Force Ready to Take on the Bulls
Hooker Ben Whittaker will make his run-on debut for the Emirates Western Force in Saturday night’s fixture against the Bulls at ME Bank Stadium after incumbent Ryan Tyrrell succumbed to a neck injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the 2010 season.
Lock Sam Wykes has also been ruled out after receiving a corked thigh last weekend giving Tom Hockings a place in the starting XV whilst Brett Sheehan and Scott Staniforth will be given every opportunity to prove their fitness after pulling up sore following the match against the Tahs.
Head Coach John Mitchell has been able to recall capped Wallaby Pek Cowan to the bench, while 18 year old flanker Ted Postal could make his Super Rugby debut after being named as reserve for the first time.
While coaching staff have had to again juggle positions in the squad Mitchell said he was looking forward to tackling the league leading Bulls and continuing to build on the positives that came out of the club’s performance against the Waratahs last Saturday.
“The boys got a real feeling of what it is like to put doubt and pressure into the opposition, I think that was a great feeling we had for a lot of the match,” Mitchell said.
“What we have to make sure is that we finish that off and convert that feeling and that pressure we’ve put on our opposition.”
Tyrrell, who had an outstanding game against the Waratahs, has sustained an injury that will require surgery however Mitchell is confident the tough front rower will return next season ready to pick up where he left off.
“I’m thrilled for the way Ryan responded last week, and I think everyone in the group was thrilled also with the way he responded,” the coach said.
“He can walk away from this season certainly understanding what this level takes and take confidence from the fact that he was able to play well.
Tyrrell’s injury is a further blow to the playing stocks of the club who this season have been without marquee signing and Springbok Andre Pretorius, and Wallabies David Pocock, Richard Brown and Cameron Shepherd due to long term injuries.
“It’s a game of contact. A lot of these injuries are occurring during performance. Our conditioning and medical team look after the players very well,” Mitchell said.
“I think we probably have the best wellbeing and support system in the country with the amount of information we have on each player.”
While admitting the injury situation was frustrating for everyone at the club, Mitchell was philosophical, saying the long term benefits coming from opportunities given to young players is a silver lining for the club into the future.
“We’ve hung tough during this situation and at no stage have we used it as an excuse,” said Mitchell.
“If you look at the short term it hurts, it definitely hurts, but if you look at it from a long term point of view the number of lads that are getting Super 14 minutes that may have not otherwise got Super 14 minutes will hold this group in good stead into next year and going forward.”
2010 INVESTEC BANK SUPER 14 WEEK SEVEN
EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE V BULLS
Saturday, 27 March, 2010
ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 7.10pm AWST
Great seats still available, grab your ticket at www.westernforce.com
1. Nic Henderson
2. Ben Whittaker
3. Tim Fairbrother
4. Tom Hockings
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. Ben McCalman
7. Matt Hodgson
8. Richard Stanford
9. Brett Sheehan
10. David Hill
11. Mitch Inman
12. James O’Connor
13. Ryan Cross
14. Scott Staniforth
15. Mark Bartholomeusz
Reserves
16. Pek Cowan
17. Kieran Longbottom
18. Luke Jones
19. Ted Postal
20. Chris O’Young
21. Sam Harris
22. Haig Sare
Unavailable: David Pocock (finger), Richard Brown (shoulder), Cameron Shepherd (thigh), Andre Pretorius (hamstring), Matt Dunning (concussion), Ryan Tyrrell (neck), Sam Wykes (thigh), Dane Haylett-Petty (ankle), Joelin Rapana (hand), Jono Jenkins (ankle)
