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The Emirates Western Force will unleash eight internationals in their run-on side as well as nine potential club debutants across the match day 22 when they head to Canberra for a Friday night clash against the Brumbies in the opening round of the 2012 FxPro Super Rugby season.
Following 15 weeks of intensive pre-season preparations Coach Richard Graham said his side is eager to make a strong statement as competition points go on the line for the first time in 2012.
“We’ve drawn a line in the sand and the most important thing for us is our start to the game this Friday night,” Graham said.
“There is huge excitement and anticipation. We’ve been going now in pre-season for three and a half months and the boys are really keen to get started.
“Every week the expectation is that you perform at your very best and give yourself a chance to win, that’s certainly the expectation we’ve got on each other heading into this match.”
After being rested throughout the trial match period star lock Nathan Sharpe will pull on his familiar number five jersey in a big boost for the club.
Sharpe dominated the lineout the last time he was in Canberra and will again be looking to give the Emirates Western Force an advantage in the forwards alongside Wallaby backrow trio of David Pocock, Matt Hodgson and Ben McCalman as well as capped props Pek Cowan and new recruit Salesi Ma’afu.
While there are familiar tones to the Emirates Western Force squad, Graham has reinvigorated the Perth side and there will be a number of new faces wearing the ocean blue for the first time.
Marquee winger and Fijian International Napolioni Nalaga will be one to watch having previously dominated the French Top14 competition with Clermont. In his four seasons in France Nalaga picked up a ‘Top14 Player of the Year’ award as well heading the try scorers list twice.
Other players in line to make their Emirates Western Force debut include lock Toby Lynn and outside centre Winston Stanley, who have been named in the starting XV, while hooker Elvis Taione, and youngsters Phoenix Battye (lock), Angus Cottrell (flanker), Ben Seymour (flyhalf) and Sam Wara (outside back) are on the substitutes’ bench.
Sam Wykes will miss after being unable to shake a hamstring strain in time for the match.
“The only way you gain experience is by playing. We have a lot of confidence in the players we’ve selected, they’ve all had a chance to get a run in the pre-season matches and are determined to make the most of their opportunities,” Graham said.
“For a guy like Phoenix, he has been in our programme for 12 months and played really well in Samoa during last year’s post season tour. The same goes for Angus who has come in this pre-season and shown he can perform at this level.”
The Emirates Western Force will head east this afternoon and train in Canberra on Thursday as they look to extend their solid form in the ACT where they have won on their last two visits.
Western Force
1 Pek Cowan
2 Nathan Charles
3 Salesi Ma'afu
4 Toby Lynn,
5 Nathan Sharpe
6 Matt Hodgson
7 David Pocock
8 Ben McCalman
9 Brett Sheehan
10 James Stannard
11 Napolioni Nalaga
12 Rory Sidey
13 Winston Stanley
14 Nick Cummins
15 Alfie Mafi
Reserves
16 Elvis Taione,
17 Kieran Longbottom
18 Phoenix Battye
19 Angus Cottrell
20 Justin Turner
21 Ben Seymour
22 Sam Wara
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
So we can now see that something must be wrong with Pattie wykes still needs alittle big longer to get over last week ands is injured again...all in all only one or 2 or 3 player missing from the starting team. the go with Whittiker?
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
A few questions
1. Where is Cam Shepherd?
2. Where is Ben Whittaker?
3. Where is Pat Dellit?
Generally speaking you aren’t learning much if your lips are moving!!!
Absolutely, Ben looked like he took a knock in the Force A game prior to Reds, but Sheppard again before the season has even started and Dellit has been missing from the Reds and now this but no comment regarding injuries.
Happy with the starting 15, especially having Naps in, bench very raw but this is what it is all about giving the young guns a go.
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.”
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
I havent see Fairbanks name thrown around much either...any one heard anything?
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
Good to see Cottrell on the bench. Hopefully another backrow star in the making. Anyone in the know about Dellit? Was the rising star last year so perplexe he's not in the 22 and i don't recall any news about an injury.
Everything else is fluff, rory and Winnie are the names to watch out for. They were abysmal against the Reds and will need to have grown about ten feet in a week.
Other notables have already been mentioned, I think Lynn will be fine deputising for Wykes, the rest of the pack has the agility to make up for a lack in that department and he certainly seems a big enough bugger!
The pack looks pretty close to world class IMHO, but I guess that's no surprise.
C'mon the![]()
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I would have like alittle info on players such as Shepps and Whittiker.
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
I've just seen comments on the WESTERN FORCE Facebook page and its says, quoted "Shep was unavailable for selection this week, hopefully he'll be selected to go for the following week against the Reds!"
Where's browny & Who is Sam Wara ??
Not a big fan of the bench, i know its early days and its all about giving youngsters a run, but these players didn't show much in the two warm ups..
Going to be a close game.. Keep it in the forwards and play the "new zealand" game style against the young and imature team from the bunnies..
Still think we need to shop for a #10, Chucky is going to get smashed this year, the teams know him and his style now.Lets see how we go !!!
Browny is also coming back from an injury.
Samu Wara is from NSW - got a trial run in the Samoa tour and impressed enough to get offered a contract
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Coach, what about Paddy & Whits ?
I know Sideways Sam will be back for the 1st home game, but Flynn will do us proud with Sharpie.
Whittaker got a cork in last weeks trial which is still giving him grief, Sheps has a leg strain and as we know Browny is on the tail end of shoulder rehab.
Jordan Rapana did his shoulder shoulder at training weeks ago and is going through a full shoulder reconstruction.
Most could be available for selection by next week - but if the current squad perform well they may be fighting for positions...
I'm not sure about Dellit?
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.