%vikings Ishan Narang Tom Delonge Jonny Ridd Donald Boland Choco Man Siege Morgan Ben Manera Theo Miokovic Mate Perry Aaron Hunt Andrew James Ben Jacobs Steve Cambridge Dirk Diggler Kelvin Fung Substitutes Clayton Evans Reagan Wheelson Peter Retzel Rusty Downpipes Jimmy Read Henry Marshall Sam Green %crabs Samuel Vimes Okoudou Gbagbo Herr Burger Bruce Force Double Dong Zinzan Brumby JD Hurricane Pretzel Spark Cobra Classified Ivan Ryabovol Daniel Speirs Chuck Faldo John Heads Chris Raftery Ginger Furball Substitutes 16. Os Du Toit 17. Hal Teja 18. Oscar Wood 19. Mike Martyn 20. Bill Kirk 21. Sticky Phlegm 22. Hache Emm
Preview This looks set to be an interesting game between SRC challengers the Crabs and a team on the rebuild in the shape of the Vikings. The Vikings entertain the Crabs with a full squad for the 2nd week in a row and keep faith with the line-up which steered them to a demoralising 5 - 49 home loss to the Spartans. That said, the bench options for the Vikings demonstrate that they are in a rebuild phase at the moment with a number of reasonable options (Downpipes, Marshall, Green) but they look short of having the sort of personnel that could break the game open in the 2nd half. That said, Sam Green is in a hot run of form at the moment with ratings of 10, 8 and 10 in his last 3 reserve grade outings with MOTM performances against the Squids and - more impressively - the Olympians. In the starting line-up, much will be required from the back row. Ben Manera and Siege Morgan are yet to form the partnership that the negotiators would have been looking for when Morgan signed from the Gamblers, but they remain quality options. Following injuries to Geraint Martyn and Jake Howe, the Crabs recall JD Hurricane and Pretzel Spark moves into the boot. The fact that two such quality options remain available to the Crabs despite such extensive back row injuries shows the strength in depth they have. The Vikings' undoubted weakness is their front row. Narang and Ridd are triers, but they will surely come unstuck against Herr Burger. Another player yet to hit his straps this season has been Tom Delonge. He'll look to impose himself on the short-fused England hooker, Okoudou Gbagbo. Gbagbo as always has been a big presence in open play, but hasn't been great at the line out. As such, the Vikings will look to Donald Boland to make as many steals as he can. Things are more interesting in the backs where I think I'll give superiority to the Vikings. The Crabs are yet to settle on their ideal formation here, given the number of utility options at their disposal and as such Chuck Faldo earns a recall. His form has been okay, and he will face down seasoned campaigner Ben Jacobs. Kelvin Fung has a lot to prove this season at full back and is bound to be tested by opposite number Ginger Furball. Under pressure will be winger Dirk Diggler who has been erratic despite a couple of stand-out performances this season. He should get the best of consistent yet underwhelming Chris Raftery. Prediction: Vikings 17 - 24 Crabs