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Emirates Western Force Coach John Mitchell has named his team to play last season’s Guinness Premiership finalists Leicester Tigers in the final match on the development tour of England.
Mitchell has re-shuffled his lineup dramatically after last week’s 22-3 defeat to Northampton, highlighted by several positional changes.
The Welford Road clash is expected to provide the toughest test of the tour for the WA side, who have returned two wins and two losses from their four matches in the UK.
A young front row will step out for the visitors including Pek Cowan (22), Luke Holmes (24) and Kieran Longbottom (22), while impressive Queensland club rugby recruit Filipe Manu has won a recall at Number 8.
Mitchell was disappointed with his team’s set-piece effort against the Saints last Saturday and has shifted experienced back rower Tamaiti Horua to lock to provide greater stability in the lineout.
There has also been significant movement in the backline with James O’Connor switching to fullback for Scott Daruda to return to flyhalf and dynamic running pair Junior Pelesasa and Josh Tatupu reinstated in the midfield.
Mitchell said his team would need to improve on its last outing in order to finish the tour with a positive win-loss ratio.
“Our set piece really let us down in the last match but it’s been a great experience for our front row in particular to come over here to England and experience the different conditions and the different types of pressure,” said Mitchell.
“At the end of the day we won’t be judging ourselves on results on this tour but by what we learned and how we adapted to different situations in games,” he said.
Mitchell said Saturday night’s (WST) opponents will be at full strength ahead of the start of the premiership proper next weekend.
“Leicester are one week out from competition so they will be using this match as an opportunity to look at combinations for the start of the season,” said Mitchell.
“You look at their side and they are loaded with England Internationals so it will be a good experience for our side coming up against a committed and full-strength opposition.”
The match kicks off at 10pm WST on Saturday night.
Emirates Western Force v Leicester Tigers
Saturday 30 August, 2008
Welford Road, Leicester, England.
Kick off: 3pm (10pm WST)
Emirates Western Force
1. Pek Cowan
2. Luke Holmes
3. Kieran Longbottom
4. Tamaiti Horua
5. Pat O’Connor
6. Matt Hodgson
7. David Pocock (c)
8. Filipe Manu
9. Chris O’Young
10. Scott Daruda
11. Haig Sare
12. Junior Pelesasa
13. Josh Tatupu
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
15. James O’Connor
Reserves
16. Tai McIsaac
17. AJ Whalley
18. Gareth Hardy
19. Brent Murphy
20. Justin Turner
21. Dion Berryman
22. Andrew Barrett