Here it is. Our new team

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01-05-18, 08:55
wholetruth

Here it is. Our new team

Experienced hands ready for reborn Western Force’s World Series Rugby opener

Nick Taylor The West Australian
Tuesday, 1 May 2018 8:23AM

Nick Taylor

Eight former Western Force players will line up in the reborn side that opens the revolutionary World Series Rugby against Fiji at nib Stadium on Friday night.
There is plenty of experience including front-rowers Heath Tessmann and Chris Heiberg, back-rowers Chris Alcock and Brynard Stander, scrum-half and captain Ian Prior and backs Marcel Brache and former Springbok Peter Grant, all of whom played for Western Force in Super Rugby.
Coach Tim Sampson has selected a five-forwards, three-backs reserves bench in anticipation of what is expected to be a typical bruising Fiji encounter.
The game will also be played under experimental laws including faster scrums and line-outs and more points for long-range tries and kicks — something that is likely to suit the free-flowing and entertaining Fijians.
Among the players back where it all began is the ‘K-Bomb’, tight head prop Kieran Longbottom, who will come off the bench after returning from England.

More here

https://thewest.com.au/sport/western...-ng-b88821759z
01-05-18, 11:11
Perth Girl

Cant wait to cheer them on
01-05-18, 11:17
GIGS20

I like this team, because there are a lot of names that I recognise. Surely Rhino, and Marcel qualify to be called WA players now, they really weren't on anybody's radar before they hit the Force Chris and Ian were in the system, but behind other, more favoured players.

It feels a lot like any other Force season, just with a few more new faces to support, #bringiton
01-05-18, 12:56
Sheikh

Liking the number of young guys who have come through Perth rugby, too.

As well as K-bomb (welcome back!), Louwrens and Lacey (who I think got some time off the bench when he was here before), there are Force debuts for Spirit players Tevin Ferris, Tom Sheminant, Clay Uyen, and AJ Alatimu (although he's already won a Samoan cap!) Shame Scoble didn't make the team for another local in our first match back.

Including all the returning guys (Tessman, Heiburg, Alcock, Stander, Prior, Brache, Grant) it looks like a real Force team.

And we've still got the likes of Josh Furno (37 Italian caps), Jaque Fourie (72 Springbok caps) and George Pisi (21 Samoan caps) still to come into the side.

Anyone know if our Fijian 7s player (Masivesi Dakuwaqa) is turning out for Fiji this Friday? I don't think he was with the Fijian team that took silver in the Commonwealth Games.
01-05-18, 13:19
palitu

Team Announced for first World Series Rugby clash against Fiji Warriors
May 1, 2018
The Western Force is pleased to announce the team for its Friday May 4 World Series Rugby opener against Fiji Warriors.

New captain Ian Prior will lead a valuable spread of youth and experience onto the field with a strong list of familiar Force faces behind him, including Heath Tessmann, Marcel Brache and Peter Grant. New Force recruits in the list include loosehead prop Harry Lloyd, lock Johan Bardoul, centre Rodney Iona and flyhalf Andrew Deegan.

https://www.westernforce.com.au/team...fiji-warriors/

Western Force vs Fiji Warriors:
1. HARRY LLOYD

2. HEATH TESSMANN (VC)

3. CHRIS HEIBERG

4. FERGUS LEE-WARNER

5. JOHAN BARDOUL

6. TEVIN FERRIS

7. CHRIS ALCOCK

8. BRYNARD STANDER

9. IAN PRIOR (C)

10. ANDREW DEEGAN

11. BRAD LACEY

12. RODNEY IONA

13. MARCEL BRACHE

14. ROD DAVIES

15. PETER GRANT

16. ALIFELETI KAITU’U

17. TOM SHEMINANT

18. KIERAN LONGBOTTOM

19. LEON POWER

20. HARRISON ORR

21. RYAN LOUWRENS

22. AJ ALATIMU

23. CLAY UYEN
01-05-18, 13:39
palitu

cool to see a team sheet up, upsetting how many names i dont recognise.
01-05-18, 17:05
SPaRTAN

Quote:

Originally Posted by palitu

cool to see a team sheet up, upsetting how many names i dont recognise.

Exactly the same thought here, I actually recognise the international players far more than I do our own. Just shows how much the RA severely ravaged our team. I am amazed to see the brutality of the culling they did to our team sheet, all too make us weaker as 4! This is incredibly exciting though, so many fresh new players on display on Friday!
01-05-18, 19:59
GIGS20

Quote:

Originally Posted by palitu

cool to see a team sheet up, upsetting how many names i dont recognise.

Hmm the exact opposite to my view, I've highlighted names I recognise

Western Force vs Fiji Warriors:
1. HARRY LLOYD

2. HEATH TESSMANN (VC)

3. CHRIS HEIBERG

4. FERGUS LEE-WARNER

5. JOHAN BARDOUL

6. TEVIN FERRIS

7. CHRIS ALCOCK

8. BRYNARD STANDER

9. IAN PRIOR (C)

10. ANDREW DEEGAN

11. BRAD LACEY

12. RODNEY IONA

13. MARCEL BRACHE

14. ROD DAVIES

15. PETER GRANT

16. ALIFELETI KAITU’U

17. TOM SHEMINANT

18. KIERAN LONGBOTTOM

19. LEON POWER

20. HARRISON ORR

21. RYAN LOUWRENS

22. AJ ALATIMU

23. CLAY UYEN

so 11 out of 23 are names i dpn't recognise as Forcemen (I think Alatimu and Sheminant were future force also weren't they) and that doesn't even count Rocket Rod Dvies as a non-Forceman whose name I know.

That's better than some years where we've had a post-coaching change cleanout.
01-05-18, 21:47
Buddha Handy

Any news on the Fijian team? Is it basically the Fijian Drua (NRC team)?
If that is the case you would think we would be too good as on paper we look slightly stronger than Perth Spirit. Hopefully all these teams are competitive and not a walk in the park.
01-05-18, 22:03
fulvio sammut

Basically the Fiji under 23 squad and Fiji players being blooded for World Cup consideration.

Established Fiji national players are playing professionally all over Europe, and usually only come together for major tests.

A lot of very tall athletic types with excellent skills. Quite a big squad, 30 or more.

They're are here to play serious rugby, no doubt about that.
02-05-18, 07:18
Buddha Handy

Quote:

Originally Posted by fulvio sammut

Basically the Fiji under 23 squad and Fiji players being blooded for World Cup consideration.

Established Fiji national players are playing professionally all over Europe, and usually only come together for major tests.

A lot of very tall athletic types with excellent skills. Quite a big squad, 30 or more.

They're are here to play serious rugby, no doubt about that.

Good to hear, cheers. Hopefully the strength of the Tongans, Hong Kong etc is also good.
02-05-18, 07:32
palitu

Who is Tevin?

yeah, i guess that is a fair point.

EDIT: I guess i was referring to lack of some of our favourites (excluding Hodgo this time) - The HP brothers, billy meakes, Jono Lance, Rona, Newsome...

I felt like we had finally put together a combination of players who could challenge every team. And now, almost starting from scratch again.
02-05-18, 08:26
GIGS20

Wasn't there a Tevin Ferris Future Force player playing on the fringes of the Spirit last year?

That was my thought when I did my highlighting.
02-05-18, 08:30
Perth Girl

Yes same Tevin