Western Force v Stormers Round 10

[The InnFORCEr]

Alcock celebrates 50th Super Rugby Match!


Force flanker, Chris Alcock, returns to the starting line- up for the Western Force’s clash against the Stormers at the ‘Force Field’ this Saturday night.

The 26-year-old will run out for his 50th Asteron Life Super Rugby match, having played 25 for the NSW Waratahs, and 24 for the Force since joining the club ahead of the 2013 season.

Alcock replaces Kane Koteka, who is sidelined after suffering a concussion in last weekend’s match against the Cheetahs, while the remainder of the starting XV is the same.

On the bench tall forward, local Cottesloe player and former Australian Under 20 representative, Ross Haylett-Petty is set to make his Asteron Life Super Rugby debut.

Member Exclusive: Force v Stormers
Your exclusive look at the Western Force squad set to take on the Stormers at the Force Field this Saturday, is below. We hope to see you there!

Western Force v Stormers
The 'Force Field' (nib Stadium), Perth
Saturday, 18 April 2015
Kick-off: 7.45pm

1. Pekahou Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3. Tetera Faulkner
4. Sam Wykes (c)
5. Adam Coleman
6. Steve Mafi
7. Chris Alcock
8. Ben McCalman
9. Alby Mathewson
10. Sias Ebersohn
11. Nick Cummins
12. Luke Burton
13. Kyle Godwin
14. Luke Morahan
15. Dane Haylett-Petty

Reserves
16. Heath Tessmann
17. Chris Heiberg
18. Oliver Hoskins
19. Ross Haylett-Petty
20. Angus Cottrell
21. Ian Prior
22. Zack Holmes
23. Marcel Brache

[The InnFORCEr]

Great news for Ross, a well awaited and deserved debut

[Tazzmania]

Stoked for Ross, another WA schooled youngster makes the match day squad. Hope he gets a run.

Does anyone have any news on Stander and Steenkamp, or they injured?

Concerned to see Angus not getting a start are they easing him back in and does he still have a niggle or two?

[andrewg]

Some team comparisons:

Starting XV:
FORCE: 830 SXV caps; 8 (6W/1AB/1T) Test Players - 84 caps
STORMERS: 566 SXV caps; 7 Test Players - 141caps.

*Every Test experienced player except Hodgo.

Benches:
FORCE: 203 SXV caps; 0 Test Players.
STORMERS: 122 SXV caps; 0 Test Players.


Packs:
FORCE: 898kg
STORMERS: 898kg

Pack weights even.
Force +14kg after Front Row replacements.

Force more SXV experience.
Even players with test experience.
Stormers more test caps.

[valzc]

Ross on the bench this week - yay, I must be psychotic!

[maelkann]

Ross on the bench this week - yay, I must be psychotic!

Not sure how RHP on the bench is related to your psychosis...

[G_Beard]

Stander was properly injured in about the 4th minute of the Hurricanes match,
Not sure to extent, but ankle in a terrible state. Had the ankle strapped, then the boot strapped to his foot so he couldn't move it.
Then played the rest of the game.

[choice]

lets hope Alby has his forward pods where they are meant to be.

[The InnFORCEr]

Brothers step out for Force

Nick Taylor
April 17, 2015, 7:15 am


Western Force will create club history against the Stormers at nib Stadium tomorrow night when two brothers line up for a Super Rugby clash for the first time.

Full-back Dane Haylett-Petty will be joined by younger brother Ross, who makes his debut from the reserves bench.

Dane, 25, recently signed a new two-season deal with the club, while 21-year-old Ross joined the extended playing squad last year.

Both have represented Australia at the Junior World Cup, but have played only four games together — two for Cottesloe and two for Perth Spirit in last year's National Rugby Championship.

Ross has been named on the bench with open-side flanker Chris Alcock returning to the starting side. He replaces Kane Koteka, who was concussed in the loss to the Cheetahs last Saturday night.

