Force Squad for Bulls Game & Cannon's100th Super match!

[RugbyWA]

CANNON TO PLAY HIS 100TH SUPER MATCH AS FORCE MAKE ONE CHANGE FOR BULLS

Veteran hooker Brendan Cannon will celebrate his 100th game of Super rugby when the Emirates Western Force play the Bulls in Pretoria on Friday.

Cannon will become only the 14th player in the competition’s history to notch a century of Super rugby games, having retained his position as starting hooker for the match.

The only change to the side which beat the Stormers in Cape Town last week is the omission of Scott Fava, due to a breach of team protocol.

He is replaced in the squad by Matt Hodgson, who will start at openside flanker, with Richard Brown moving to No. 8.

Cannon, who was the first player to sign with the Emirates Western Force, began his Super rugby career in 1996 with the Reds, and went on to play the bulk of his matches with the Waratahs. The Bulls clash will represent his 12th Super cap for the Force.

Hodgson returns to the 22 for the first time this year, having missed only one match last season.

Emirates Western Force head coach John Mitchell said he was pleased with aspects of the team’s performance last Friday but the players would need to step to another level in their focus and mental commitment against the Bulls.

“There’s no doubt these young men have the footballing ability. What they need to improve is their execution of game plan and keep their concentration for the full 80 minutes,” he said.

“Last week, I believe we got off the mark with attitude and delivery. It’s important that we maintain that momentum and keep progressing.”

Mitchell said the Bulls were a formidable force, particularly in Pretoria, with one of the biggest packs in the game and one of the best line-out jumpers in Victor Matfield.

“But there lies our opportunity, and we intend to give it a good crack.”

The squad is:
1. Gareth Hardy
2. Brendan Cannon
3. Troy Takiari
4. Rudi Vedelago
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. David Pusey
7. Matt Hodgson
8. Richard Brown

9. Matt Henjak
10. Matt Giteau
11. Cameron Shepherd
12. Junior Pelesasa
13. Ryan Cross
14. Scott Staniforth
15. Drew Mitchell

16. Tai McIsaac
17. Angus Scott
18. Luke Doherty
19. David Pocock
20. Chris O’Young
21. Scott Daruda
22. Haig Sare

[Happy]

I hope he has a good game!!

[WF2006]

Good on you Rugby WA for posting on TWF within minutes of posting on your own website. (actually saw it here first, but that may have just been a browsing order or refresh issue)

Thankyou in appreciation.

[Thequeerone]

Thanks really do appreciate the media release - how's Hilgendorf ?

GO CANNON Here's to the next 100

Right down to buisness - where's the book Gerry - Ryan needs to up his batting average (scored an average of 1 try a game for the Roosters last year - so Sat morning he needs to score 2 to put him back on track) first try

[frontrow]

Good luck to all the boys, play hard and we can come away with this one too...

[allsaints]

Scott Staniforth will be watching closely the situation with the uncertainity of the no 12 at the Tahs. If Mitchell continues to leave him on the wing (outside yet another exmungo who doesn't pass the ball) stay tuned....

[inactive]

Yeah heard that rumour... I dont know why hes not 12 anyway diggers should be on wing and stanner before jnr even though he going alright spanner was best centre in any aust super 14 team last year

[Darren]

NNNNnnnnoooooo.....!!!!!

[frontrow]

He is originally from NSW and could still have family and friends in the riverina who would like to see him play for NSW, so we should be concerned as he may well become disinfranchised with the Force, or at least Mitch...He truly is being wasted on the wing and if we think like this the likelyhood is he too is thinking like this...

I forgot to mention Canno, good stuff mate and hope we can pull off a win for the night....

[littleleck]

yeh good stuff cannon
but i am very disappointed to see staniforth on the wing. what did junior do to deserve
his spot in the run on?
and what did spanner do to deserve to get put on the wing? get player of the year?
will be watching jnr very very closely

[Nick]

Happy 100th Maximus - Hmm the Gladiator goes up against the Bulls in the Ring - sounds like a story for the West...

[Burgs]

Congratulations Maximus, an awesome career and more so when you add an unfinished 42 Test caps to the total as well. Hope you have a cracker mate and have a special clause in the breatho rules for milestone matches!!!

As with the majority, I would be playing Stanners at #12 however, as I reported before Round 1, Junior had been doing as much work there as Gits in the last weeks of the pre season so while I wouldn't pick him we shouldn't surprised either.
I think Hodgson is well suited for this match and must be just about ready to rip some legs off having missed the first two!
We will miss Fava's leadership but I don't think we have gone that far back because of his absence.
Think I'm going to have to tip us, just got a hunch we're about to click into gear.

[Dramoth]

Hi Guys from the lovely town of Kendal in Cumbria.

What a win to the force last week. Hopefully this match is going to awesome as well. Good luck to Cannon for his 100th super match. A win will be a good result for the day I think.

The best news is that it looks like it is going to get shown on Sky sports over here in the UK. This could be a good thing I am thinking. The only down side is that it looks like it is being shown at 4:30pm here. This is not a good thing as I am working at that time.

Cheers,

Dramoth

[Burgs]

Hey Dramoth! Better than 2:35 AM mate

[Burgs]

Bulls XV to play the Force:

1 Gurthro Steenkamp
2 Gary Botha
3 Danie Thiart
4 Danie Rossouw
5 Victor Matfield (C)
6 Anton Leonard
7 Wikus van Heerden
8 Pedrie Wannenburg

9 Fourie du Preez
10 Morne Steyn
11 Marius Delport
12 Wynand Olivier
13 JP Nel
14 Akona Ndungane
15 Johan Roets

16 Derick Kuün
17 Wessel Roux
18 Francois van Schouwenburg
19 Hilton Lobberts
20 Heinie Adams
21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22 Jaco van der Westhuyzen