Western Force v Lions

[James]

Is it me, or does it look like Mitch is impressed with the Hockings style- 3 starts when everyone else is getting moved around every week?

I think Mitch has long been an advocate of the Hosk. He isn't much of a raver so if you remember Mitch paying quality comments to player he definitely means it. There is a lot of early potential on display too as according to the latest MBF Force Feed he's the team's strongman and I believe he also won the beep test competition too.

[The Lone Hydrangea]

This wont be easy.

Coach's Column
Not a good day at the park . . . Or the office as they say.
The Blues are a good team, but we are better than the game we dished up and displayed on Saturday, and we sure were disappointed after the match.

Besides making unforced errors, (we could have scored 4 tries) from time to time we looked disorganized. We missed too many first time tackles but most of all lacked HEART, which usually is our strength as a team. We have passion and heart.

We have no excuse and won’t hide behind the fact that we are young and inexperienced, no, we take it on the chin, standing up and we will face it head on.

The Blues are the favorites to win the Super 14 this year being together for 6 years as a team and 4 years with the coach. They are a well-oiled machine and one can not take that away from them, and on this evening they played very clinically and correct.

The Auto & General Super 14 Lions will not stand in a corner and feel sorry for ourselves. We will take responsibility and as true professional rugby players we will be back and will fight for the pride of the team and our supporters. At a “Kontiki” meeting on Saturday evening after the match, every single player again pledged their commitment to the team.

This was one hiccup. We will regroup Monday and start preparing with a vengeance for the Western Force on Friday night, 29 February.

We must also remember that there are still 12 matches to be played, we have won one and lost one. There are teams that have yet go get onto the scoreboard. We must just keep on working hard and believing, and focus on ourselves to play perfect winning rugby, with guts.

Thanks for all our loyal supporters. We share the same emotions, and are still committed to making you proud.

Cheers.

Eugene “Loffie Eloff” aka the Coach!

They were shite last week ( Lions) but this is a classic opportunity for a upset.
I do like the look of our run on team though but we are playing on the high veldt and a this aint a gimme.

[KenyaQuin]

They were shite last week ( Lions) but this is a classic opportunity for a upset.
I do like the look of our run on team though but we are playing on the high veldt and a this aint a gimme.

Hopefully at this level the players understand that each game is as critical as the one before and the one after. Nothing wrong with them going in confidently and believing they are the better side..just need to transform the belief into action the entire 90 minutes. All the best to the boys..

[inactive]

O'Young 'has a fight' to replace Henjak
February 27, 2008 - 7:46PM

Despite flying from Scotland to South Africa to replace the disgraced Matt Henjak, Western Force coach John Mitchell warned Chris O'Young his place isn't assured after leaving him out of Friday's clash with the Lions in Johannesburg.

O'Young's return to Force ranks from the Glasgow Warriors was confirmed last weekend after Henjak was sacked following the attack on teammate Haig Sare's which broke his jaw.

But the 26 year-old halfback's return to the Force side will have to wait, after Mitchell stuck with the inexperienced James Stannard, following an impressive showing on debut in last weekend's win against the Cheetahs.

"James Stannard is familiar with our method and he's our only halfback so we don't have too many choices," Mitchell told reporters in South Africa.

"You could take a risk and put Chris O'(Young) on the bench but we thought the five forward-two back split on the bench worked for us pretty well last weekend.

"Chris O will start preparation next week, and he'll have to blue for a place just like everyone."

The Force were able to welcome back Cameron Shepherd following a knee niggle which sidelined him last week, Scott Staniforth is also named but with some trepidation after also sustaining a knee injury in training.

But in a pack overhaul, Mitchell has chosen his third front row combination in three weeks, with Gareth Hardy, Luke Holmes and Troy Takiari combining and Holmes make his starting debut as hooker.

A back row shuffle, sees Matt Hodgson earn his first starting berth for 2008 season, with new recruit Tamaiti Horua to start his first match for the Western Force at No.8 after his move from Japan.

Scott Fava returns to blindside flanker after playing off bench last week.

Mitchell said his plan to utilise his entire squad during the three game road trip had not wavered, despite impressive showings from some Force youngsters.

"The choices that have been made have been based on plan and there are a couple of players like Sam Wykes that have been really impressive in pre-season and certainly in his first outing that we thought deserved selection.

"We've been delighted with the attitude and the improvement of the group during this tour.

"Players like Wykes, Stannard, Hockings and (winger Nick) Cummins deserved their opportunities and all have future growth in them."

And predictably, Mitchell tipped a fiery reception from a Lions side hammered 55-10 by the Blues last week.

