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Squad Announced :
Richard Brown, Pekahou Cowan, Ryan Cross, Nick Cummins, Scott Daruda, Scott Fardy, Scott Fava, Matt Giteau, Gareth Hardy, Dane Haylett-Petty, Matt Henjak, James Hilgendorf, Tom Hockings, Matt Hodgson, Luke Holmes, Tamaiti Horua, Kieran Longbottom, Lachlan MacKay, Tai McIsaac, Drew Mitchell, James O’Connor, Pat O’Connor, Junior Pelesasa, David Pocock, David Pusey, Haig Sare, Angus Scott, Nathan Sharpe, Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, James Stannard, Troy Takiari, AJ (Adam James) Whalley, Sam Wykes
IN: Nick Cummins, Scott Fardy, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tamaiti Horua, Kieran Longbottom, James O’Connor, James Stannard, Sam Wykes
OUT: Brendan Cannon, Michael Dan, Luke Doherty, Digby Ioane, Jon McGrath, Chris O’Young, Brett Stapleton, Rudi Vedelago, Matt Windle
Below is the Blurb that Newsbot will post 15 mins into the future when he wakes up - hopefully pictures on the Tv tonite - its all starting again !
Pre-season training at the Emirates Western Force for the 2008 Investec Super 14 season gets underway today, with all but the team’s Wallabies undergoing fitness testing and medical screening.
This afternoon, the players will undergo sprint and beep testing, ahead of the first field training session tomorrow.
It’s ‘day one’ of a 14 and a half week training and preparation program which includes trials against the Crusaders in Melbourne and the Reds at Members Equity Stadium, and culminates in the opening fixture against the Sharks in Durban on February 15.
The new face at today’s testing session is Australian U19 lock Sam Wykes, while ET Perth Spirit winger Nick Cummins and lock Scott Fardy enter the Emirates Western Force squad for the first time, as do Firepower RugbyWA Academy players James Stannard and Kieran Longbottom.
Australia A Schools and Hale School outside back Dane Haylett-Petty will join the squad in between exams, while former Brumbies flanker Tamaiti Horua and Australian Schools inside back James O’Connor will arrive in Perth in January.
The five Wallabies – Nathan Sharpe, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Scott Staniforth and Cameron Shepherd – will rejoin the squad sporadically over the next seven weeks leading up to the Christmas break.
Emirates Western Force Head Coach John Mitchell said that leading into the 2008 season, all of the team’s stakeholders – from the players and staff to the members, fans and sponsors – should raise their expectations.
“We now have enough experience, self belief and the benefit of having dealt with adversity and success to know what we need to do,” he said.
“To make further progress, we must raise our expectations and perform more consistently, and if we don’t do that, we should be rightly criticized.”
“I want this team to perform,” Mitchell said.
“The progress we have made in a relatively short period has won us respect but it’s time we got more than just a pat on the back,” he said.
During the trial phase, the Emirates Western Force will play:
Crusaders in Melbourne on Saturday 2 February
Reds at Members Equity Stadium on Thursday 7 February.
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
Is it just me or does something feel incomplete or like something is missing from the squad?
Ahh well. If someone gets injured we can always get in a player in the short term.
Squad of 34 - no Bails junior - what else are we missing
Dane Haylett-Petty
James O’Connor
Kieran Longbottom
guessing these lads are apprentices - because they are young so that leaves a squad of 31 - something in the grey matter is saying we can have a squad of 32 - waiting to be corrected !
Last edited by Thequeerone; 05-11-07 at 08:57. Reason: spelling
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
TQ1 how do you manage to stay ahead of the world media when it comes to the Western Force?
Prop: Pekahou Cowan, Gareth Hardy (Hooker), Kieran Longbottom, Angus Scott, Troy Takiari, AJ (Adam James) Whalley
Hooker: Luke Holmes, Tai McIsaac (Prop)
Lock: Tom Hockings, Pat O’Connor, Nathan Sharpe, Sam Wykes (Blind)
Blind: Scott Fardy (Lock), David Pusey (Lock)
Open: Matt Hodgson, David Pocock
8: Richard Brown (Open), Scott Fava, Tamaiti Horua (Blind)
Half: Matt Henjak, James Stannard
1st five: Scott Daruda (FB), James Hilgendorf (FB), Lachlan MacKay (2nd Five)
2nd five: Matt Giteau (Half/1st Five), James O’Connor (1st Five)
Centre: Ryan Cross (Wing), Dane Haylett-Petty (Wing), Junior Pelesasa (2nd five, Wing)
Wing: Nick Cummins, Haig Sare (Centre), Scott Staniforth (2nd Five)
FB: Drew Mitchell (Wing), Cameron Shepherd (Wing)
Starting 15
Starting 22
(Alternate position)
It's a well balanced squad and a certainty for the 2008 Super 14 title!
Brother Gallagher I hear you
19 forwards, 15 backs would be ok, except for the injuries to Hilgendorf, McKay and Junior - leaves it looking a bit thin in the centres.
It has maybe been covered before, but what are the stories behind McGrath and Dan leaving?
I'm pleased to see a promotion for Stannard but we seem a bit light-on there. Gits could end up at 9. Our inside backs are pretty flexible, but at S14 level?? No so sure.
I'd be putting an (open) against Scott Fava if the ELVs are implemented like they were in the ARC, he really seemed to enjoy it more out there. I'd suggest we're thinner in the Hookers/Halves there Andys, you named 3 centres on the injured list, and a couple of the outside backs are also very capable centres.
C'mon the![]()
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But only Daruda and Sare with any experience, and they'll be on the bench anyway. I thought (or at least the ARC website has it listed) that Ryan Tyrell had been picked up as third hooker?
IN: Nick Cummins, Scott Fardy, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tamaiti Horua, Kieran Longbottom, James O’Connor, James Stannard, Sam Wykes
OUT: Brendan Cannon, Michael Dan, Luke Doherty, Digby Ioane, Jon McGrath, Chris O’Young, Brett Stapleton, Rudi Vedelago, Matt Windle
Is it me or doesn't this really look like its not a fair swap?? Lots of experience is going and lots of youth is coming back! Good (once again) for the future but............?
Come on folks! It's either five-eighth or fly half. And the next bloke is inside centre.
You could call them 1st five & 2nd five if NZ ruled the world - or even were able to influence the IRB...
..and while we're at it, the #9 is a scrum half.
...oh yes, you Kiwis out there, the dude on each side with the flag: touch judge, not fkn linesman!
But then most Kiwis over here seem to have been All Black triallists, so I guess they think they know it all
sorry -![]()
No.8 looks like you are being branded a Kiwi??????? NOT that its a bad thing!
BLACK IS THICKER THAN BLOOD
Shoot yourself NOW 8 before the sheep fetish begins!
C'mon the![]()
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Possible charge here..........conduct unbecoming?
the punters friend..... stick with me and you will be wearing
Dane usually plays in the number #15 jersey or in the centres; but can also play on the wing.
Every forwards dream is to become a back...
Dane Haylett-Petty - I've seen this guy play quite a bit...he's def someone to watch out for! Admittedly I didn't think he'd get a call up this early on but he's a pretty phenomenal player. I'm with you Shaun, he's much better at 15 and he's quite a sizable lad too
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau."