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Towering lock Adam Coleman and scrumhalf Ian Prior will make their first appearances in the starting XV when the Western Force takes on the Melbourne Rebels at Melbourne’s AAMI Park on Good Friday (18 April).
Coleman has started on the bench in the Force’s past five matches and earns his first opportunity in the run-on side, packing down alongside Wilhelm Steenkamp.
Prior, who has been a part of each of the Force’s match day squads in 2014, gets his first opportunity in the run-on side this season, having already accumulated 37 Asteron Life Super Rugby caps for the Reds (six), Brumbies (25) and Force (six).
Winger Patrick Dellit makes his return to the Western Force’s back three, joining fullback Dane Haylett-Petty and Nick Cummins, who scored three tries in last weekend’s victory over the NSW Waratahs in Perth.
The trio replaces Sam Wykes (ribs), Alby Mathewson (ankle) and Luke Morahan (hamstring), who have been ruled through injury.
Meanwhile, scrumhalf Justin Turner is in line to make his first appearance for the Western Force since the corresponding match in 2012. His selection marks a successful comeback from a third knee reconstruction – the most recent suffered while playing for Perth club, Associates, in 2013. The driven scrumhalf has already played 10 matches for the Force between 2010 and 2012.
Lock Phoenix Battye, who is capped 11 times for the Western Australian club, earns his first appearance on the Force bench for 2014.
The Western Force will be chasing its second victory over the Rebels this season after overcoming the Victorians, 32-7, in Week Four, and will be chasing its first win in Melbourne since 2011.
Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says his side is determined to back-up following last weekend’s strong performance against the Waratahs.
“While we only had approximately 30 per cent of the possession on the weekend, the boys’ outstanding attitude allowed us to attack with our defence and capitalise on opportunities that came our way,” he said.
“Playing the Rebels at their home ground will be a challenge and separately, we’re keen to keep pushing ourselves to improve aspects of our own game.”
2014 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 10
Melbourne Rebels v Western Force
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Friday, 18 April 2014
Kick-off: 7.40pm (local)/5.40pm (AWST)
1. Pek Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3. Kieran Longbottom
4. Adam Coleman*
5. Wilhelm Steenkamp
6. Angus Cottrell
7. Matt Hodgson (c)
8. Ben McCalman
9. Ian Prior**
10. Sias Ebersohn
11. Nick Cummins
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Marcel Brache
14. Patrick Dellit
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
16. Heath Tessmann
17. Tetera Faulkner
18. Ollie Hoskins
19. Phoenix Battye
20. Brynard Stander
21. Justin Turner
22. Zack Holmes
23. Chris Tuatara-Morrison
*starting debut (Super Rugby)
**starting debut (Western Force)
Six players schooled in WA, this is what Super Rugby in Perth was all about.![]()
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Very happy for Coleman, Prior and Phoenix! Hoping Dellit has brought his A game with him.
Same here about Dellit. What happened to Stubbs? He's faded away.
Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
I'm a bit worried about this one, the Rebels are better than many people think. If they had our 2014 attitude and commitment they would do much better than recent form suggests and I suspect they will be up for this one.
But bugger it, I'm on a roll with the bookie and I'm gonna back the Force regardless, go our boys.
Seriously hope Benny Mac towels up Higginbotham!
I am so disappointed they picked Dellit again. After the disgraceful disinterested, lack-lustre performance he put on against the Brumbies, he shouldn't be allowed to wear a Force jumper to the shops, let alone on a rugby field. Pick anyone else- more than 1 step backwards.
The Force are $2.80 to win 1-12 pts and the Badger is $11 score the first try. Gotta love that
Foley has shown that if you train hard, you get a spot, if you play hard, you keep it.
Hope Paty is hungry!
Our pack is strong - great to see Pek has recovered.
The battle of the centres and the back rows will be interesting.
Great to see CTM getting another bench spot, and also to see JT back. I actually rate him over Prior, but I think both will outshine Stirzaker.
It'll be tight but the momentum is with us.
Force by 9.
Here I go again, but wasn't Pat Dellit's only form period at the Force, in the centres?
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Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
Yes, but that was in a very different Force backline. I hesitatingly suggest a backline where it wasn't difficult to look good. However it is possible for attitudes to change and for players to learn different positions and skillsets. Take HoneyBadger for example, he plays wing like a big, bruising 13, but nobody bitches that Foles keeps him at wing ATM, he doesn't get much ball, makes a lot of tackles and does plenty with what he gets. As long as paddy holds up his end defensively we'll go OK.
C'mon the![]()
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