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Western Force Head Coach John Mitchell has announced his team for Friday night’s Investec Super 14 season opener against the Blues at Subiaco Oval.
Mitchell waited until the end of today’s training session to announce his lineup, with a few players carrying question marks and some positions still undecided at the start of the session.
Nathan Sharpe will once again captain the side in 2009 and will be partnered in the second row by Pat O’Connor.
Friday night’s match will complete a remarkable comeback for O’Connor, who has not played a Super 14 match since May 12, 2006, when he came off the reserves bench in a 41-25 loss to the Sharks in Durban.
The 114kg lock admitted today there had been some “dark times" over the past two years as he rehabilitated from two knee reconstructions.
After making six appearances for the WA side in 2006, the Queensland-born giant sustained a torn cruciate knee ligament during a pre-season training session in 2007 and five months later suffered the same fate when he slipped whilst fixing a gate on his family property in Harlin.
O'Connor returned to play on the 2008 development tour of England but will make his long-awaited comeback to Super 14 this Friday night.
Elsewhere, Tamaiti Horua has clinched the blindside flanker role, while Mitchell has opted for a starting front row combination of Cowan, McIsaac and Whalley.
The Force coach was forced to re-shuffle his backline today when scrumhalf Josh Valentine and Junior Pelesasa where both ruled out with hamstring injuries.
37-cap veteran Chris O’Young will handle the scrumhalf duties, while the reserves bench does not contain a specialist scrumhalf with 18-year-old Justin Turner unavailable with a lower back injury.
Josh Tatupu will start his first match at inside centre after playing the final two matches of the 2008 season in the number 13 jersey in the absence of Ryan Cross.
Cross, who missed both of the side’s pre-season matches, will start at outside centre after celebrating the birth of his second daughter, Evy, last Thursday.
With no specialist scrumhalf on his bench, Mitchell has named the versatile James O’Connor in the number 20 jersey, along with Nick Cummins and Dane Haylett-Petty as the reserve backs.
International recruit Ben Castle is carrying a minor neck injury and has not been named in the 22.
"We've had to make some last minute decisions today but everyone we’ve named is 100 per cent and ready to play," said Mitchell.
"We're fortunate enough to have some versatility on the bench and some good depth this season."
Mitchell said it was great to see his big lock return to the lineup.
"Beef is a fantastic bloke and is great for the group. To come back from two knee reconstructions requires a lot of dedication and perseverance and it’s great that he’s got an opportunity to play again."
Friday 13 February, 2009
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Kick off: 7.45pm WDST
Emirates Western Force
1. Pek Cowan
2. Tai McIsaac
3. AJ Whalley
4. Pat O’Connor
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. Tamaiti Horua
7. David Pocock
8. Richard Brown
9. Chris O’Young
10. Matt Giteau
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Josh Tatupu
13. Ryan Cross
14. Haig Sare
15. Cameron Shepherd
16. Luke Holmes
17. Troy Takiari
18. Tom Hockings
19. Matt Hodgson
20. James O’Connor
21. Nick Cummins
22. Dane Haylett-Petty
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Now that's how the professionals list them
Looks like it's a bit of suck it and see with ChrisO.
Thought if too bad they may have opted to have him on the Bench and go in with a practiced alternative.
Here's hoping he can make a good 60 minutes anyway and get us comfortably in front.
More tries equals more rests!
Great to see PO'C back on the park too, if he's selected in front of Big Tom he must be in some good form.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Giteau at 10........who's the backup flyhalf?
Win + Bonus Point required from this game
haven't seen much of Pat O'Conor but they say he is in the same mongrel mode as Welborn
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
you would think J'OC would be the obvious choice as back up 5/8
Why does it need to be bonus point win?
A win will be good enough I think, baby steps to the start of the season!
Bonus point would be nice but I don't think it should be the aim of the game!
I vote - GIVE US A RECTANGLE STADIUM!!!!!!
PO'C was great in his first year out, hope he can find that form again.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Burg's comment about ChrisO is unwarranted. I thought Chriso was brought back from Glasgow to help WF out after last years incident with the regular half back. He was not given much game time previously, will he get a fair go this time in? I wonder.
With respect, I don't think it is unwarranted at all, he is carrying a thigh strain and was a doubtful selection.
Uninjured I have no problem with him starting as he did much of last year.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
fabulous to see pat o'connor getting a game![]()
Be There. Be Heard. Be The Force Behind The Force
Have a look at the top 4 finishers of last year's S14 table - then come back and explain to me how we would be finals contenders without a BP win against the Blues especially with their rookies, the heat they are not used too ?
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
Fox sports article - Valantine out with hamstring and now Turner has a back injury from the Reds game - Gits is backup for halfback
Pelesasa also injured
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html
Jasper![]()
Look a BP would be great but I don't think it is necessary on the first game.
The chances are good EWF could get a BP but as this is the first game I think it is unlikely.
You would think the EWF boys can go the distance more in this heat than the Blues, which would get me to think that a big finish is on the cards.
I hope they get a win and I would love them to get a BP, but I don't think any pressure should be put on getting a BP.
The Crusaders last year didn't need to get any BP, they won more than enough games to come top spot. The bonus points really only come into it for 4th spot usually.
The EWF need to win games that is the main point, BP can come later. If they win 10 games they will have a good chance of making the finals. Winning unfortunately is the name of the game, how much you win by isn't too big a deal.
I vote - GIVE US A RECTANGLE STADIUM!!!!!!