Force Players to Run with the Bulls

[Darren]

Emirates Western Force Coach John Mitchell has named his team for Friday night’s Investec Super 14 Week 8 clash with the Bulls at Subiaco Oval.

The WA side will be searching for its first home victory of the 2008 season when it hosts last year’s Super 14 champions, who are on the final leg of a winless Australasian tour.

With the exception of one forced change, due to injury to inside back Scott Daruda, Mitchell has opted to retain the same starting lineup from last week’s disappointing 32-16 defeat to the Stormers in Perth.

The recently re-signed Daruda will be confined to the sidelines for at least two matches after suffering ankle ligament damage late in the first half of last week’s clash.

With Daruda unavailable, Lachlan MacKay will again take the reigns at inside centre.

MacKay will start his fourth match of the season in the number 12 jersey, while 21-year-old utility back Josh Tatupu rejoins the reserves bench.

Coach John Mitchell said it was not time to hit the panic button, despite his team’s heavy defeat to the Stormers.

“The method we’ve used throughout the season has served us well, so we aren’t about to toss it out after one poor performance,” said Mitchell.

“The team acknowledges that last week’s performance was unacceptable, but with the nature of the (Super 14) competition we can’t afford to dwell on one defeat,” he said.

Mitchell said the defending champions cannot be underestimated despite a slow start to the season.

“The Bulls are the defending champions and they have come into some form on tour.”

“They’ve got tremendous depth and quality across the park and they’ve got their next four matches at home, so they’ll be keen to put some runs on the board before returning to South Africa,” he said.

Overall head to head: Played 2, EWF 1, Bulls 1.
Last met: 16 February 2007, EWF 30 def Bulls 27, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, SA.
Emirates Western Force v Bulls
Friday 4 April, 2008
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Kick off: 7.45pm (10.45pm AEDT)

Emirates Western Force
1. Pek Cowan
2. Tai McIsaac
3. AJ Whalley
4. Tom Hockings
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. Scott Fava
7. David Pocock
8. Richard Brown

9. Chris O’Young
10. Matt Giteau (vc)
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Lachlan MacKay
13. Ryan Cross
14. Scott Staniforth
15. Cameron Shepherd

16. Luke Holmes
17. Troy Takiari
18. Sam Wykes
19. Tamaiti Horua
20. James Stannard
21. Josh Tatupu
22. Nick Cummins

[travelling_gerry]

Whereas early season wins were prompting several team changes from Western Force coach John Mitchell, their worst performance in two seasons has brought just one.

An ankle injury to Scott Daruda has elevated Lachlan MacKay back into the centres for the clash with the Super 14 champion Bulls on Friday night, with league convert Josh Tatupu the only new face on the bench.

And despite being demoralised 32-16 at home by the Stormers last weekend, Mitchell said he was not about to throw out his method because of one night of madness.

"The method we've used throughout the season has served us well, so we aren't about to toss it out after one poor performance," said Mitchell.

"The team acknowledges that last week's performance was unacceptable, but with the nature of the competition we can't afford to dwell on that defeat."

The Bulls arrive in Perth without a win in three games but with success the last time they visited Perth, in the Force's first season.

Mitchell said despite successive defeats, the Bulls were playing themselves into a dangerous rhythm.

"They've got tremendous depth and quality across the park and they've got four straight matches at home coming up, so they'll be keen to put some runs on the board before returning home," Mitchell said.

Fullback Cameron Shepherd, who is on the verge of signing a new contract with the Force, said the team had to admit they had let down the coaches, themselves and the fans last week.

"Maybe all (the travel) caught up with us, maybe we were too relaxed, whatever it was we won't be letting it happen again," Shepherd wrote in his column on the PerthNow website.

"We know we were poor, but we are by no means over and done with. Maybe it was a good thing to get it out of the way now so we can concentrate on the rest of the season.

"Mitch (coach John Mitchell) expects a lot from us and we expect a lot from ourselves. We just didn't stand up."

Meanwhile, Bulls loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg will become the most capped player in franchise history when he takes the field in Perth on Friday.

Wannenburg will surpass Victor Matfield's record of 77 matches after making his debut for the Bulls in 2002.

Coach Frans Ludeke has plotted a similar path to Mitchell, picking the same starting XV which narrowly lost to the Blues, apart from loosehead prop Jaco Engels replacing Hilton Lobberts on the bench.

"We named the same team because we believe it will build momentum after the close call against the Blues. Continuity in selection is important to get results," Ludeke said.

"We watched how the Stormers thumped the Force and we plan to include some of those strengths in our game. I believe we will play better this weekend because the players are starting to adapt well to the experimental law variations."

Western Force: Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross, Lachlan MacKay, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Chris O'Young, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Scott Fava, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Tom Hockings, AJ Whalley, Tai McIsaac, Pek Cowan. Res: Luke Holmes, Troy Takiari, Sam Wykes, Tamaiti Horua, James Stannard, Josh Tatupu, Nick Cummins.

© 2008 AAP

Mitchell refuses to change method - Rugby Heaven - Breaking News

[Thequeerone]

CARN the

a win would be wonderful but a good game in the rain would be good to

[force addict]

i love rugby in the rain, really brings every one together (literally)

[Swee_82]

Mackay out.. Spanners into the Centres.. Cummins to Wing
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005401,00.html

[Badger]

should be good I can wait!!!!

[force addict]

it's gonna be brilliant!!!

[laura]

Bad news for Lachy but great Cummins. Will be good to see Spanners in the centres and Cummins on the wing!

[force addict]

i simply cannot wait!! i'm now excited for this game!

[no.8]

Good for the great Dane!!

[force addict]

dane haylett-petty on the bench! i hope he does get subbed on!! would be fantastic for him!!

[Darren]

Mackay out.. Spanners into the Centres.. Cummins to Wing
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005401,00.html

Smart to keep a close eye on Lachy, wouldn't wanna have another injury

Spanner should rip it up at 12!

[inactive]

lets hope so!!

[jargan83]

Spanner at 12 ooh YEAH!

[allsaints]

With Spanner at 12 we now have a chance. straighter attack, getting over the advantage line, head on tackling, good offloads and solid ball retention - everything we need. the pack will be going backwards again - all the more reason to have the strength and experience at 10 & 12. Seriously we need to engage some front on tackling - anyone can tackle from side on but too many of our backs go missing when confronted head on. Also getting isolated in attack is a problem, one player in particular runs away from his support and gets thrown around like a rag doll and gives up possession far too often and undoes anything else he does in attack.
We cannot allow these Bulls a "free" run through our backs or they will demolish us.