"If I know Afrikaner mentality, they'll come out pretty fired up and determined to rebound from a disappointing performance last week.

"We have that expectation, it's important that we're not intimidated by that and we focus on what we've to do to win."

Western Force: Cameron Shepherd, Nick Cummins, Ryan Cross, Scott Staniforth, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, James Stannard, Tamaiti Horua, Matt Hodgson, Scott Fava, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Tom Hockings, Troy Takiari, Luke Holmes, Gareth Hardy. Res: Tai McIsaac, AJ Whalley, Sam Wykes, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Scott Daruda, Lachlan MacKay.

© 2008 AAP

[KenyaQuin]

First I've heard of Scotty's injury..any details on that anywhere?

[inactive]

Western Force reveal weekend lineup for Lions gameArticle from: PerthNowFont size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print Submit comment: Submit comment By Nick Taylor in Durban

February 27, 2008 05:35am
WESTERN Force fullback Cameron Shepherd passed a late fitness test last night to regain his spot for this weekend's game against the Lions in Johannesburg.

However, while hard-running centre Scott Staniforth has been named in coach John Mitchell's starting side, he will undergo a late fitness test at Thursday's Captain's Run before a final decision is made.

Shepherd's recovery from an injured knee, after missing the dramatic extra-time win against the Cheetahs, sees a re-shuffling of the backline with Drew Mitchell returning to the left wing and Staniforth listed to partner Ryan Cross in the centres.

Scott Daruda goes back to the reserves bench.

James Stannard keeps the starting No.9 jumper, with no place in the 22 yet for re-signed halfback Chris O'Young.

Luke Holmes finally gets his first run on in his third season with the Force, as does Tamaiti Horua who signed just days before the season started.

Richard Brown moves to the bench with fellow loose forward David Pocock. His place is taken by Matt Hodgson in his first start of the South African tour.

Scott Fava completes the starting backrow trio.

In the front row Gareth Hardy returns, while Tom Hockings gets his third start partnering captain Nathan Sharpe in the second row.

The Lions are the only South African side not to have fallenl to the Force in their brief Super 14 history, having drawn 34-all in 2006 before losing by one point at Subiaco last year.

Mitchell said the changes were part of the tour plan to give players opportunity and grow depth in his squad.

"The choices that have been made have been based on plan and there are a couple of players like Sam Wykes that have been really impressive in pre-season and certainly in is first outing that we thought deserved selection.

"Shep (Cameron Shepherd) trained well and the medical team did a really good job.

"The only person we're waiting on is Scott Staniforth who took a bit of a knock to the knee.

"James Stannard is familiar with our method and he's our only halfback so we don't have too many choices.

"You could take a risk and put Chris O (Young) on the bench but we thought the five forward-two back split on the bench worked for us pretty well last weekend.

"Chris O will start preparation next week and he'll have to blue for a place just like everyone."

Mitchell was well aware his side may face a backlash from a Lions side flogged by the Blues last Saturday.

"If I know Afrikaner mentality, they'll come out pretty fired up and determined to rebound from a disappointing performance last week.

"We have that expectation, it's important that we're not intimidated by that and we focus on what we've to do to win."

Western Force team:

1. Gareth Hardy

2. Luke Holmes

3. Troy Takiari

4. Tom Hockings

5. Nathan Sharpe (c)

6. Scott Fava

7. Matt Hodgson

8. Tamaiti Horua

9. James Stannard

10. Matt Giteau (vc)

11. Drew Mitchell

12. Scott Staniforth

13. Ryan Cross

14. Nick Cummins

15. Cameron Shepherd

Reserves

16. Tai McIsaac

17. AJ Whalley

18. Sam Wykes

19. Richard Brown

20. David Pocock

21. Scott Daruda

22. Lachlan MacKay

[inactive]

Probably from when he went down in 2nd half was clutching knee a bit before getting back up and playing

[The InnFORCEr]

"Chris O will start preparation next week and he'll have to blue for a place just like everyone."

Not the best way to get into the team as Yak and Sare found out, I'm sure the Coach could have made a better choice of words

[no.8]

MG - Any news on Spanner?

[inactive]

No updates yet

[inactive]

But then again no news is good news.

Had to pass fitness thursday over there whats the time difference?

[jargan83]

SA in the same time zone as England, Wales etc, so would that be about 8 hours?

[Thequeerone]

9 hours ? ish

[inactive]

No idea but if thats the case won't be till early tomorrow till we find out yeah

but oculd be wrong as i have no bloody idea with time difference

[jargan83]

I have a world time thing on my phone and apparently its 7 hours, but i'm not sure if that takes daylight savings or not