2010 Force 1st XV

[Burgs]

Here is my take on the probable 1st XV (with a few exceptions added).
While they may not be world beaters they are a good mid table combination while still in a rebuild phase following an exceptional year of coming and going for the Squad.
Look forward to others posting their versions.

Burgs' 2010 Force 1st XV:

1 Pekahou Cowan/Matt Dunning
2 Ben Whittaker
3 Tim Fairbrother
4 Tom Hockings
5 Nathan Sharpe
6 (Ben McCalman-Filipe Manu)/Matt Hodgson
7 David Pocock
8 Richard Brown

9 Brett Sheehan
10 Andre Pretorius
11 Nick Cummins/Mark Bartholomeusz
12 James O'Connor/Sam Harris
13 Ryan Cross
14 Dane Haylett-Petty
15 Cameron Shepherd

16 Ryan Tyrrell
17 Matt Dunning/Pekahou Cowan
18 Richard Stanford/Sam Wykes
19 Matt Hodgson/(Ben McCalman-Filipe Manu)
20 Chris O'Young
21 Sam Harris/James O'Connor
22 Mark Bartholomeusz/Haig Sare

Notes:

#1- Undecided if they will show faith in Cowan to continue his development with Dunning cover on the Bench for LH & TH (assuming Fairbrother has TH stitched up) or Dunning will start and move to TH late in the match if required. I doubt Henderson would be in the 1st XV but will no doubt get an opportunity due to injury.

#6- There is plenty of debate on TWF as to the use of Hodgson. He may continue as a light Blindside or move to the Bench as the Backrow “super sub”, allowing for a larger #6.

#11 & #22- Nick Cummins would be an automatic selection for one of the Wings once fit again. I imagine Bart will cover there, bringing Haig Sare onto the Bench.

#12- Many, including myself, believe James O’Connor’s best position is Inside Centre however, he is perhaps a season away from having the defensive game against the likes of a Nonu. 2010 may be better spent furthering his apprenticeship from the Bench, covering #10-15, and allowing the stronger Harris to start.

#18- Undecide who they will use here by choice but injury in the Squad will probably step in first.

[BDAVEY]

pretty dame good, Matt H will get the number 6 jersey Browny did his ankle this week and is out for 6 weeks and I think oyoung will get the number 9 initially he has a better pass and will make Shehan hungrey for the posiotion. Cowan will be groomed for the number 2 jersey I feel.
Outside backs is worry not many tacklers out wide Crossy will have to play better to retain his number 13

[TOCC]

a centre - 5/8 combo of Pretorius-Harris-Cross is pretty one dimensional, you surely need JOC in there to mix things up a bit

[zimeric]

a centre - 5/8 combo of Pretorius-Harris-Cross is pretty one dimensional, you surely need JOC in there to mix things up a bit

how is that one dimensional?

Giteau and O'connor are very similar players.. so if anything our back line was previously more one-dimensional than it is as above... Pretorius is completely different... and Harris and Cross are different yet again...

i agree with O'connor as super sub at worst 15 if he is going to start.. but id expect Sheps to be first option there.

[travelling_gerry]

pretty dame good, Matt H will get the number 6 jersey Browny did his ankle this week and is out for 6 weeks and I think oyoung will get the number 9 initially he has a better pass and will make Shehan hungrey for the posiotion. Cowan will be groomed for the number 2 jersey I feel.
Outside backs is worry not many tacklers out wide Crossy will have to play better to retain his number 13

Brownie had an ankle op pretty much as soon as he came back from the Wallaby tour.

[thunderchicken9]

Looking forward to seeing this on the pitch! Solid all around... maybe not spectacular, certainly a side that can keep any match close.. Oh yeah, that Force #7 made the Northern Hemisphere Talking Heads gush praise on the tour, I mean Pocock was consensus MOM v. Wales with just 40 minutes game time....he is what we call a "game-changer/impact player!"

[KenyaQuin]

I'd speculate James would be in the starting XV, most likely 15 at kickoff for the first couple of games with Sheps at wing.

Sheps is probably one of the top two wingers we have at the moment, and his kicking game at full back is pretty shite.

