Hi, Is anyone travelling to Singapore for this game?
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Hi, Is anyone travelling to Singapore for this game?
APD keep faith for clash with Force
May 3, 2019
The Asia Pacific Dragons have made just one change to their starting XV for Sunday’s historic clash that will pit the Singapore based side against Australia’s Western Force for the first time in Asia.
The Dragons turned in an impressive performance to record a 15 point win over the South China Tigers last Sunday and Coach Ryan Martin has maintained the faith in his squad to deliver again against the unbeaten Force.
Martin has made just two changes to his 23 man squad. Scrumhalf Leon Fukofuka has replaced Rowan Gouws in the run on side, while West Australian based utility back, Sheldon Tarawa, is in line to make his Global Rapid Rugby debut after being named on the bench. Tarawa had been playing with the Joondalup Brothers team in the Fortescue Premier Grade competition and only joined the Asia Pacific Dragons squad this week.
The Western Force meanwhile return to Rapid Rugby action after last lining up on April 12 when they defeated the Dragons 42-10 in Perth. The Force arrive in Singapore following two exhibition matches in Japan and will be wary of a Dragons side who have found their feet with each outing and will no doubt present a very different proposition to what they faced three weeks ago.
Inspirational skipper, Ian Prior, returns to the Western Force starting line-up having had limited minutes in Japan. Prior missed the club’s first game and played off the bench in the second match after staying in Perth for the birth of his first child. He’ll again team up with AJ Alatimu in the halves, while Coach Tim Sampson has opted for full-on speed in his outside backs with Brad Lacy, ‘Rocket’ Rod Davies and Jack McGregor filling the wings and fullback respectively.
The last time the sides met the Force had six individual try scorers and will need to share the load again with the forecast of a humid 33 degrees on Sunday. The Dragons have shown an ability to run out games strongly and won’t leave anything on the paddock with this being their last Rapid Rugby match of the Asia Showcase Series.
Where: Queenstown Stadium
Date: Sunday, 5 May 2019
Kick-off: 15:10 local
Asia Pacific Dragons
Starting XV: 1.Haamea AHIO, 2.Sekonaia POLE, 3.Ropate RINAKAMA, 4.Louis Johannes CONRADIE, 5.Joketani KOROI, 6.Michael MCKEE, 7.Fotu LOKOTUI, 8.Nili LATU, 22.Leon FUKOFUKA, 21.Latiume FOSITA, 10.Mitchell SCOTT, 12.Stacey ILI(c), 13.Asaeli TIKOIROTUMA, 14.Junior LALOIFI, 15.Kali HALA
Reserves: 16.Sefo SAKALIA, 17.Taniela KOROI, 18.Latu TALAKAI, 19.Naulia DAWAI, 20.Irwin FINAU, 9.Kurt HAMMER, 11.Sireli BOBO, 23.Sheldon TARAWA
Western Force
Starting XV: 1.Chris HEIBERG, 2.Heath TESSMANN, 3.Kieran LONGBOTTOM, 4.Fergus LEE WARNER, 5.Johan BARDOUL, 6.Henry STOWERS, 7.Tevin FERRIS, 8.Brynard STANDER, 9.Ian PRIOR(c), 22.Aj ALATIMU, 11.Brad LACEY, 13.Henry TAEFU, 12.Marcel BRACHE, 14.Rodney DAVIES, 15.Jack MCGREGOR
Reserves: 27.Andrew READY, 17.Markus VANZATI, 18.Tom SHEMINANT, 19.Leon POWER, 20.Chris ALCOCK, 21.Issak FINES, 23.Clay UYEN, 24.Masivesi DAKUWAQA
Match Officials
Referee: Matthew RODDEN AR1: Stephen COPEMAN AR2: Leow WEI LIANG
https://www.rapidrugby.com/apd-keep-...sh-with-force/
Well done to Sheldon Tarawa, great to see this comp providing opportunities for our local players.:approve:
Western Force look to adapt to narrow ground against Asia Pacific Dragons
Nick Taylor The West Australian
Saturday, 4 May 2019 2:00AM
Western Force will need to tweak their play book when they resume their Global Rapid Rugby showcase campaign against Asia Pacific Dragons at Queenstown Stadium in Singapore tomorrow.
The stadium pitch is narrower than anything the Force has played on previously and is more suited to the forward based-style of the home side.
“We like to play with a bit of width but we will have to tighten things up and change our point of attack as we get into multi-phase and general attack,” Force coach Tim Sampson said.
More here
https://thewest.com.au/sport/western...ng-b881187910z
If any Force or general rugby fans are in Singapore this weekend, the travelling fans are meeting up pre game on Sunday at the Dallas bar in Boat Quay from noon onwards. The nearest MRT station is Raffles Place. We’ll then get the MRT direct to the ground (on the East West line). The stadium is just a short walk from Queenstown MRT station.
Yay Sheldon!!
TWF on tour in Singapore Attachment 5398
No score at the 24 minute mark (counting down). Scrappy play and too much kicking
Penalty for Force collapsing scrum 3-0 to APT
Yellow card for APT
No benefit from yellow card. Possession changing, no one dominant
Line out on the 5. Try to the Force. Converted by Prior. 3-7 Force