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Western Force will enter Saturday’s must-win Super 14 clash with NSW Warathas with a backline boasting stronger credentials than the one which lost to the Hurricanes last week despite injuries sidelining Nick Cummins and Junior Pelesasa.
Wallabies fullback Cameron Shepherd will add to his four appearances for the Force this season when he replaces Cummins (fractured leg) on the left wing, while teen prodigy James O’Connor is in for Pelesasa (triceps) at inside centre.
Shepherd’s return following repeated setbacks after extensive ankle surgery in June is particularly timely, with Cummins likely to be out of action for up to a month with a hairline fracture in his lower left leg.
Cummins scored two tries in the heart-breaking one-point to the Canes last week and delivered a man-of-the-match performance against the Reds in week eight.
The Waratahs fixture is yet another do-or-die clash for the Force, who are fast running out of lives as they hang on to a slim chance of qualifying for a maiden Super 14 finals appearance.
And the WA side know they have a tough assignment ahead of them against the only Australian side that they are yet to beat.
“The Waratahs have a particularly proud home record and they will certainly be keen to put last week’s performance behind them very quickly. We know were in for a contest that’s for sure,” coach John Mitchell said.
“They have been the best of the Australian provinces for the past couple of seasons and one of their hallmarks is their consistency. It’s something we aspire to.”
Mitchell has also opted for a switch in his second row with Australian Under 20s lock Sam Wykes moving in to replace Tom Hockings.
Wykes has earned 28 minutes of game time from the reserves bench in his two appearances this season, having returned to action in Week 8 following a long rehabilitation from off-season shoulder surgery.
Hockings moves to the reserves bench where he joins rookie 19-year-old RugbyWA Academy hooker Ben Whittaker.
Whittaker, a product of Barker College in Sydney - the school which produced teammate Cameron Shepherd, is in line to make his Super 14 debut after being named in the number 16 jersey.
Whittaker replaces Luke Holmes, who was omitted from the 22 which fell to the Hurricanes.
For the seventh consecutive week the WA side will take to the field with same starting front row combination of Pek Cowan, Tai McIsaac and Ben Castle.
Tighthead prop Castle will celebrate his 50th Super 14 match against the Waratahs on Saturday night. The 29-year-old played 42 matches for the Chiefs before joining the Emirates Western Force during the 2009 pre-season under the newly-introduced foreign player policy.
Force: Drew Mitchell, Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross, James O’Connor, Cameron Shepherd, Matt Giteau, Josh Valentine, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Matt Hodgson, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Sam Wykes, Ben Castle, Tai McIsaac, Pek Cowan. Res: Ben Whittaker, AJ Whalley, Tom Hockings, Tamaiti Horua, Chris O’Young, Junior Pelesasa, Haig Sare.
PERTH
SHAYNE HOPE
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Originally Posted by travelling_gerry
