Force face moment of truth
The new-look Western Force will face their first big test tomorrow when they line up against the Stormers in South Africa.
Coach John Mitchell has kept his run-on side for the trial under wraps but new props Tim Fairbrother and Nic Henderson will be among a host of new faces pulling on the ocean-blue jumper for the first time.
Fellow front-rower and another new signing Matt Dunning is expected to make an appearance during the game at Newlands Stadium and Rockingham product Ryan Tyrrell will cap his rise from local rugby with a run on at hooker.
Two more new faces, Sam Harris and Mitch Inman, both look set to be given a run at inside centre with teenager James O'Connor pencilled in at full-back.
Cameron Shepherd, who is likely to start on the wing in the second trial against the Sharks on Tuesday, and who has not played for eight months after a run of serious knee and ankle injuries, said the players were excited about the first hit-out.
"We've got a lot to play for, places are up for grabs," he said. "The trials finally give us a chance to do what we've been training for and everyone's looking forward to it.
"We've put in the hard work and now we've got the chance to test the combinations and try out some of the different things we've been practising.
"We've got an interesting mix. There are new players with different styles of play and we've been learning off each other.
"The young pups have been popping up at training, keeping the old bulls on their toes."
Henderson said: "This is something I've been looking forward to since arriving.
"Training is always competitive but it doesn't get really interesting until you start playing and in South Africa you know you are always going to come up against sides that love confrontation. The Sharks will be strong and the Stormers have an all-Springbok front row."
Mitchell has picked two different sides for the trials in Cape Town but stressed that no player was guaranteed selection for the Super 14 opener against the Brumbies next month.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ment-of-truth/