This would mean Harris to start at 12, with James injected into the backline when it suits.

To mix things up abit (and give comfort to TOCC), in the course of the game you could move James to 12, Sam to 13, Cross to 14, Sheps to 15.

[todd4]

I would play Sheehan - Pretorius - O'Connor - Cross right from the start. Developing good combinations is important. Dont forget how short the season is - 2 blinks and its over. Lets get them working together right from the start.

[Burgs]

Hi Todd and welcome aboard.
I certainly agree re combinations, it makes me nervous when Coach are "trying things" during the season.
It is one thing I always look at in an International team is how often the critical pairs/trios have played together at Provincial level.

[shasta]

I'd speculate James would be in the starting XV, most likely 15 at kickoff for the first couple of games with Sheps at wing.

I tend to agree, though he may ease him into the side for the first couple of games while the side finds it's rythm (hopefully). You don't go through hoops like they did to hold on to a player like JOC just to use him off the bench. In Super Rugby he will gradually find the consistency and maturity he still lacks at the top level.

[jazza93]

1. Matt Dunning
2. Ben Whittaker
3. Tim Fairbrother
4. Tom Hockings
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Matt Hodgson
7. David Pocock
8. Richard Brown
9. Brett Sheehan
10. Andre Pretorius
11. Mark Bartholomeusz
12. Josh Tatapu?
13. Ryan Cross
14. Cameron Shepheard
15. James O ' Conner

[The Big I]

This is the starting XV that inside rugby put up for the force:

1. Pek Cowan
2. Ben Whittaker.
3. Matt Dunning
4. Richard Stanford.
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Matt Hodgson
7. David Pocock
8. Richard Brown
9. Brett Sheehan
10. Andre Pretorius
11. Mark Baerholomeusz
12. Sam Harris
13. Ryan Cross
14. Cameron Shepherd.
15. James O'Conner.

I'm not really familiar with Mark and Sam in the backs and I'd probably start Tim and Matt as our starting props bring on Pek as an impact prop.

[no.8]

1 Matt Dunning
2 Ben Whittaker
3 Tim Fairbrother
4 Tom Hockings
5 Nathan Sharpe
6 Matt Hodgson
7 David Pocock
8 Richard Brown

9 Brett Sheehan
10 Andre Pretorius
11 Cameron Shepherd
12 Sam Harris
13 Ryan Cross
14 Haig Sare
15 James O'Connor

16 Pekahou Cowan
17 Nic Henderson
18 Sam Wykes
19 Richard Stanford
20 Chris O'Young
21 Josh Tatupu
22 Mark Bartholomeusz

[Burgs]

For those who think certain players may carry some weight in their preference of playing position, if still current this may have some impact on selections this season.

From James O'Connor RUPA Interview post Spring Tour 2008:

You seem to be very versatile; what is your preferred position?

At the moment I like playing 12 (inside centre). I played at fullback against the Barbarians, but to be honest I like being closer to the action in both attack and defence. In order, I’d choose 12 (inside centre), then 10 (stand-off), then 15 (fullback).

[TOCC]

how is that one dimensional?

Giteau and O'connor are very similar players.. so if anything our back line was previously more one-dimensional than it is as above... Pretorius is completely different... and Harris and Cross are different yet again...

i agree with O'connor as super sub at worst 15 if he is going to start.. but id expect Sheps to be first option there.

Giteau and O'Connor are actually very mulit-dimensional players, as in they carry a bit more of a unpredictability to them then what pretorius-harris-cross offer, they can be ball-players, runners and the kicking game.

Pretorius-Harris-Cross are all players who play a very similar one dimensional game, Pretorius isnt your ball-player 5/8, his a kicker, and harris and cross arent ball-playing centres either, they are going one direction and thats in a straight line.

Now thats a 10man rugby backline if ive ever seen one, thats fine, but 10man rugby hasnt won S14 rugby ever, 10man rugby takes years of discipline and experience, not exactly suited for the S14.

You add in JOC to that team and he offers a genuine ball playing option, he also adds unpredictability because he has the step.