Future FORCE on show against Chiefs

[KenyaQuin]

Future force on show against Chiefs
May 01, 2008 Future force on show against Chiefs | The Australian

WESTERN FORCE are looking to the future with youngsters James O'Connor, James Stannard and Sam Wykes all named in the starting line-up to play the Chiefs.

Still only a 17-year-old, O'Connor's selection is the biggest call by Force coach John Mitchell, with the highly rated youngster named at inside centre immediately outside the fit-again Matt Giteau.

Wykes replaces Tom Hockings in the second row and Stannard starts at scrum half in place of Chris O'Young, with Scott Staniforth moving to the wing to replace the injured Haig Sare.

Staniforth is however troubled with a knee injury, and could be replaced by Nick Cummins.

Some new and some forgotten faces will also make their way onto the Force bench, with David Pusey in from the cold and West Australian products Kieran Longbottom and Dane Haytlett-Petty also in line for some game time.

Western Force:
Cameron Shepherd;
Scott Staniforth,
Ryan Cross,
James O'Connor,
Drew Mitchell;
Matt Giteau,
James Stannard;
Richard Brown,
David Pocock,
Scott Fava,
Nathan Sharpe (c),
Sam Wykes,
Troy Takiari,
Tai McIsaac,
Pek Cowan.

Reserves: Luke Holmes, Kieran Longbottom, David Pusey, Matt Hodgson, Chris O'Young, Scott Daruda, Dane Haylett-Petty.

[KenyaQuin]

Teen star will join forces with Giteau
Wayne Smith | May 01, 2008 Teen star will join forces with Giteau | The Australian


WESTERN FORCE teenager James O'Connor frequently has been likened to Matt Giteau, but the Wallabies playmaker doesn't see the resemblance.

"I'm much better looking," Giteau quipped yesterday.

Looks and jokes aside, Giteau is as excited as everyone else by the potential of the pocket-sized 17-year-old inside centre, who today is expected to be named in the Force starting side for the match against the Chiefs at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

"From a footballing point of view, he is very skilful," Giteau said. "And definitely for a small guy, he has plenty of strength."

It is difficult to imagine that in the 13-year history of Super rugby, there would have been a smaller 10-12 combination than 178cm, 85kg Giteau and 180cm, 80kg O'Connor. On the other hand, it takes no imagination to suppose Chiefs coach Ian Foster will send 120kg battering ram Sione Lauaki thundering in their direction on Saturday night.

"We don't shy away from targeting smaller players so I don't suppose the Chiefs will either," Giteau said. "When you're a small player, you need to prove yourself a little more in defence, just because of your size, otherwise there will be no end of traffic coming your way. But what I like about James is that he's a competitor. He doesn't like to lose."

The Force still is in the race for the finals, but after its insipid loss to the Reds it is eight points adrift of the top four with only three rounds to play. The players are not deluding themselves.

"I've been in positions like this before, when mathematically it's still possible to make the play-offs. It's never happened. Realistically, I don't think it's a real goal," Giteau said.

Coach John Mitchell almost conceded as much. Asked whether O'Connor would be named at No12, Mitchell replied vaguely "he'll certainly be in consideration".

But then he admitted that while he was demanding maximum effort from his team, he also had an eye on next year.

O'Connor certainly fits that bill. Indeed, so young is he that he could easily be at the forefront of the Force in 2019.

A further hint was Mitchell's acknowledgement that "the direct centre combination hasn't worked for us", which suggests Scott Staniforth will be shifted back to the wing.

O'Connor is not the only playmaker Mitchell could use at 12, with Lachlan MacKay and Scott Daruda both capable of playing that role.

[laura]

No AJ at all?

Good luck to James for his first start and Keiran (woohoo for WA) & Dane

[KenyaQuin]

Came off in previous game..may be related.

[Swee_82]

Yeah I think I read he and spanners were training apart from the group earlier this week, maybe he's got a niggle.

[BLR]

Yeah I think I read he and spanners were training apart from the group earlier this week, maybe he's got a niggle.

Or maybe he is training to become a back?

[inactive]

and spanner moving to the front after his performance in scrum!

[number9]

i dont know why chrisso isnt starting... he's in such good for at the moment and should be up for wallaby selection....

[The InnFORCEr]

Thanks for the update MG

[KenyaQuin]

revised lineup based on WA Rugby's release

1. Pek Cowan

2. Tai McIsaac

3. Troy Takiari

4. David Pusey

5. Nathan Sharpe (c)

6. Scott Fava

7. David Pocock

8. Matt Hodgson

9. James Stannard

10. Matt Giteau (vc)

11. Drew Mitchell

12. James O’Connor

13. Ryan Cross

14. Nick Cummins

15. Cameron Shepherd

Reserves

16. Luke Holmes

17. Kieran Longbottom

18. Sitaleki Timani

19. Richard Brown

20. Chris O’Young

21. Scott Daruda

22. Dane Haylett-Petty

[force addict]

sorry, why are they in red?

[laura]

They are the changes that have been made since the team was initially announced. There were fitness tests today and some guys had to be replaced, hence replacements are in red.

[inactive]

there the chages from the original that was released today. Pusey taking wykes and cummins for spanner and timani for puseys spot on bench

[robyn <3]

thats so great... all the new blokes in there! o'connor will have a blinder, i know it! and PUSEY IS BACK! thats so good! i missed him! cummins is there too... this looks so GREAT!

[force addict]

thats so great... all the new blokes in there! o'connor will have a blinder, i know it! and PUSEY IS BACK! thats so good! i missed him! cummins is there too... this looks so GREAT!

PUSEYYYYY is totally awesome! and cummins!! such a great match woot woot definitely a new insight into our dear future force!!!!!!!