0
The Western Force will be aiming to climb back into the Asteron Life Super Rugby top six when they take on the Queensland Reds in the final regular season match at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) on Saturday night (5 July).
The Western Australians will welcome back Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins onto the left wing after he missed last weekend’s match with a neck complaint suffered during the Wallabies’ three-Test series against France. Cummins will man the wings with Dane Haylett-Petty, while Jayden Hayward completes back three with the fullback scoring the match-winning try in the Force’s 32-29 win over the Reds in Brisbane in Week Eight.
The Force will feature a new halves pairing of Ian Prior and Zack Holmes, while Alby Mathewson (hip) and Sias Ebersohn (bicep) have been ruled out through injury. Prior has already started in six of his 12 appearances for the Force this season, while Holmes earns his third opportunity in the run-on side.
In the Force forward pack, Wilhelm Steenkamp replaces Adam Coleman at lock, while prop Pek Cowan will become the third most-capped player in the club’s history on Saturday when he runs out for his 80th Asteron Life Super Rugby match for the Western Force. The 28-year-old surpasses Richard Brown (79 caps) and sits behind Matt Hodgson (111) and Nathan Sharpe (92) on the all-time list of appearances for the club.
Head Coach Michael Foley says his side will be looking for a fitting final home performance of the regular season in front of the club’s ‘Sea of Blue’.
“We’ve loved playing at home this season and our supporters are an important part of what makes it so special” he said. “This weekend we’re looking for a performance that not only allows us to reach the goals we’ve set ourselves as a team, but provides a fitting performance for our fans who keep fronting for us.
“We know that the key to achieving that is our attitude.
“Irrespective of the situation in the game – attack, defence, the battle at the breakdown, our desire to win every moment and our willingness to work for each other – will always make the biggest difference.”
On Saturday night, Western Force players will feature the names of 15 different local businesses on the back of their jerseys after partner, Bankwest, gave up its position on the back of the Force jersey to 15 local clients. This follows the success of the initiative in 2013 – a first for Australian Rugby Union – with each client also presented their jersey by to the Western Force players this week.
Tickets for Saturday night’s match are still available through www.ticketmaster.com.au.
2014 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 18
Western Force v Queensland Reds
The ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium), Perth
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Kick-off: 5.40pm (AWST)
1. Pek Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3. Kieran Longbottom
4. Sam Wykes
5. Wilhelm Steenkamp
6. Hugh McMeniman
7. Matt Hodgson (c)
8. Ben McCalman
9. Ian Prior
10. Zack Holmes
11. Nick Cummins
12. Chris Tuatara-Morrison
13. Marcel Brache
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
15. Jayden Hayward
Reserves
16. Heath Tessmann
17. Tetera Faulkner
18. Oliver Hoskins
19. Adam Coleman
20. Brynard Stander
21. Justin Turner
22. Dillyn Leyds
23. Solomoni Rasolea