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Emirates Western Force Coach John Mitchell has named a strong starting XV for Thursday’s pre-season clash with the Queensland Reds at Members Equity Stadium (7.05pm WA kick off).
Among the new inclusions for the Force is inside centre Scott Staniforth, who returns to action for the first time since injuring his shoulder during the Wallabies’ 2007 World Cup campaign in France.
Lock David Pusey and back rower Scott Fava also return to the lineup after sitting out the team’s opening trial defeat to the Crusaders in Melbourne last Saturday with minor injury complaints.
While fielding a strong lineup for his team’s final pre-season hit out, Mitchell insisted he has not yet settled on his preferred lineup for the Super 14 season opener in Durban on February 15.
“It’s our final pre-season match so we needed to look at a few more guys in the run on team prior to naming our squad to fly to South Africa,” said Mitchell.
“We are still a way off settling on our lineup for the opening match against the Sharks, and at the moment it’s about building our depth as a group,” he added.
“Just about everyone in the squad will have played decent minutes (for the pre-season) after Thursday night’s match.”
Mitchell said Thursday’s trail would give his side a well-rounded preparation leading into the start of the competition proper.
“We’re fortunate enough to have matches against teams from each country to start our campaign. We played the Crusaders (NZ) and we’ll also play an Aussie team (the Reds) before opening the competition against the Sharks in South Africa,” he said.
“Plus we’re growing our game under the new ELV’s (Experimental Law Variations) and looking for what will work best for us on the field.”
Tickets are still available for the clash, which is the sole pre-season match to be played in WA before the Force return from South Africa to take on the Crusaders in Week Four (Sunday 9 March).
Tickets: Ticketmaster 136100 or Official Ticketmaster site. Tickets for Concerts, Sports, Arts, Theatre, Family, Events, more.
Emirates Western Force v Queensland Reds
Thursday 7 February, 2008
Members Equity Stadium, Perth
Kick off: 7.05pm (9.05pm AEDST)
Emirates Western Force
1. Gareth Hardy
2. Tai McIsaac
3. AJ Whalley
4. David Pusey
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. Scott Fava
7. David Pocock
8. Richard Brown
9. Matt Henjak
10. Matt Giteau (vc)
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Scott Staniforth
13. Ryan Cross
14. Nick Cummins
15. Cameron Shepherd
Reserves (to be selected from)
Luke Holmes, Troy Takiari, Pek Cowan, Sitaleki Timani, Scott Fardy, Matt Hodgson, Sam Wykes, James Stannard, Scott Daruda, Josh Tatupu, Dane Haylett-Petty, James O’Connor, Keiran Longbottom, Lachlan MacKay.