Were likely screwed anyway, but I'd love to make a contest of it.
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Were likely screwed anyway, but I'd love to make a contest of it.
Compared to last season, the backline has gone from outhouse to the palace. Meakes, Rona and Peni always look to back themselves. Verity Amm, and Newsome have been brilliant. It's a totally new backline with Haylett Petty as the veteran. It was interesting to see The Rebels using the Force kicking game of last season in their last couple of matches - ouch.
Can match them in forwards but will be under pressure with 2 Barretts, Aso , Jane and Perinara . A lot of power and pace.
Time for an upset! We haven't had one for a few years
Dream BIG!
Am I correct in noting one Savea is on the bench and the other is out?
The Canes won't be Savea'd!
I liked Wessel's comment at the members update about learning to win back to back and he has put the boys through hell after getting a few tips from Eddie Jones last week. Hopefully it works!
I'll be back for the Rebels too so we'll be ok!
Safe travels PG, where are you now?
Darwin, Andrew
Andrew - I have a couple of people from Twitter say they'll be there to help out. Have said for them to be at Gate 1 for about 6.30.
Did you know that the :force: has only ever lost once to the Super Rugby reigning champions at home?
The Bulls in 2010.
Results when playing current Champions since our inception.
2006 v Crusaders Draw
2008 v Bulls Win
2010 v Bulls Loss
2011 v Bulls Win
2012 v Reds Win
2014 v Chiefs Win
2015 v Tahs Win
Western Force coach Dave Wessels has urged his team to play without fear against defending champions the Hurricanes in Saturday night's Super Rugby clash in Perth.
The Force were thrashed 55-6 a fortnight ago by the Highlanders in their most-recent home game, and Wessels said he and his players were desperate to atone for that performance.
Australian teams are 0-20 this season against NZ outfits, and the Force face an uphill battle to buck that trend against a Hurricanes outfit, littered with All Blacks.
Wessels has urged his team to throw some metaphorical punches against the Hurricanes, and not worry too much about the damage their highly rated opponents can cause.
"If we play scared, if we play conservatively, I don't think we'll get pay out of that," Wessels said.
"I think one of the best ways to be effective defensively is to attack well.
"If you look at that Highlanders game, we played differently to how we had the other games.
"I don't think that worked for us.
"What's worked for us is keeping the ball in hand and having a go, and throwing some punches at different times."
The Force's meltdown against the Highlanders came just a week after posting a famous win over the Jaguares in Argentina.
Wessels feels his team have developed a trend of playing well the week after a disappointing loss.
The Force cast aside their disappointment against the Highlanders to beat the Reds 40-26 last week in Queensland.
Wessels has challenged his group to back up on that good performance, and he has tried to make training as intense and as uncomfortable as possible this week.
"I felt really bad after that Highlanders game - not so much because of the scoreline, but how we played," Wessels said.
"I thought we looked lethargic and off the pace right from the start. Part of it was due to the travel (back from Argentina).
"I guess the sad thing about that Highlanders game was it was at home in front of our fans, so we want to atone for that.
"The Force welcome back star fullback Dane Haylett-Petty from a hamstring injury, but winger Chance Peni (groin) fell just short in his bid to return this week.
The Hurricanes (10-2) sit second in the NZ conference, and have been bolstered by the return of star five-eighth Beauden Barrett (concussion).
All Blacks utility back Nehe Milner-Skudder will enter the fray off the bench after recovering from a broken foot he suffered in round three.
The Force host the Hurricanes at nib Stadium tomorrow night, kicking off at 9:55pm AEST, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
Is this our strongest lineup for 2017 If not I think it is pretty close. I love how we have 2 wallabies( and one to be ) on the bench to use as impact players at 60min , probably the strongest bench we have ever had. If we can hold the Canes for 60 minutes then it will be game on, the bench is strong, experienced and skilled. Grant need to play aggressive not defensive otherwise the Canes will tore us open.
1 Francois van Wyk
2 Heath Tessmann
3 Jermaine Ainsley
4 Matt Philip
5 Adam Coleman
6 Ross Haylett-Petty
7 Matt Hodgson (C)
8 Isi Naisarani
9 Michael Ruru
10 Peter Grant
11 Alex Newsome
12 Bill Meakes
13 Curtis Rona
14 James Verity-Amm
15 Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Pek Cowan
18 Tetera Faulkner
19 Richie Arnold
20 Richard Hardwick
21 Mitchell Short
22 Luke Burton
23 Marcel Brache