Force team announced

[tdevil]

Emirates Western Force Coach John Mitchell has named his team for Friday night’s season-opening Investec Super 14 clash with the Sharks at ABSA Stadium in Durban (2.10am WA kick off).

The clash with last year’s finalists is the first of three matches in South Africa for the Perth-based team, who will meet the Cheetahs and Lions before returning to Perth to make their home debut against the Crusaders on March 9.

Port Macquarie-born winger Nick Cummins will make his Investec Super 14 debut after winning selection on the right wing.

Cummins, who was Australia’s top try scorer for last year’s iRB Sevens World Series, earns his place in the starting side with three more rookies named on a new-look reserves bench.

Cummins (20) willjoin a host of experienced campaigners in the starting lineup, including World Cup Wallabies Nathan Sharpe, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Scott Staniforth and Cameron Shepherd.

Richard Brown and Scott Fava will start the season in new roles, swapping their regular positions with Fava to run out in the number 6 jersey and Brown at Number 8.

Mitchell has named three more potential debutantes on the reserves bench, with 24-year-old Brisbane-born scrumhalf James Stannard joining lock Sitaleki Timani and 21-year-old league convert Josh Tatupu for the first time in the selectedmatch 22.

Mitchell admitted that several selection battles were tight, but he opted for experience against the three-time Super Rugby runner-up.

“I don’t know how you’d define a full strength team but we’ve certainly opted for players with more experience in this competition,” said Mitchell.

“A number of positions were close and we’re delighted with the way some of the younger squad members are pushing through.”

“We’ve got three young guys on the reserves bench who will get their first opportunity to experience rugby at this level and a couple of others in the squad who will get an opportunity in the starting team during this tour,” he said.

Overall head to head: Played 2, Sharks 1, Emirates Western Force 1.

Last met: 30 March 2007, EWF 22 def Sharks 12, Subiaco Oval, Perth.

Emirates Western Force v Sharks

Friday 15 February, 2008

ABSA Stadium, Durban

Kick off: 7.10pm (2.10am WA Sat 16 Feb)



Emirates Western Force

1. Gareth Hardy

2. Tai McIsaac

3. AJ Whalley

4. David Pusey

5. Nathan Sharpe (c)

6. Scott Fava

7. David Pocock

8. Richard Brown

9. Matt Henjak

10. Matt Giteau (vc)

11. Drew Mitchell

12. Scott Staniforth

13. Ryan Cross

14. Nick Cummins

15. Cameron Shepherd



Reserves



16. Luke Holmes

17. Troy Takiari

18. Sitaleki Timani

19. Matt Hodgson

20. James Stannard

21. Scott Daruda

22. Josh Tatupu

[GIGS20]

Good looking squad....Woody will go nuts knowing Josh got a bench spot in his first game!

I like the tactic of startign with AJ rather than Chicken...Nothing against Troy, but I think AJ is going to go off in the ELV version of the game!

has anybody seen a team for the Sharks yet?

[gustafsl]

Looks great. Very important game first up. Obviously every game counts but I think this is the most important one of the three in SA. The Sharks will be one of the teams looking for a top four spot so we really need to win this one.

If we do come out on top in this one, they should get the Henjak situation sorted out. Because if it is decided he is suspended for 1 or 2 games, better he sits out against the Lions and Cheetahs, then he can get back to Perth early and get ready for the Crusaders.

[Thequeerone]

Josh took Haigs spot on the plane

[Seldom]

Good to see young Cummings out on the wing for the game, great young talent!

[no.8]

Great looking team - let's hope nobody falls over.
Injuries galore and suicidal tendencies are rife.

Even so after Lachie McKay there's the Great Dane and the James gang.

In the front row coverall Pek Cowan is supported only by Kieren Longbottom who I bet would acquit himself quite nicely.

We seem to have depth in the second row and the back row thank you very much.

It would be nice to have Jimmy Hilgendorf and Adam Clarke back to full fitness to fill out our backline stocks.

[allsaints]

With Gitts & Stanners in the key 10 & 12 positions watch for the outside boys to have some fun this year. Lets hope it starts on saturday morning!

[tdevil]

has anybody seen a team for the Sharks yet?

This is the latest available news from the Sharks:

Francois Steyn will play either fullback or flyhalf when the Sharks face the Western Force in their Super 14 opener in Durban on Friday night.

World Cup centre Steyn has been selected at fullback, but is now bracketed with French flyhalf Frederick Michalak, who is struggling with an injury. If Steyn has to move to flyhalf, Stefan Terblanche will move up from the bench to play fullback.

World Cup lock Albert van den Berg is not included in the match 22 and will only sit on the bench, should Lions discard Jean Deysel not recover in time for the match.

Johan Ackermann, who will help out the Sharks for the first few matches before he hangs up his boots, is preferred to Van den Berg at lock.

Another World Cup Bok on the bench is the recruit from the Cheetahs, Jannie du Plessis, with BJ Botha - another World Cup Bok - selected to start.

It is very much a proven side, with Springbok Henno Mentz, back after a stop-start season in 2007 because of injury, on the right wing and JP Pietersen named on the left.


TEAM:

Francois Steyn/Stefan Terblanche, Henno Mentz, Waylon Murray, Bradley Barritt, JP Pietersen, Frederic Michalak/Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Ryan Kankowski, AJ Venter, Jacques Botes, Johann Muller (capt.), Johan Ackermann, BJ Botha, Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira.

Replacements: Craig Burden, Kees Lensing. Jannie du Plessis, Jean Deysel/Albert van den Berg, Rory Kockott, Adi Jacobs , Stefan Terblanche.

[AndyS]

Well, I'd be amazed if the boys couldn't summon a real ball of fire in the guts for this game...