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Thread: Western Force Line Up to play Cheetahs Announced

  1. #1
    (formerly known as Coach) Your Humble Servant Darren's Avatar
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    Western Force Line Up to play Cheetahs Announced

    Western Force Head Coach John Mitchell has announced his team for Friday night’s Investec Super 14 Week 2 clash with the Cheetahs at Subiaco Oval.

    Mitchell has made five changes to his starting lineup and injected fresh blood to the reserves bench following last week’s 25-19 season-opening loss to the Blues.

    2009 signings Ben Castle and Josh Valentine will make their first Super 14 appearance for the WA side, with Castle having recovered from a neck injury and Valentine a minor hamstring strain.

    Castle, a 42-cap Super Rugby veteran with the Chiefs, will become the 50th player to represent the Emirates Western Force in Super 14 competition since the team’s inception in 2006.

    The former Junior Black prop will be joined in the front row by Gareth Hardy, who returns to the lineup after missing out on selection for the season opener against the Blues last Friday.

    Mitchell has also re-shuffled his backline, calling 18-year-old James O’Connor into the starting XV at inside centre and Nick Cummins at right wing.

    O'Connor comes into the midfield to partner Ryan Cross, who remains in doubt for the match with shoulder bruising despite being named in his customary No.13 jersey.

    Local front row product Kieran Longbottom joins the reserves bench looking to add to his 3 career caps, while the Friday night clash will also see the welcomed return of Scott Staniforth.

    Staniforth has been named on the reserves bench after finally recovering from a knee injury which saw him miss the final four matches of the 2008 season.

    Following his last Super 14 match, against the Reds in Week 10 of last season, Staniforth underwent exploratory surgery on his left knee and missed the remainder of the season before returning for the WA side’s development tour of England.

    In just the first match on tour, against the Newcastle Falcons, the 12-Test veteran aggravated the injury again, forcing a second surgery and ultimately delaying the start to his 2009 Super 14 campaign.

    Mitchell said that his players were hurting after the opening week loss to the Blues and were determined to bounce back in front of their home fans.

    "The boys were very disappointed in their performance last Friday and are very much looking forward to the opportunity to turn things around this weekend,” said Mitchell.

    "There were some positives from the performance but we certainly need better finishing and need to maintain our physicality throughout the contest.”

    In the corresponding round last season, Matt Giteau kicked a match-winning penalty goal after the full-time siren had sounded to steal victory from the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The final score on that occasion was 16-15 to the Emirates Western Force.

    The WA side has never lost a Super 14 match to the Cheetahs, winning all three encounters since both sides entered the competition in 2006.

    Emirates Western Force v Cheetahs
    Friday 20 February, 2009
    Subiaco Oval, Perth
    Kick off: 7.45pm WDST

    Emirates Western Force
    1. Gareth Hardy
    2. Tai McIsaac
    3. Ben Castle
    4. Pat O’Connor
    5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
    6. Tamaiti Horua
    7. David Pocock
    8. Richard Brown

    9. Josh Valentine
    10. Matt Giteau
    11. Nick Cummins Drew Mitchell
    12. James O’Connor
    13. Ryan Cross
    14. Haig Sare Nick Cummins
    15. Drew Mitchell Cameron Shepherd

    16. Luke Holmes
    17. Kieran Longbottom
    18. Tom Hockings
    19. Matt Hodgson
    20. Chris O’Young
    21. Josh Tatupu
    22. Scott Staniforth

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    Last edited by Darren; 19-02-09 at 09:00. Reason: Updated Player List
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  2. #2
    Champion MI5_Dog's Avatar
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    I love the look of this backline!
    Lets hope the forwards dominate.

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    (a.k.a. Mr Pinkbits) Stone Cold's Avatar
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    Agreed - love the backline

    It will be interesting to see how the front row goes

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    coz Stone Cold says so

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    Legend Contributor Thequeerone's Avatar
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    JOC must be excited - bit worried about him against the Cheetahs - normally quite a physical side.

    Anyone else want a stable game winning combination?

