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NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SIX PREVIEW

06/10/2017
 
 

NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SIX PREVIEW

OCTOBER 6, 2017
As we head into week six of the competition, it couldn’t get much tighter with four teams now battling it out for top spot on the NRC ladder and the others following close behind.
 
This weekend is the Pasifika Round which celebrates the great influence of the Pacific Island nations on Australian Rugby.
 
On Saturday TG Millner Oval will host a full day of fun and festivities. In the morning spectators can watch future NRC stars, the Australian Schoolboys take on NZ Schoolboys. Straight after the Greater Sydney Rams will take on the Fijian Drua in front of what is expected to be a healthy crowd.
 
Following this match Queensland Country will battle it out with NSW Country at Bond University. The Queensland boys haven’t lost to the Eagles since season one of the NRC and are feeling confident with Wallabies tourist Izaia Perese joining their side.
 
On Sunday two Wallabies will go head to head with Lopeti Timani joining the Melbourne Rising squad and Rory Arnold taking Canberra Vikings’ side at Frankston Oval in Victoria.
 
In the final match of the round, the Sydney Rays will host Brisbane City at Pittwater Rugby Park. The Rays have been forced to shuffle their backline with Sam Lane and Angus Sinclair out.

2017 Standings after Round Five 
Bond University Queensland Country 15
Canberra Vikings 15
Road Safety Perth Spirit 15
Fiji Airways Drua 15
Greater Sydney Rams 9
Elders NSW Country Eagles 8
McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City 8
Macquarie University Sydney Rays 5
Melbourne Rising 4
 
Round Six Fixtures
Saturday 7 October
Greater Sydney Rams v Fiji Airways Drua
Where: TG Millner Field, Sydney
When: 3:00 PM AEST
Broadcast Information:
  • The Rams have shuffled up their squad after being hit with several injuries and losing some big stars including Taqele Naiyaravoro
  • Both teams will be led by former Eastwood coaches including John McKee for the Fiji Drua and Billy Melrose for the Rams
  • The Drua spent this week training at Kings College in Sydney and won’t be shy of support with thousands of local Fijians expected to show for the Pasifika Round
 
Saturday 7 October
Bond University Queensland Country v Elders NSW Country Eagles
Where: Bond University, Gold Coast
When: 5:00 PM AEST
Broadcast Information:
  • Wallabies player Izaia Perese will join the Queensland boys in their match day 23
  • As part of the Pasifika Round Queensland will pay tribute to the 18 players on their squad who have Polynesian heritage
  • Former Queensland Country flanker Maclean Jones will line up for NSW Country against his old side for the first time
  • Eagles player Tom Staniforth will be the man to look out for as he goes from strength to strength as a leader in the forward pack
 
Sunday 8 October
Melbourne Rising v Canberra Vikings 
Where: Frankston Oval, Victoria
When: 1:00PM AEST
Broadcast Information:
  • The teams have an even split of historic wins; the Rising won 34-13 in 2014 and the Vikings won 60-44 in 2016
  • The Rising were hit by injury in their loss to Queensland Country last weekend but have welcomed back Wallaby Lopeti Timani, lock Alex Toolis and playmaker Lloyd Johansson to the starting line-up
  • The Vikings will also welcome back Wallaby Rory Arnold and Andrew Muirhead will swap with Tom Banks to have a crack at fullback
 
Sunday 8 October
Macquarie University Sydney Rays v McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City
Where: Pittwater Park, Sydney
When: 3:00PM AEST
Broadcast Information:
 
  • The Rays have made some changes with versatile Harry Burey now heading to inside centre to cover Saifoloi’s move and Irae Simone will have his second start at outside centre
  • Josh Turner will return to fullback after playing on the wing in Goulburn and Rob Buaserau will be in line for a start after Latu Latunipulu strained his hamstring again
  • The Brisbane boys will be fighting hard to make it into the top four after losing to Perth Spirit last weekend

 
 

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