Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 48

Thread: Cowan to captain Western Force against Rebels

  1. #1
    Senior Player theforceguy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    880
    vCash
    5000000

    Cowan to captain Western Force against Rebels

    Front row stalwart Pek Cowan will captain the new-look Emirates Western Force in their 2013 Super Rugby season opener against the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday night.

    Cowan stands in for regular skipper Matt Hodgson, who has been ruled out of the match with a minor hamstring injury.

    The 26-year-old becomes the seventh player to lead the Western Australian province in Super Rugby behind Nathan Sharpe, David Pocock, Brett Sheehan, Brendan Cannon, Scott Staniforth and Matt Giteau.

    Cowan leads a squad that features seven players in line to make their debut for the Emirates Western Force.

    Flanker Chris Alcock will make his debut for the Perth-based side after joining the squad from the Waratahs. He joins a familiar Force forward pack that also includes the return of Sam Wykes (knee) and Ben McCalman (shoulder/broken arm) from lengthy injury layoffs that disrupted their 2012 Super Rugby seasons.

    The Emirates Western Force will run out a new-look backline, featuring a revamped halves pairing of Alby Mathewson and former Waikato flyhalf Sam Christie. The Kiwi combination will link with a fresh centre pairing of Kyle Godwin and Winston Stanley, while Alfie Mafi, Patrick Dellit and Will Tupou make up the back three.

    “Friday is an exciting opportunity for our new side,” Emirates Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley said.

    “As the pre-season has progressed, competition for positions has become more intense, which is a tribute to the players’ efforts to continually lift the standards within the team.

    “A key focus for us this year is to improve on the side’s performances from last season and the higher we push our standards, the closer we come to achieving our number one goal of ‘earning respect’.”

    The match provides reserve hooker Heath Tessmann’s first opportunity to line up against his former province while replacement backs Mick Snowden, Sias Ebersohn and Junior Rasolea are also in line to make their provincial debut for the Emirates Western Force.

    The side will be without Wallaby winger Nick Cummins, who will make his return via the Force ‘A’ curtain-raiser against Rebel Rising. Cummins sustained a knock to his knee during pre-season training and did not participate in either of the side’s pre-season trial matches. Wallaby flanker/lock Hugh McMeniman has also been rested after suffering a minor pectoral strain in the side’s 46-0 final trial win over Tonga Select XV last weekend.

    2013 Super Rugby – Week One
    Emirates Western Force v Melbourne Rebels
    AAMI Park, Melbourne
    Friday, 15 February 2013
    Kick-off: 7.40pm (local)/4.40pm (AWST)

    1. Pek Cowan (c)
    2. Nathan Charles
    3. Tetera Faulkner
    4. Sam Wykes
    5. Toby Lynn
    6. Angus Cottrell
    7. Chris Alcock*
    8. Ben McCalman
    9. Alby Mathewson*
    10. Sam Christie**
    11. Alfie Mafi
    12. Kyle Godwin
    13. Winston Stanley
    14. Patrick Dellit
    15. Will Tupou

    Reserves
    16. Heath Tessmann*
    17. Kieran Longbottom
    18. Phoenix Battye
    19. Richard Brown
    20. Mick Snowden**
    21. Sias Ebersohn*
    22. Junior Rasolea**
    * Emirates Western Force debut
    ** Emirates Western Force & Super Rugby debut

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  2. #2
    Champion
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Goldy - Sanctuary Cove
    Posts
    1,198
    vCash
    5000000
    Im more surprised at no:

    MMM -after he talked up the media about playing and showing his tru colours for his return back to Super rugby.

    Badger - missing him, do I need to elborate.

    SNK. - Just for experience in Australian Derbies and match fit from playing in Asia.

    Christie before Sias - whats that all about, after being told that we cant use the EPS players ?!?!

    CTM and Hayward - Would of liked to see these boys in the team, roughing up the likes of Sidey, Inman, Judas and Beagle. Hard runners and looked good from what I saw in Mandurah. must be saving them for our nightmare start to the draw for the season proper.

    All I'm saying is I have faith with the team, new year, leave the Shite RG years behind us. If we are playing boring rugby under foley i dont care. I want the W. after the first W that will happen at 6.40 this friday.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  3. #3
    Player Marty_Mcfly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    London UK
    Posts
    304
    vCash
    5000000
    Quite surprised by this lineup.

    Specifically -
    1. no Maafu?
    2. No MMM?
    3. No Badger?
    4. No CTM?

    Wasn't the new S&C coaching staff meant to reduce chance of injuries? now we have at least 3 or 4 of the starting side out already?

    edit:
    Just to clarify; i am surprised, but not disappointed by the complete ommission of Maafu. I though KBomb might have got a start though.
    Also: they certainly have been keeping a few of these injuries to key players under their hats.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by Marty_Mcfly; 14-02-13 at 16:27.

  4. #4
    Legend Contributor brokendown gunfighter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    wembley
    Posts
    8,036
    vCash
    5364000
    1--not good enough
    2....injured
    3....ditto(although half fit)
    4.....suprised,myself

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  5. #5
    Veteran sittingbison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    North Freo
    Posts
    2,800
    vCash
    5000000
    Cottrell starting in front of Brown, no McCaffrey. And Faulkner starting in front of Longbottom

    Sias on the bench is interesting, I thought he is pretty much a 10 and thats it.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by sittingbison; 14-02-13 at 16:34.
    The long sobs of autumn's violins wound my heart with a monotonous languor

  6. #6
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    travelling_gerry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia, Australia
    Posts
    18,483
    vCash
    5062000
    CTM was a bit weak in defence in Darwin I thought. Both tries from the Brumbies were tackles he missed.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  7. #7
    Legend Court Reporter
    Contributor
    James's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Bridgetown, WA
    Posts
    6,103
    vCash
    20000
    Quote Originally Posted by sittingbison View Post
    Cottrell starting in front of Brown, no McCaffrey. And Faulkner starting in front of Longbottom

    Sias on the bench is interesting, I thought he is pretty much a 10 and thats it.
    Very odd. I thought that Faulkner was a specialist loosehead. I have a horrible feeling this could end badly.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.

