Force Lineup Named for Reds Trial Match

[Darren]

Emirates Western Force Coach John Mitchell has named a strong 24-man line-up for Thursday night’s pre-season clash with the Queensland Reds at Ballymore.

Wallabies Matt Giteau, James O’Connor and Nathan Sharpe will make their first appearance for the 2009 season in the WA side’s final trial fixture before the regular season kicks off at Subiaco Oval on February 13.

Sharpe has recovered from thumb surgery and resumes his captaincy of the side after David Pocock led the team to a narrow 24-19 defeat to the Crusaders in the pre-season opener on January 23.

The skipper will be joined in the second row by Pat O’Connor, who has recovered from a hamstring strain and will play his first match on Australian soil since 2006.

Teenage Wallaby James O’Connor has been named on a nine-man reserves bench, but will also take the field in a curtain raiser clash with Queensland A before the main fixture on Thursday night.

Scrumhalf Chris O’Young has also been named on the bench despite needing to pass a fitness test on an injured hamstring prior to the team’s departure for Brisbane on Wednesday morning.

Coach John Mitchell said the trial match would give his Wallabies contingent an opportunity for extended game time.

The Wallaby guys are certainly looking forward to the hit out and you can’t substitute for match fitness.

They've prepared well since the first week of January but need to get back in and experience game situations and get used to the physicality again,” said Mitchell.

The trial match will also provide the first action of the new season for flanker Tamaiti Horua, however centre Ryan Cross will launch into the Super 14 season without playing in a pre-season match while remaining behind this week for the birth of his second child.

"We're looking at developing some of our combinations ahead of the season, but there have been a number of other factors to consider in selections for this match,” said Mitchell.

"Obviously family takes priority and Crossy is not available for this match and a few boys haven’t played a lot of minutes in the pre-season. Guys like Pat O’Connor and Tamaiti Horua missed out on the Crusaders match through injury.”

Mitchell said he was looking for a more sustained effort from his charges in expected hot and humid conditions on Thursday night.

The conditions are going to be tough, but we’ve prepared in very humid conditions this week.

"Against the Crusaders we played about half the match with the ball and half without, so it would be nice to us mount some more pressure on the Reds.”

Emirates Western Force v Reds
Thursday 5 February, 2009
Ballymore, Brisbane

Kick off: 7.10pm AEST (6.10pm WDST)

Emirates Western Force
1. Pek Cowan
2. Tai McIsaac
3. AJ Whalley
4. Pat O’Connor
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. Tamaiti Horua
7. David Pocock
8. Richard Brown

9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Giteau
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Junior Pelesasa
13. Josh Tatupu
14. Haig Sare
15. Cameron Shepherd

Reserves
16. Luke Holmes
17. Gareth Hardy
18. Tom Hockings
19. Matt Hodgson
20. Chris O’Young
21. James O’Connor
22. Nick Cummins
23. Kieran Longbottom
24. Scott Daruda

[TOCC]

Horua and Hodgson will be battling for the blindside flanker position not the openside..

but yeah thats starting to look like the full strenght lineup, i think Hockings has a bit of a battle on his hand to hold onto the lock jersey, O'Connor and Wykes seem to go pretty well.

[gotheforce]

Its looking like a full strength team, except for Crossy missing out.
Looking good.

[lara93]

greatt team

[goony]

Wykes is out for at least half the season and from what i've seen so far Hocko definately has it over Beef, so no worries for him at the moment. And as far as the hodgson horua battle goes i think hodgson has the edge for sure

[Burgs]

Pek starting again, looks like a done deal at Loosehead at this stage.
I still believe, because of his boot, that Drew should be on the right Wing and I would have Cummins for Sare (on the left though) and obviously Crossy in to #13 if he had been available.
Is Spanner injured?
Great to see they are having an A match too.

[GIGS20]

Not that Horua got many chances to show his wares up until now.

I'd suggest Horua v Hodgson and Hockings v O'Connor will be the matchups that will get switched around a lot this year. I'm not sure Wykesey will see a lot of time, possibly against a mobile team where lineout technicians aren't so important. As for Hocko and Horua....I'd say Horua has it in every area except sheer guts........the most important attribute in a good blindside!

It'll be interesting, that's for sure!

[AndyS]

No Pusey - did I miss something?

[force addict]

that is a fabulous line up. good to see JP back in the line up and giving Valo and Tatupu some game time, tatupu was fantastic in the game vs crusaders. i think this year with this squad is gonna be a ripper

[oxleymoron]

Do we know who is running out in the academy game? In the RugbyWA press release it said Castle was playing in it with a few others (I can only assume spanner, takiari, stanford et al)

[mudskipper]

interested in backs and Josh Tatupu at 13...should be a good match Force by 10+

9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Giteau
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Junior Pelesasa
13. Josh Tatupu
14. Haig Sare
15. Cameron Shepherd

[Burgs]

No Pusey - did I miss something?

Might have torn a muscle in his shoulder throwing Ellis around the park...

I imagine it is from needing to give PO'C and Sharpey a run Andy.

[robyn <3]

I'm pumped for this Giteau-Valentine show. I reckon they will be our halves for most if not all of the season, I wish we'd got a sneak peek at MES. Oh well. I expect great things, you two! I adore that loose forwards combination. That's our strength this season, bring it McCaw! Cummins in for Sare I agree

[Stone Cold]

Cummins will need a hair cut before he gets a run on spot...