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Front row stalwart Pek Cowan will captain the new-look Emirates Western Force in their 2013 Super Rugby season opener against the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday night.
Cowan stands in for regular skipper Matt Hodgson, who has been ruled out of the match with a minor hamstring injury.
The 26-year-old becomes the seventh player to lead the Western Australian province in Super Rugby behind Nathan Sharpe, David Pocock, Brett Sheehan, Brendan Cannon, Scott Staniforth and Matt Giteau.
Cowan leads a squad that features seven players in line to make their debut for the Emirates Western Force.
Flanker Chris Alcock will make his debut for the Perth-based side after joining the squad from the Waratahs. He joins a familiar Force forward pack that also includes the return of Sam Wykes (knee) and Ben McCalman (shoulder/broken arm) from lengthy injury layoffs that disrupted their 2012 Super Rugby seasons.
The Emirates Western Force will run out a new-look backline, featuring a revamped halves pairing of Alby Mathewson and former Waikato flyhalf Sam Christie. The Kiwi combination will link with a fresh centre pairing of Kyle Godwin and Winston Stanley, while Alfie Mafi, Patrick Dellit and Will Tupou make up the back three.
“Friday is an exciting opportunity for our new side,” Emirates Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley said.
“As the pre-season has progressed, competition for positions has become more intense, which is a tribute to the players’ efforts to continually lift the standards within the team.
“A key focus for us this year is to improve on the side’s performances from last season and the higher we push our standards, the closer we come to achieving our number one goal of ‘earning respect’.”
The match provides reserve hooker Heath Tessmann’s first opportunity to line up against his former province while replacement backs Mick Snowden, Sias Ebersohn and Junior Rasolea are also in line to make their provincial debut for the Emirates Western Force.
The side will be without Wallaby winger Nick Cummins, who will make his return via the Force ‘A’ curtain-raiser against Rebel Rising. Cummins sustained a knock to his knee during pre-season training and did not participate in either of the side’s pre-season trial matches. Wallaby flanker/lock Hugh McMeniman has also been rested after suffering a minor pectoral strain in the side’s 46-0 final trial win over Tonga Select XV last weekend.
2013 Super Rugby – Week One
Emirates Western Force v Melbourne Rebels
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Friday, 15 February 2013
Kick-off: 7.40pm (local)/4.40pm (AWST)
1. Pek Cowan (c)
2. Nathan Charles
3. Tetera Faulkner
4. Sam Wykes
5. Toby Lynn
6. Angus Cottrell
7. Chris Alcock*
8. Ben McCalman
9. Alby Mathewson*
10. Sam Christie**
11. Alfie Mafi
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Winston Stanley
14. Patrick Dellit
15. Will Tupou
Reserves
16. Heath Tessmann*
17. Kieran Longbottom
18. Phoenix Battye
19. Richard Brown
20. Mick Snowden**
21. Sias Ebersohn*
22. Junior Rasolea**
* Emirates Western Force debut
** Emirates Western Force & Super Rugby debut
Im more surprised at no:
MMM -after he talked up the media about playing and showing his tru colours for his return back to Super rugby.
Badger - missing him, do I need to elborate.
SNK. - Just for experience in Australian Derbies and match fit from playing in Asia.
Christie before Sias - whats that all about, after being told that we cant use the EPS players ?!?!
CTM and Hayward - Would of liked to see these boys in the team, roughing up the likes of Sidey, Inman, Judas and Beagle. Hard runners and looked good from what I saw in Mandurah. must be saving them for our nightmare start to the draw for the season proper.
All I'm saying is I have faith with the team, new year, leave the Shite RG years behind us. If we are playing boring rugby under foley i dont care. I want the W. after the first W that will happen at 6.40 this friday.
Quite surprised by this lineup.
Specifically -
1. no Maafu?
2. No MMM?
3. No Badger?
4. No CTM?
Wasn't the new S&C coaching staff meant to reduce chance of injuries? now we have at least 3 or 4 of the starting side out already?
edit:
Just to clarify; i am surprised, but not disappointed by the complete ommission of Maafu. I though KBomb might have got a start though.
