Prior to the match against Asia Pacific Dragons, there will be Force A v Perth Spirit starting at 3.40pm.
See you there :approve:
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Prior to the match against Asia Pacific Dragons, there will be Force A v Perth Spirit starting at 3.40pm.
See you there :approve:
Good timing after the NRL 9's :approve:
Nick Taylor
January 27, 2015, 8:26 am
Western Force will play an international-studded Asia Pacific Dragons in their second pre-season trial at UWA Sports Ground on Saturday.
The Force have also added a second fixture, with their A-side playing the National Rugby Championship Perth Spirit team that will include a number of local club players.
With two games being played, the entire Force squad will be used and coach Michael Foley is expected to field his first-choice side against the Dragons.
The invitational Dragons team is likely to include eight internationals, with former All Blacks back Rico Gear topping the list.
He will link up with former teammate and All Blacks legend Tana Umaga who coaches the Dragons.
Ex-Samoan captain and hooker Mo Schwalger will lead the pack, while others in the mix are one-time Samoan scrum-half Junior Poluleuligaga, his former Blues teammate and back-rower Peter Saili and Tongan and former Highlanders flanker Hale T-Pole.
The Dragons side is made up of players based in Japan and most players have played at Test, Super Rugby or ITM Cup level.
They were formed in 2011 as the Asia Pacific Barbarians and feature in all of the 15 and sevens forms of the game.
In their foundation year they defeated a World XV side to claim the inaugural Chartis Cup and successfully defended their title the following year. They have won the Hong Kong Tens and the Singapore Sevens.
The Force A game kicks off at 3.40pm and the main fixture is at 5pm.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...ons-encounter/
WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
The Western Force has included its Wallaby contingent to take on the Asia Pacific Dragons in the club’s final pre-season fixture at McGillivray Oval this Saturday afternoon (31 January). Kick-off for the match is 5pm.
Captain Matt Hodgson and No.8 Ben McCalman, who were both rested in the Force’s 31-21 win over the Brumbies last week, will join fellow Wallabies Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan, Tetera Faulkner, Kyle Godwin and Luke Morahan in the Force line-up.
Steve Mafi (Tonga) and Alby Mathewson (New Zealand) will also bring international experience to the Force squad, to face the invitational team featuring players from Asia and the Pacific Islands, including former All Black, Rico Gear; and three-time Samoan Rugby World Cup representative, Mo Schwalger. The side will be coached by All Blacks legend, Tana Umaga.
Saturday will be the final opportunity for the club’s passionate ‘Sea of Blue’ to see the Force before the club’s 10th season of Asteron Life Super Rugby kicks off in Sydney against the NSW Waratahs next month (Sunday, 15 February).
The Force’s match against the Dragons will be preceded by Force ‘A’s clash against the Perth Spirit, with the Spirit side featuring many club players that represented the WA team during last year’s inaugural Buildcorp National Rugby Championship.
Tickets for Saturday’s match are available from the Western Force Team Store (203 Underwood Ave, Floreat) or at the venue on match day. With other events taking place in the UWA Sports Park/HBF Stadium precinct, patrons are encouraged to arrive early.
Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says Saturday’s two matches will provide another step towards his side’s Asteron Life Super Rugby opener against the Waratahs.
“Friday [against the Brumbies] was an opportunity for us to test ourselves against a quality Super Rugby opposition – something we weren’t able to do last season – and it’s important that we take another step up against both the Dragons and Perth Spirit on Saturday,” he said.
“While there were a number of positives out of last week’s game, there were also some good lessons which we’ll challenge ourselves on in prep ahead of this week’s game.
“The Dragons will provide us with a different type of opposition as they have a number of Test-quality players in their line-up, who will challenge us through the entire 80 minutes.”
2015 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Pre-Season
McGillivray Oval, UWA Sports Park, Mt Claremont, Perth
Saturday, 31 January 2015
Western Force v Asia Pacific Dragons Kick-off: 5pm
Prop: Pek Cowan, Tetera Faulkner, Chris Heiberg, Joe Savage
Hooker: Robbie Abel, Nathan Charles
Lock: Steve Mafi, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Rory Walton, Sam Wykes
Back row: Angus Cottrell, Richard Hardwick, Matt Hodgson, Ross Haylett-Petty, Kane Koteka, Ben McCalman
Scrumhalf: Alby Mathewson, Ryan Louwrens
Flyhalf: Luke Burton, Sias Ebersohn
Centre: Patrick Dellit, Kyle Godwin, Ammon Matuauto, Solomoni Rasolea
Wing: Marcel Brache, Brad Lacey, Luke Morahan, Mitchell Scott
Fullback: Dane Haylett-Petty, Albert Nikoro
Force ‘A’ v Perth Spirit Kick-off: 3.40pm
Prop: Oliver Hoskins, Francois van Wyk
Hooker: Heath Tessmann
Lock: Wilhelm Steenkamp, Rory Walton
Back row: Chris Alcock, Ross Haylett-Petty, Brynard Stander
Scrumhalf: Ian Prior
Flyhalf: Zack Holmes
Centre: Luke Burton, Ammon Matuauto
Wing: Brad Lacey, Albert Nikoro, Mitchell Scott
Fullback: Patrick Dellit
Ticket Prices
Tickets for Saturday’s match are available from the Western Force Team Store (203 Underwood Ave, Floreat) or at the venue on match day.
Adults $15
Concession $10
Children (Under 16) Free
Nice - bring it on
Me and Mrs Cold will be there
Got the tickets today!!
Every senior rugby player in Perth is going to be at this game.
I predict 3500+ in the crowd.
Bring your kids, and if you are a junior coach spread the world to your families and get down there.
So who is missing? I notice no Adam Coleman. Obviously Honey Badger still to join and Yamada from Japan. Everyone else I think is there.
From the teams picked I would read into it that this is our best 15
Prop: Pek Cowan, Tetera Faulkner
Hooker: Nathan Charles
Lock: Steve Mafi, Sam Wykes
Back row: Angus Cottrell, Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman
Scrumhalf: Alby Mathewson
Flyhalf: Sias Ebersohn
Centre: Kyle Godwin, Solomoni Rasolea
Wing: Marcel Brache, Luke Morahan
Fullback: Dane Haylett-Petty
100 percent on the money Buddha
The way I read that team list, Foles appears to have shown his hand on the starting 15 for the Force, I think he's preparing the obvious ones from there to be the core player group.
The apparent bench warmers seem to be starting in the Spirit match.
For example, Hooker is fairly obvious and that has Cheese and Robbie in the Force match with Heath playing the Spirit.
Backrow, the starters are similarly obvious Benny Hodgo and Gus, with Chris and Rhino backing them up.
Interesting ones
Prop: Pek & Tets makes a lot of sense to start for the force, but Ollie and Frankie for the Spirit? I haven't seen anything from Van Wyk yet and would have half expected Heiberg there.....
Burto and Brad Lacey have both appeared in several places there. I'd think they're either sorely in need of a run (ie will play 40-60 minutes of the Spirit and then back up for the Force) or they're being groomed to ride the pine in the big show.
Nikoro and Scott have similarly been named in both matches......look for a bloodbath from the young outside backs chasing the bench spot backing up Marcel, Mozza and Dane. Great problems to have......based upon what he did against a tired but classy Brumbies backline last week, my money is on Nikoro!
I believe that Nikoro didn't play last week. Ammon was outside centre second half from what I was told.
Adam Coleman suffered a calf injury in the Brumbies trial.