MacKay in for Giteau

[Swee_82]

MacKay in for Giteau (Fox Sports)

April 15, 2008 INJURY-plagued Lachlan MacKay has been named as Matt Giteau's replacement for Western Force against Queensland on Friday.

Giteau, who was ruled out of Friday's clash after being knocked out and concussed in last week's defeat to the Waratahs, is expected to return to take on the Chiefs after next week's bye.

In the meantime, MacKay will return to the position to he started his Force career, which has since been blighted with various injuries.

The only other change to the starting line-up will see Haig Sare start his first game since his pre-season punch up with Matt Henjak, having made a brief comeback off the bench last week.

Tamaiti Horua comes onto the bench, as does teenage prospect James O'Connor.

[laura]

So who got moved to the bench for Haig to start and who got moved off then bench for Horua & O'Connor? Obviously Gits won't be on there, but who else?

[inactive]

cummins i would assume

[Thequeerone]

Horua for Wykes - guessing

[Jehna]

Cummins played so well Why is he getting booted?

[The InnFORCEr]

Horua for Wykes - guessing

Actually Matty H misses out this week for Horua, Wykes is still on the bench a deservedly so.

[KenyaQuin]

Western Force:

Cameron Shepherd,
Haig Sare,
Ryan Cross,
Scott Staniforth,
Drew Mitchell,
Lachlan Mackay,
Chris O'Young,
Richard Brown,
David Pocock,
Scott Fava,
Nathan Sharpe (capt),
Tom Hockings,
Troy Takiari,
Tai McIsaac,
Pek Cowan.

Res: Luke Holmes, AJ Whalley, Sam Wykes, Tamaiti Horua, James Stannard, James O'Connor, Nick Cummins.

[KenyaQuin]

Queensland Reds:

Clinton Schifcofske,
Brando Va'aulu,
Morgan Turinui,
Berrick Barnes,
Peter Hynes,
Quade Cooper,
Ben Lucas,
Leroy Houston,
David Croft,
John Roe,
James Horwill (capt),
Van Humphries,
Dayna Edwards,
Stephen Moore,
Ben Coutts.

Reserves: Sean Hardman, Rodney Blake, Ed O'Donoghue, Poutasi Luafutu, Will Genia, Andrew Walker, Charlie Fetoai.

[frontrow]

I thought wykes played out of his skin on the weekend, awesome performance off the bench, perhaps he should stay there as an impact player...Cummins would also be a good injection late in the game, he is definately determined but does have a touch of the "ioane" about him...

[BLR]

Cummins played so well Why is he getting booted?

Experience I'd say...Cummins is too young...he needs to work on his influence on the game I'd say...

[Jehna]

Experience I'd say...Cummins is too young...he needs to work on his influence on the game I'd say...

True but i would have thought the game against the reds would have been one of the better opportunities for him to do that...

[laura]

Agreed Jehna. He sin't going to become any more experienced by sitting on the bench & I think he played well against the Tahs.

[BLR]

True but i would have thought the game against the reds would have been one of the better opportunities for him to do that...

I think it's not as much a matter of more game time, he has got plenty of that...I think it's more of age, not many players turn into world beaters at his age...we don't want him to burn out within a few years, give him until at least next season and hopefully by then he will be more of the finished product...

[KenyaQuin]

(Adding on to BLR's post) I think this is more for the benefit of Haig Sare than Cummins seeing as Haig does need abit of game time under his belt in anticipation of a possible finals game. Also, Haig may have proven himself at training to warrant a recall to the starting XV. Cummins will get there in good time, no use in rushing him in when we have the opportunity to patiently develop him and his game.

[jono]

espically if at the end of the day, one player is performing better.
theres no point in taking the field with anything less than the strongest side available. with the players you have available