  8. #8
    Legend Contributor Alison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,308
    vCash
    5000000
    And the HB is playing in the Force A curtain-raiser with Ma'afu....hmmmmm ???

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby

  9. #9
    Senior Player DinkyDi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Over Seas
    Posts
    622
    vCash
    5000000
    Tetra F is versatile and in training has been breaking the pack apart. The lad is very good and as far as I know has out scrummed K-Bomb for a start. I would not be worried re this part. Not sure re Cotterell V Brownie though?? My concern is with Kyle G at 12.... had a few cracking games at 10 last year but will be much more of a target at 12. I do hope that he is up for this.

    All the best to the lads and Kick some Rebel butt.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    __________________________________________________

    'Rugby and sex are the only things you can enjoy without being good at them.' -anonymous

  10. #10
    Senior Player DinkyDi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Over Seas
    Posts
    622
    vCash
    5000000
    Quote Originally Posted by Alison View Post
    And the HB is playing in the Force A curtain-raiser with Ma'afu....hmmmmm ???
    HB is still not fully recovered so is having a final hit out with the A's whilst Ma'afu looks like he is not cutting the mustard V the young bucks in the pack. He may have lost 15kg and can scrum but he still wanders around the park like a lost kid looking for a burger... ballsy call by the coach but I am not surprised.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    __________________________________________________

    'Rugby and sex are the only things you can enjoy without being good at them.' -anonymous

  11. #11
    Player chiraag's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Northbridge
    Posts
    476
    vCash
    5452000
    That's a much weaker looking side than I thought we'd be fielding. Not very excited to see Stanley at 13. Thought he'd had more than enough opportunities last year and showed nothing. Would've preferred Dellit at 13 and Junior on the wing, or even Hayward or CTM to be given a run.

    Definitely surprising to see Faulkner start before Longbottom. I was of the opinion that he might be pushing for a wallaby jumper by the end of the season.

    Maybe we're aiming for a big second half with Sias, Junior and Longbottom coming off the bench??

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  12. #12
    Senior Player Hoolly Doolly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Karratha WA
    Posts
    998
    vCash
    5000000
    Very odd selections but cant comment not having seen any training and pre-season games.
    Carrrrn Forrrrrce!!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  13. #13
    Champion Rex Messup's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Fremantle
    Posts
    2,173
    vCash
    5000000
    A few surprises in this team

    I guess we can assume Foley is giving effort a reward. I'm supportive of this

    Tetera Faulkner? I am surprised at this selection given the talent left out. One can only assume this lad has been taking no prisoners. Kick some @ss son.

    Cottrell was one of the finds of last season. That lad has a big future. I'm happy to give hime a crack. The lad has the goods and has his debut season behind him. Go for gold son. Lions tour. Make the wallaby 6 your goal. kick @ss. Just remember to hurt people and carry the ball over the ad line.

    Sam Wykes is gayer than two penises touching. Don't forget your hair band princess

    Who the hell is Sam Christie. I hope he is as good as the faith shown. This smacks of a bum selection. Prove me wrong lad.

    Pat Dellit is too slow for the wing

    Our centres lack try scoring ability. I had expected some different selections. Backs are gay so who cares right? They are all sh1te anyway

    MMM injured. McMinimum. No surprise. There is a medical text book dedicated in his honour

    I hate Melbourne more than I hate kiwis

    Force by whatever it takes. Bring back the biff

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Controversy corner

  14. #14
    Player Nipper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    USA, formerly Perth
    Posts
    237
    vCash
    5000000
    Quote Originally Posted by chiraag View Post
    That's a much weaker looking side than I thought we'd be fielding. Not very excited to see Stanley at 13. Thought he'd had more than enough opportunities last year and showed nothing. Would've preferred Dellit at 13 and Junior on the wing, or even Hayward or CTM to be given a run.
    I agree totally. I'm a bit mystified with the backline selections. I guess I'll just have to give the coach the benefit of the doubt, at this point.

    Re. SNK, I understood that he wasn't going to be back from Japan until March - is that true? I see some posts wondering why he wasn't in the 22... Not that I'd want to see him in the 22 before Hayward, HB, or CTM.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  15. #15
    Senior Player
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Nedlands
    Posts
    884
    vCash
    5000000
    Quote Originally Posted by Rex Messup View Post
    A few surprises in this team

    I guess we can assume Foley is giving effort a reward. I'm supportive of this
    Yup that's the only explanation. Fair enough too. They've got their chance now.

    Just watching the new rugby show on Fox previewing the season and the Aussie teams would be enough motivation for the whole team. Sharpie looked like he could not believe the childish banter.

    Essentially no-one bar Sharpie and Canno give us a chance in hell.

    Hope we belt them all, especially Kearnsey's Tahds.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Western Force Take Down Crusaders
    By Darren in forum Front Page News
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 26-04-10, 20:33
  2. FORCE RUN IN SIX TRIES TO BEAT HIGHLANDERS
    By RugbyWA in forum Front Page News
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 17-04-10, 11:00
  3. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 26-01-09, 08:10
  4. Force Complete NZ Tour Undefeated!
    By Darren in forum Front Page News
    Replies: 40
    Last Post: 28-03-08, 15:53
  5. Force Score bonus Point Win Over Cheetahs
    By Darren in forum Front Page News
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 28-04-07, 20:31

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •