Western Force -v- Crusaders Squad Announced
Scrumhalf Chris O’Young and openside flanker David Pocock return to the Emirates Western Force starting line-up for the clash against the second-placed Crusaders at Jade Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Voted best on ground by his teammates in last month’s victory over the Reds, O’Young comes back into the side for the injured Matt Henjak while Pocock swaps places on the bench with Matt Hodgson as part of rotation policy.
Prop AJ Whalley is back in the 22 for the third time and will be looking for his third Super 14 cap.
He replaces the injured Angus Scott, while former Brumby Runner scrumhalf Jon McGrath comes into the 22 for second time, still chasing his on-field Super debut.
Emirates Western Force head coach John Mitchell said his team was looking forward to the challenge of taking on the competition benchmark on their own turf.
“The Crusaders are a wonderfully talented and well-coached team, and they have an outstanding record of 24 consecutive wins at home, with only four Aussie teams having beaten them in Christchurch in 12 years,” Mitchell said.
“They are as close as you can get to a team that plays with ‘oneness.’ They are 15 or 22 guys that play seamlessly as one,” he said.
“We respect them for that and it’s something we are striving to achieve.”
Mitchell said the Force was in its relative infancy and still had lessons to learn to become better but the team was excited about the opportunity that lay ahead.
“The Crusaders have set the standard and we must take further steps forward to meet that standard,” he said.
“When you play the Crusaders, expect the unexpected at any stage of the game. When in possession, they execute better control and continuity than any other side in the competition.”
“They use full width often to stretch the opposition until eventually an opportunity presents itself. We are under no illusions as to what it’s going to take and we are aware of how much this contest means to both teams.”
The Emirates Western Force’s Scott Staniforth, David Pusey, Matt Henjak and Angus Scott were unavailable for selection due to injury.
The squad is:
1. Gareth Hardy
2. Tai McIsaac
3. Troy Takiari
4. Rudi Vedelago
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. Richard Brown
7. David Pocock
8. Scott Fava
9. Chris O’Young
10. James Hilgendorf
11. Cameron Shepherd
12. Matt Giteau
13. Ryan Cross
14. Digby Ioane
15. Drew Mitchell
16. Brendan Cannon
17. AJ Whalley
18. Luke Doherty
19. Matt Hodgson
20. Jon McGrath
21. Junior Pelesasa
22. Haig Sare
RUGBYWA MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 5 April 2007
