Wallabies duo back for Force

Nick Taylor
January 29, 2015, 7:53 am


Wallabies Matt Hodgson and Ben McCalman return for their first hit-up of the year in Saturday's Western Force trial against the Asia Pacific Dragons at UWA Sports Park.

Second-rower Adam Coleman will be missing after injuring his leg in last Friday's pre-season game against the Brumbies.

Captain Matt Hodgson said he expected the invitational Dragons side to stretch the Force.

"A big test will be defence, playing a side with their style you never know what they are going to bring," Hodgson said.

"They will attack from anywhere so we need to keep our defensive structure to the level of Super Rugby because they have got a lot of talent. There will be unpredictability in their game."

The Force pack came under pressure in set pieces a couple of times against the Brumbies.

"It's something not just the front row have looked at but the whole eight. Scrummaging has to be a whole pack mentality and we have to work as one," Hodgson said. "We have to get our timing right. There were a few things in the scrummaging and set piece that were not up to 100 per cent in the Brumbies game."

Hodgson, who ran water in the last trial, was able to watch how the back line performed.

"Combinations worked well, nine and 10 worked together, 12 and 13 worked together but the back three were outstanding," Hodgson said.

"We scored two or three tries off scrum starters that we couldn't do last year. They've done a lot of work on that."

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