is ruled out.

 

Its going to be tough for sure but you can't plan these things.” Said Jed Holloway on players unavailable this week. “The Fijians will be fired up coming off a disappointing loss last week. You can't have a set game plan against a side like Fiji because they are always doing something different. You just have to play your game against them. I'm looking forward to see Albert Tuisue up against them. He always lifts against his countrymen and will have played with and against some of them back in Fiji. I also expect a big game from Waldo Wessels who slotted in well in the second half against the Rising. Another one to watch will be Fergus Lee-Warner. Fergus loves the rough stuff and has played at flanker with Eastern Suburbs.

This is the game the Rams need to step up and dominate from the kick off. The win here will see them in good stead for a finals birth. A loss will see them slip further behind the top four and put their 2017 campaign in jeopardy. It is time to stamp their authority on this competition.

Playing for the Rams are Taqele Naiyaravoro, Albert Tuisue, Andrew Tuala, Ben Cotton, Josh Redfern, Kodie Drury-Hawkins, Kelly Meafua, and late called up Dion Spice.

We have come to enjoy the tackle busting runs of Taqele Naiyaravoro for both the Waratahs and the Rams and ex-Fijian Policeman Albert Tuisue having came to the Rams last year, as one of five Fijian players, decided to stay on and play for both the Pirates and the Rams in 2017. While Taqele and Albert has played in every game for the Rams this season here is some information on other Pirates who are a little less well known.

Andrew Tuala has been on the bench for all four games. Andrew lives in Newcastle and travels down each week for training and game days. Andrew played for the Wanderers club in Newcastle coming through their rugby academy program and in 2015 was selected in the NSW Country Cockatoos side that beat their Queensland cousins 20 – 15 in the Battle of the Borders Cup. Andrew decided in 2016 to advance his rugby career by coming down to Sydney and played with Randwick. In 2017 he made the switch to West Harbour and is keen to advance to a Super Rugby contract.

Ben Cotton is a young exciting centres who moved to West Harbour this season after playing his junior football with Eastwood. Ben went to Oakhill College and played his junior rugby with the Dural Rugby Club, playing most of the time at full back. After two years of injury through a knee reconstruction and a broken leg Ben felt is was time for a change and a fresh start. He made the move to West Harbour where Todd Louden turned him into a centre. Ben got his starting debut against the Spirit up against two Wallaby squad centres.

Irishman Josh Redfern has come onto the bench in the Rams last two matches. In England Josh played for the Macclesfield RUFC, Rotherham Titans and Sheffield Tigers before moving to Australia to advance his rugby career. In 2014 Josh played for England U20 Counties against Georgia.

Dion Spice from Waikato came across from New Zealand mid way through the 2017 season to play for West Harbour. He played for the Te Awamuta Sports Rugby Club and was part of the Mitre 10 Cup squad last year.

Kodie Drury-Hawkins is another young player getting exposure to play at the next level. He got on the paddock against the Perth Spirit in his NRC debut. Kodie switched from playing rugby league at 18 and can play anywhere in the backline, playing mainly full back this year for the Pirates. Kodie has played for NSW in 7's and last year represented NSW Maori against NSW Tonga. He also played for the Australia Iconz in Kenya in 2015. Kodie moved from Randwick to West Harbour in 2016 after playing in Randwick's 2015 2^nd Grade Grand Final side. He and Ben Cotton were joint top try scorers for the Pirates in first grade this year.

One player we are yet to see is Kelly Meafua who is working hard to be fit and right to go for the next match. Kelly started his rugby career in New Zealand playing for Otahuhu Rugby Club in Auckland. He played Auckland U/21 in 2010 and Auckland 7s. Being of Samoan heritage he was selected in the Samoan 7s side. This move makes him ineligible to play for New Zealand or Australia and so Kelly's aim is to get a Super Rugby contract. Kelly moved to Sydney in 2014 with his wife and three children to give himself a chance to advance his rugby career. Arriving during the Shute Shield season he went up to Newcastle and spent the rest of the 2014 season playing for the Waratahs club in the Newcastle rugby competition. He moved to West Harbour in 2015 where he won the Shute Shield Rookie of the Year and got selected to play for the Rams. His form didn't go unnoticed and he was given a contact to play with Narboune in France where he played for two seasons. Kelly returned to Sydney and West Harbour this year. “The time in France was a great experience for me and I really enjoyed my time there. But I wanted to come back to Australia to be close to family and to get a Super Rugby contract.” Kelly explained. Kelly took over as game day captain part way through the season when club captain Wayne Ngungutau suffered a season ending injury. While Kelly's immediate focus is getting on the paddock for the Rams and push his claim for a Super Rugby contract he is, like all the other Pirates, looking forward to 2018 with West Harbour. “When I returned to the Pirates this year things were different. New coaches, new players and new attitude. It took us a while to get used to playing together and understand the structures Todd was introducing.” Kelly said. “We turned the ship around this year and next year we plan to steer it to a premiership.

Paul Treanor

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand warmed up for their title decider this Saturday with convincing victories in their opening Schoolboy Tri-Nations rugby clashes at Knox Grammar ground on Monday.


Australia's Nick Frost

Australia, which includes talented Knox Grammar duo Nick Frost and Tom Woodcock, outclassed Fiji 29-3.

The busy afternoon caps off with the National Rugby Championships clash between PCS Greater Sydney Rams (run by Eastwood Rugby) and Fiji Airways Drua at 3pm.

 read the full story here

 

Australians are being encouraged to donate their old footy boots, balls and playing kits to give hundreds of children living in Fiji another reason to smile.  The NRC has started a drive urging locals to drop off their pre-loved Rugby gear at various matches across the country over the next two weekends.  The goods will then be given to The Fiji Project who will visit hundreds of locals across Fiji who are in desperate need of new sporting equipment and clothing.

Co- founder of The Fiji Project Katrina Oxenham said ‘’Most Fijian children play Rugby barefoot and have never owned a pair of boots or any other rugby kit, but their simple love for Rugby is second to none so this will mean the world to them. 

Greater Sydney Rams player Albert Tuisue said ‘’There’s a lot of us boys from the Islands playing in the NRC and it’s great we get to recognise that, as we’re very proud of where we come from.’’ 

The PCS Greater Sydney RAMS will have a collection box located at the RAMS V Drua on October 7 at TG Millner.. so grab your surplus gear and bring it along