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Force share tour duties in South Africa
The West Australian May 6, 2010, 7:17 am
Coach John Mitchell made seven changes to the Western Force starting team for the Super 14 match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday night.
Out of contention for the finals, Mitchell rung the changes despite his side's last-start 33-12 victory over the Lions in Johannesburg, their fourth win in their past five matches.
"We planned before we came away that everyone who was on the tour would be contributing," Mitchell said.
"We wanted to give everyone a run and apart from the injury to Scott Staniforth (neck) everything is going to plan."
The team includes a new front row with experienced campaigner Nick Henderson back at loosehead prop, Tim Fairbrother returning from ankle injury at tighthead and Nathan Charles earning his second start at hooker.
Tom Hockings comes in to partner skipper Nathan Sharpe at lock while the outstanding back row of Matt Hodgson, David Pocock and Richard Brown is retained.
Selected this week in the Australian under 20s for the Junior World Cup, Justin Turner takes over from soon-to-retire Chris O'Young at half-back for his first start of the season.
Returning regulars Cameron Shepherd (wing) and James O'Connor (full-back) have also been included.
Former Wallabies prop Matt Dunning has been named as a reserve and, should he see game time, will bring up his 100th Super Rugby match.
Victories against the Crusaders and Lions in the past fortnight have set up an opportunity to secure three consecutive wins, a feat achieved only once in the club's short history.
Western Force: James O'Connor, Nick Cummins, Mitch Inman, Ryan Cross, Cameron Shepherd, David Hill, Justin Turner, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Matt Hodgson, Nathan Sharpe, Tom Hockings, Tim Fairbrother, Nathan Charles, Nick Henderson. Res: Ben Whittaker, Matt Dunning, Sam Wykes, Ben McCalman, Chris O'Young, Sam Harris, Mark Bartholomeusz.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-south-africa/
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