McIsaac to start against former team-mates

[NewsBot]

Former Queensland Reds player Tai McIsaac will make his run-on Super 14 debut for the Western Force against his old team at Lang Park on Saturday.

The 30-year-old will start the game at loose-head prop.

Other changes to the Force's starting 15 include the return of lock John Welborn, outside centre Josh Graham and left winger Digby Ioane, who rejoins the team after missing the Chiefs game due to an ankle injury.

Positional changes include David Pusey's move from lock to flanker and Scott Staniforth's relocation from the wing to inside centre.

Young prop Pek Cowan has also been called into the Force squad for the first time.

Force coach John Mitchell said the changes were aimed at providing the team with a greater physical presence, both in defence and attack.

"The Reds have been playing a very physical game, particularly at home, and at times we've gone missing in the physical contest," he said in a club statement.

"The changes we've made for this game are about making adjustments to meet the physical nature of Super 14. We're still learning."

Mitchell added that Cowan would bring energy and enthusiasm to the player mix.

"Pek Cowan is an outstanding talent who has been training strongly and he played well at the district level," he said.

"He's demonstrated to us that he is ready for the next step."

Force squad

1. Tai McIsaac 2. Brendan Cannon 3. David Fitter 4. John Welborn 5. Nathan Sharpe 6. David Pusey 7. Matt Hodgson 8. Scott Fava 9. Matt Henjak 10. Brock James 11. Digby Ioane 12. Scott Staniforth 13. Josh Graham 14. Cameron Shepherd 15. James Hilgendorf 16. Pek Cowan 17. David Te Moana 18. Luke Doherty 19. Richard Brown 20. Chris O'Young 21. Scott Daruda 22. Haig Sare

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[travelling_gerry]

and I would suggest that Tai will take quite a few of the line out throws......I was watching him drill at the open practice on Monday and he was SENSATIONALY accurate.....

May the Force be with you...

[Burgs]

I would count this as Mitch's first left field selection.
Not only is the reserve hooker starting at loosehead (I know he has played a lot of rugby there don't worry) but the first pick loosehead from the first three matches didn't even make the bench and the third string "kid" makes his debut!
I'm leaning towards stroke of genius but it could also all come crashing down.
Would be interested to know what Hardy has done wrong as he has been playing pretty well and hasn't been named as being injured?
Maybe just making him angry for the Tahs in the following week?
A big jump for Pek Cowan to push his way in front of the experienced Angus Scott to make his debut.
Pek comes with huge praise from his Australian Rep exposure is said to have as much potential as anyone his age going around.
Assuming no injuries, you would assume that Pusey will go into the second row when Welborn goes off as Doherty is on his way back from an ankle injury and Brown is more suited the back row as well so there is no specific second row reserve option.
This will also be a major match for Henjak coming up his direct competitor for the reserve Wallaby half in Cordingley, another average performance may well see O'Young starting against the Tahs next week.
The Staniforth, Graham combination has great potential provided they've been virtually sleeping together for the last fortnight to get familiar with each other as there is certainly no history for them to work off. I had thought that the may have selected 10. Daruda, 12. James, 13. Hilgendorf to use the Taranaki connection that was evident at times during the Hurricanes match when some play was obviously instinctive between James and Hilgendorf but I think the Staniforth, Graham combination is probably right in terms of defensive cover.
Assuming he is fully fit, a massive boost to have Digby Ioane back on the field as well and, with Commonwealth Games bound Cameron Shepherd, this makes for a young but very talented and potentially explosive backline.
Huge praise to Apprentices David Te Moana and Haig Sare for their continued selection, certainly two players who wouldn't have got a game this season if there was only three Australian teams.
Quietly confident that we can get up in a very hard and close match, the key will be getting right into them from the kick off to take the home crowd out of the game. A slow start and giving away early points would probably lead to a long night behind the posts.
Go well fellas, play proud.