Force Lineup Unchanged for Highlanders

[Darren]

The Emirates Western Force has named an unchanged line-up to face the Highlanders at nib Stadium on Saturday night.

The Force will run out the identical side that faced the Sharks at nib Stadium last week, making it the third consecutive match that the Force has retained the same 22 players within their match day squad.

Saturday’s match will mark the 50th Super Rugby appearance for back-rower Ben McCalman, making him the 10th player to achieve the milestone in the history of the club. The 25-year-old, who made his debut for the Force in Week One of the 2010 Super Rugby season, follows in the footsteps of lock Sam Wykes, who has been the other player to reach their half-century this season.

Head Coach Michael Foley says the Emirates Western Force has continued to build a solid foundation for the long-term development of the side.

“Last weekend was one of our better first halves of the season,” he said. “While I’m enormously proud of the character this team has shown and developed over recent months, our challenge is to achieve a more ruthless approach to finishing opportunities.

“We need to sustain the physicality and urgency we displayed in the opening 20 minutes last weekend, against a dangerous Highlanders side.

“Saturday represents an important occasion for Ben as he brings up his 50th match for the club. He’s been a consistent performer for the Force over the past four seasons, and we’d like to ensure that we put in a performance befitting such a milestone.”

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sUiwusA_8M"]TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Round 15 v Highlanders - YouTube[/ame]

2013 Super Rugby – Week 15
Emirates Western Force v Highlanders
nib Stadium, Perth
Saturday, 25 May 2013
Kick-off: 5.40pm

1. Pek Cowan
2. Heath Tessmann
3. Kieran Longbottom
4. Toby Lynn
5. Sam Wykes
6. Matt Hodgson (c)
7. Chris Alcock
8. Ben McCalman
9. Alby Mathewson
10. Sias Ebersohn
11. Nick Cummins
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Ben Jacobs
14. Patrick Dellit
15. Jayden Hayward

Reserves
16. James Hilterbrand
17. Tetera Faulkner
18. Rory Walton
19. Richard Brown
20. Brett Sheehan
21. Junior Rasolea
22. Sam Norton-Knight

[valzc]

Yes but are we only going to get more bloody aimless kicking from Sias & Co? More of the hard striking attacks are what we need not meandering around 2m out from the try line - still think the guys have got white line fever.