Alcock will make his 50th Super Rugby appearance, having played 25 for the Waratahs before joining the Force as coach Michael Foley's first signing ahead of the 2013 season.

The Force will need a huge effort to crack a Stormers defence that was exceptional in the 32-18 win over the Waratahs last weekend.

Meanwhile, Bernard Foley remains hopeful of wearing the green and gold at next year’s Olympic Games despite already securing an unprecedented deal to play rugby year-round in Australia and Japan.

Far from harbouring any burnout fears after being granted the ARU’s first-ever “flexible contract” that will allow the Wallabies playmaker two seasons in Japan while also staying with the Waratahs, Foley is also eyeing a spot in the Australian sevens team for Rio de Janeiro.

“I’ve always been very passionate about the sevens and to play in the Olympics would be special and something I’d love to do,” he said.

Foley, a former Australian sevens captain who won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, not only expressed his desire to make the Olympics but also revealed negotiations with the ARU and the Waratahs — and presumably sevens coach Geraint John — had taken place.

“Logistically, it’s going to be tough, but ... maybe there will be an opportunity there to work in with the sevens and the Waratahs,” he said.

“Being part of the Olympics would be amazing and there has been that communication as well.”

Foley’s double deal locks the goal-kicking No.10 in with the Waratahs until the end of 2018 and frees up the 25-year-old to play for a Japanese club — tipped to be the Ricoh Black Rams — after the World Cup and again after next year’s Rugby Championship.

TODAY : Crusaders v Chiefs

TOMORROW : Hurricanes v Waratahs, Highlanders v Blues, Brumbies v Rebels, Western Force v Stormers, Sharks v Bulls, Cheetahs v Reds

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...out-for-force/

[Jules]

Just give it your all force. Will be there shouting for you :-)

[Moono74]

Great opportunity to see Schalk Burger play in Perth one more time. He has been a warrior over the journey love him or hate him.

[PerthGirl]

Congrats Chris

[The InnFORCEr]

Force aim to outsmart Stormers in Perth

By Justin Chadwick
April 17, 2015, 1:07 pm


Western Force coach Michael Foley says his team need to play smarter, not harder, if they are to end their seven-match losing run in Saturday night's clash with the Stormers.

Foley was happy with his side's physicality last week, but a host of key decision-making errors resulted in a 24-15 Super Rugby loss to the Cheetahs.

Alby Mathewson leads the Force off the field. Source: Getty

The Force can't afford to put in a similar display against the Stormers, who were tactically astute in their 32-18 win over the Waratahs last week.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has retained Demetri Catrakilis at flyhalf in a bid to unsettle the Force with a penetrating kicking game.

Foley said it was up to his team to play their way out of defence in a smart manner.

"Allister Coetzee has come out overnight in the South African media and suggested they've picked Catrakilis at 10 to kick us into our 22," Foley said.

"So they're going to kick the ball down our end of the field and are going to try to make us play there.

"They've picked a 10 that's going to be very physical in defence.

"For us, it's about being able to match that physicality, but then also make some smart decisions."

The Force haven't tasted victory since their opening-round success against the Waratahs.

A loss to the sixth-placed Stormers in Perth could relegate the Force to the foot of the table.

Spirits remain high among the Force despite the losing run, and Foley hopes a dose of brotherly love will help the team's cause at nib Stadium on Saturday night.

Dane Haylett-Petty has retained his spot at fullback after putting in a star display against the Cheetahs.

And his 21-year-old brother Ross is in line to make his Super Rugby debut after being named on the bench.

"Dane's a very proud big brother, and he's looking forward to Ross's debut as much as Ross is," Foley said.

"The only person that puffed their chest out more than Ross was Dane when we announced the team."

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...mers-in-perth/

[valzc]

Western Force coach Michael Foley says his team need to play smarter, not harder, if they are to end their seven-match losing run in Saturday night's clash with the Stormer
- Like Duuhh! But not much good saying if no one on the team implements anything!

[SNOB]

We need a quicker service from our scrums and mauls. Let's hope Albys back to his best!