Also: they certainly have been keeping a few of these injuries to key players under their hats.
Last edited by Marty_Mcfly; 14-02-13 at 16:27.
1--not good enough
2....injured
3....ditto(although half fit)
4.....suprised,myself
Cottrell starting in front of Brown, no McCaffrey. And Faulkner starting in front of Longbottom
Sias on the bench is interesting, I thought he is pretty much a 10 and thats it.
Last edited by sittingbison; 14-02-13 at 16:34.
The long sobs of autumn's violins wound my heart with a monotonous languor
CTM was a bit weak in defence in Darwin I thought. Both tries from the Brumbies were tackles he missed.
And the HB is playing in the Force A curtain-raiser with Ma'afu....hmmmmm ???
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Tetra F is versatile and in training has been breaking the pack apart. The lad is very good and as far as I know has out scrummed K-Bomb for a start. I would not be worried re this part. Not sure re Cotterell V Brownie though?? My concern is with Kyle G at 12.... had a few cracking games at 10 last year but will be much more of a target at 12. I do hope that he is up for this.
All the best to the lads and Kick some Rebel butt.
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'Rugby and sex are the only things you can enjoy without being good at them.' -anonymous
HB is still not fully recovered so is having a final hit out with the A's whilst Ma'afu looks like he is not cutting the mustard V the young bucks in the pack. He may have lost 15kg and can scrum but he still wanders around the park like a lost kid looking for a burger... ballsy call by the coach but I am not surprised.
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'Rugby and sex are the only things you can enjoy without being good at them.' -anonymous
That's a much weaker looking side than I thought we'd be fielding. Not very excited to see Stanley at 13. Thought he'd had more than enough opportunities last year and showed nothing. Would've preferred Dellit at 13 and Junior on the wing, or even Hayward or CTM to be given a run.
Definitely surprising to see Faulkner start before Longbottom. I was of the opinion that he might be pushing for a wallaby jumper by the end of the season.
Maybe we're aiming for a big second half with Sias, Junior and Longbottom coming off the bench??
Very odd selections but cant comment not having seen any training and pre-season games.
Carrrrn Forrrrrce!!
A few surprises in this team
I guess we can assume Foley is giving effort a reward. I'm supportive of this
Tetera Faulkner? I am surprised at this selection given the talent left out. One can only assume this lad has been taking no prisoners. Kick some @ss son.
Cottrell was one of the finds of last season. That lad has a big future. I'm happy to give hime a crack. The lad has the goods and has his debut season behind him. Go for gold son. Lions tour. Make the wallaby 6 your goal. kick @ss. Just remember to hurt people and carry the ball over the ad line.
Sam Wykes is gayer than two penises touching. Don't forget your hair band princess
Who the hell is Sam Christie. I hope he is as good as the faith shown. This smacks of a bum selection. Prove me wrong lad.
Pat Dellit is too slow for the wing
Our centres lack try scoring ability. I had expected some different selections. Backs are gay so who cares right? They are all sh1te anyway
MMM injured. McMinimum. No surprise. There is a medical text book dedicated in his honour
I hate Melbourne more than I hate kiwis
Force by whatever it takes. Bring back the biff
Controversy corner
I agree totally. I'm a bit mystified with the backline selections. I guess I'll just have to give the coach the benefit of the doubt, at this point.
Re. SNK, I understood that he wasn't going to be back from Japan until March - is that true? I see some posts wondering why he wasn't in the 22... Not that I'd want to see him in the 22 before Hayward, HB, or CTM.
Yup that's the only explanation. Fair enough too. They've got their chance now.
Just watching the new rugby show on Fox previewing the season and the Aussie teams would be enough motivation for the whole team. Sharpie looked like he could not believe the childish banter.
Essentially no-one bar Sharpie and Canno give us a chance in hell.
Hope we belt them all, especially Kearnsey's Tahds.