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Emirates Western Force Suffer Narrow Defeat In Opening Trial
The Emirates Western Force have gone down 12-7 to the Crusaders in their opening trial match at Olympic Park in Melbourne tonight.
In perfect conditions and in front of a healthy crowd, the WA side took an early 7-0 lead when Ryan Cross's try was converted by Matt Giteau.
The build up work by AJ Whalley led to the try, as the giant prop galloped 30 metres into Crusaders territory before offloading to Giteau. Some fancy footwork by Giteau gave Cross a straightforward run to the line.
The score remained 7-0 until the break.
Emirates Western Force coach John Mitchell brought on many of his rookies for the second half, and despite breaking even around the ground, the younger squad members couldn't keep the Crusaders off the scoreboard.
Tries to All Black full back Leon MacDonald and Nasi Manu, and a conversion from Hamish Gard, gave the Crusaders a 12-7 lead.
Sam Wykes had a chance to snatch victory right on full time, but his kick ahead rolled over the dead ball line.
The Emirates Western Force will host the Queensland Reds in a second trial this Thursday at Members Equity Stadium in Perth (kick off at 7.05pm local), before heading to South Africa for the start of the 2008 Investec Super 14 season.
Emirates Western Force 7 (Ryan Cross try, Matt Giteau con)
Crusaders 12 (Leon MacDonald, Nasi Manu tries, Hamish Gard conv)
Deans flags Force as contenders
February 02, 2008 NEW Australia coach Robbie Deans tipped the Western Force to be genuine Super 14 finals contenders this year after the Crusaders edged to a 12-7 win in a rugby trial match.
Deans is serving one final season as Crusaders coach before taking over the top job in Australian rugby.
The Crusaders, who are once again likely to be the team to beat in the Super 14 competition, trailed for much of the night at Olympic Park before No.8 Nasi Manu scored the match-winning try in the 73rd minute.
"The Force looked really well drilled," said Deans.
"They are obviously working hard, conditioning-wise.
"They were tough and they were physical and I would suggest they mean business this year.
"They play a good brand of football and if you look back to last year's campaign they were knocking on the door of the playoffs.
"And that performance there today was significantly better than this time last year so they are going to be a handful."
Deans also got a good look at Matt Giteau, who will settle at five-eighth for the Force this year and is also the leading contender to replace Stephen Larkham in the Wallabies' No.10 jumper
"It was always going to be a battle of strength and conditioning as both teams were getting started," said Force coach John Mitchell.
"We got match fitness out of it.
"Our response to the new rules and our adaptation to them was quite good."
The Crusaders' squad included 10 All Blacks, although five-eighth Dan Carter (calf) and hooker Corey Flynn (thumb) were absentees.
The Force were without Scott Staniforth, Scott Fava and Lachlan MacKay.
The Crusaders open the Super 14 competition on February 15 with a home clash against the Brumbies in Christchurch, while the Force are away to the Sharks in Durban.