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    61 years between Grand Slams Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby

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    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    just read todays newpaper and apparently there was a bit of a punch up at Cheetahs training on Monday

    Article on Page 110

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    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    Big Cheetahs bare claws

    Big Cheetahs bare claws

    Dave Hughes

    18th February 2009, 7:00 WST

    A fight between two Cheetahs forwards at training on Monday revealed the intensity with which the South African team is preparing for Friday’s Super 14 rugby match against the Western Force at Subiaco Oval.

    An onlooker said blood was spilled during the session at Wesley College but Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske yesterday dismissed the incident as a brief flare-up as his players strive to snap a three-year sequence of losses in Australia and New Zealand.

    “It got a bit physical,” said Drotske. “You know what forwards are like. There wasn’t much in it —it’s the sort of thing that happens every few weeks.”

    The Cheetahs conceded two key scrums when scores were tied near the end of Friday’s loss to the Lions at Johannesburg.

    Drotske, a former Springbok frontrower, warned his players were getting ready to fight back against the Force, six-point losers to the Blues in round one.

    He said the Cheetahs forwards backed themselves to get the better of their Force counterparts.

    “We’ll definitely target their scrum,” he said.

    http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=125458

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    Maybe they should send one home...

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    Champion Contributor sandgroperrugby's Avatar
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    Can you imagine the media if the Force pack were constantly taking swings at one another?

    Look what happened when a couple of our Backs had an argument about who’s hair cut was better!!

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    Player chiselhead's Avatar
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    I think Pek Cowan was unlucky. Is he injured? AJ was shite
    Great to see BC getting a go. This is a major weakness for the Force
    Great to see JOC at 12. He's good enough. Let him play for f---s sake. None of this cotton wool sh1t. The kid carves up
    Cummins will cement his spot. He is a try scoring machine. Haig can go to the Brumbies with Gits
    The backs look fast.
    Pat O'Connor better aim up. He was toilet last week but I'll give him a break. Big guys take a few games to get into their stride. I like Hockings. A head with that much fibrosis spells 'ard.
    Can we get some pill? Horua better take it forward this week. He was toilet last week as well. Matt Hodgson is Mr Reliable. He's the hard working head cracker that goes about his business and gets no raps. I like him. He's 'ard and he takes no sh1t

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  10. #10
    Player chiselhead's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jargan83 View Post
    Big Cheetahs bare claws

    Dave Hughes

    18th February 2009, 7:00 WST

    A fight between two Cheetahs forwards at training on Monday revealed the intensity with which the South African team is preparing for Friday’s Super 14 rugby match against the Western Force at Subiaco Oval.

    An onlooker said blood was spilled during the session at Wesley College but Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske yesterday dismissed the incident as a brief flare-up as his players strive to snap a three-year sequence of losses in Australia and New Zealand.

    “It got a bit physical,” said Drotske. “You know what forwards are like. There wasn’t much in it —it’s the sort of thing that happens every few weeks.”

    The Cheetahs conceded two key scrums when scores were tied near the end of Friday’s loss to the Lions at Johannesburg.

    Drotske, a former Springbok frontrower, warned his players were getting ready to fight back against the Force, six-point losers to the Blues in round one.

    He said the Cheetahs forwards backed themselves to get the better of their Force counterparts.

    “We’ll definitely target their scrum,” he said.

    http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=125458
    Bring it on b1tches. They've dead set got nothing

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  11. #11
    (formerly known as Coach) Your Humble Servant Darren's Avatar
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    'Cheetahs Baring Claws'

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    Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.

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    Veteran Swee_82's Avatar
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    awww... wook at da widdle puddy tats

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    Legend Contributor blueandblack's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Swee_82 View Post
    awww... wook at da widdle puddy tats
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    I like the side. Carn you !

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  14. #14
    Champion Lonzy's Avatar
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    meow

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    "Believe in the best, think your best, study your best, have a goal for your best, never be satisfied with less than your best, try your best, and in the long run things will turn out for the best."

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    Legend Contributor slomo's Avatar
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    haig sare dropped right out of the 22, i guess the committee have made their decision........

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