Western Force Squad announced for Crusaders Match

[Darren]

The Emirates Western Force will play the Crusaders at MC Labour Park in Melbourne on Friday 19 January. Kick-off is at 7pm.

The touring squad is as follows:

FORWARDS
AJ Whalley, Brendan Cannon, Pek Cowan, David Pocock, David Pusey, Gareth Hardy, Luke Doherty, Matt Hodgson, Pat O’Connor, Richard Brown, Rudi Vedelago, Scott Fava (C), Tai McIsaac, Troy Takiari

BACKS
Brett Stapleton, Cameron Shepherd, Chris O’Young, Digby Ioane, James Hilgendorf, Junior Pelesasa, Matt Henjak, Ryan Cross, Scott Daruda, Scott Staniforth

[pruc]

strong team there. should go alrite?

[O'Regan]

Hopefully Stapleton and O'Young get a run.

[Burgs]

Reading through who has been left out you would have to say it's a reasonably full strength squad.
The three Apprentices are out and the three Wallabies rested.
After that with MacKay injured there are only four omissions with Holmes, Sare, Scott and Windle.
For Round 1, bearing in mind this is a twenty four man squad, I think Scott will come in for two of Cowan, Hardy or Whalley.
Sharpe will take the place of probably O'Connor and two of the three Opensides will be omitted with Doherty going back to Blindside.
With Pusey's excellent lineout jumping I would have to start him in the Locks in front of Vedelago who hasn't been a "top player" for two and a half years now due to injuries.
There's also a rumour going around that Mitch will only select one Wallaby Hooker per match with Holmes to be the Reserve, no way of knowing ‘til Round 1 on that front.
In the Backs, I am surprised to see Sare out, although he has played quite a bit of the Gold fixtures. To me (unless injured this week) it means one of two things, either he is being rested for Round 1 and I would think coming in for Daruda or he is on the outer and has actually been omitted, I am hoping the former.
Mitchell and Stapleton on paper would be a straight swap so the pressure is on the young gun to really step up against the title holders.
If Giteau is to be the back up Scrum Half then I think it will be O'Young out, otherwise I think it will be a toss up between Pelesasa and Ioane and on current form and team balance you would have to think Ioane is looking a bit shaky.
Anyway, I'll probably be totally wrong, just my thoughts!

Not Playing:

Michael Dan @
Matt Giteau *
Tom Hockings @
Luke Holmes
Jon McGrath @
Lachlan MacKay
Drew Mitchell *
Haig Sare
Angus Scott
Nathan Sharpe *
Matt Windle

For tomorrow, a win would be great but realistically a close loss can still be beneficial.
Looking for huge matches from all the players I mentioned above facing my hook as to me their 2006 wasn't that crash hot.
The season is nearly upon us...BRING IT ON!!!

[WF2006]

Do we have any Melbournites that will be there in the flesh?
Does anyone know of a "Live Scores" gig we can at least get score updates on?

[Shaun]

How was left out? Do you mean who was left out Burgs The backline playing tomorrow is better than the one we had for the majority of last season, if not better. Shepherd has a slight knee injury; but still wants to play saying he does not want to give anyone a head start. Staniforth has a slight tweak in his groin; but says he should be good to go. MacKay I have no idea!?!?!

I'm thinking tomorrows backline will look like this...
#9 Henjak/ O' Young
#10 Hilgendorf/ Daruda
#11 Ioane
#12 Staniforth/ Pelesasa
#13 Cross
#14 Staniforth/ Stapleton
#15 Shepherd

On Fox Sports News today Staniforth said he was certain Giteau will start at #12 with Cross next to him in #13. He says he is buying for an #11 or #14 jersey so I won't be surprised if they trial him on the wing tomorrow.

[Burgs]

And won't it be such a waste of talent

[Rodent]

Interesting to see Pek getting a run. I don' think I've seen him out on the paddock as yet so it will be good to see how he goes against some tough opposition.
I'm with you Burgs but I'm pretty sure that they wont use Gits as a backup #9 I think you would have to put Pelesasa in ahead of Diggers just on the basis that a strong running centre is more likely to have a bigger impact in the second half against a tiring defence than a winger is... But all remains to be seen.
With all the talk about how deep we are in the backs we have neglected to see there is some decent competition for spots up front as well.

[O'Regan]

My friend is cousins with Junior Pellassa.


Juniors position is outside centre, and when he was playing in Brisbane in the club Competition he was easily the pick of all the teams. He was unlucky so many hot shots have signed with them.

[Burgs]

Not sure if they are playing a 24 man squad, being pre-season, or if there are still two to come out?
Pek has a great future, not sure if he took the field against both the Reds and Tahs but he was selected on the bench for both last year.
With Takiari pretty sure to hold down the #3 it certainly puts far greater competition on the rest of the Props to get a start.
I haven't seen him play but if big Takiari is as mobile and skilled as "they" have been saying then he could well be just the go forward drive we have been lacking.
I doubt they will risk the "extra bench utility-Giteau reserve Half" in the first match but I would be surprised if it doesn't happen at some stage.

[Burgs]

O'Regan, I think in 2007 you will find Pelesasa's position is wherever he can get a game!
He has certainly slid out of automatic selection territory.
My guess is he will evolve into a specialist second half impact sub.

[blindsid3]

hmmm...you guys are missing something I think:

Cross = big Name but lacks (recent) experience in XV man game

Junior = In form, experienced, standout player in APC and Prime Ministers XV in Japan

So, how do you give Cross paddock time? You get him on the field during trial matches.

For my money Cross won't wear a blue jersey numbered less than 15 until at least round four.

[Burgs]

How many v$s you want to put on it blindsid
Gerry!!! Where are yooooo!!!!
I understand what you are saying but I still believe they will go for Cross in any case.

[Shaun]

Blindsid3 I'm sorry to tell you but you are wrong in my opinion. Cross had a standout performance against the Boks for the World XV, there is huge hype around him and I certainly think Mitch will play him in the opener. The interview with Staniforth of Fox Sports this morning Staniforth himself was quite confident Cross would take out the #13 jersey at least to start with...

But I do agree with you Junior is in great form and should come on as an impact player and should always be on the radar for selection, along with Sare and a couple of others...

[SPaRTAN]

I dont understand why Mitchell is planning to play Cross in the centres ahead of Staniforth, Clearly Staniforth was stand out for the Force last year... Putting him on the wing is clearly a waste....
Giteau should be played at 10, Staniforth 12, Cross(if mitchell insists on playing him) at 13, Other wise Hilgendorf at 10, Giteau 12 and Staniforth 13. Makes sence to leave him in the centres which is obviously his best position.