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CUMMINS, SHEEHAN RETURN FOR EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE
Wallabies Nick Cummins and Brett Sheehan are set to make their return from injury when the Emirates Western Force faces the Queensland Reds at nib Stadium on Saturday night.
Cummins, who has been named to start on the left wing, makes his first appearance since the side’s Week Three match against the Bulls after a knee injury sidelined him for the past seven matches.
Sheehan is in line to play his first match since starting in the Wallabies’ 22-19 win over Italy in November. The 33-year-old, who suffered an ankle injury in the match, is set to play his 89th Super Rugby match against the Reds.
Former Waratahs midfielder Ben Jacobs will make his first appearance for the Emirates Western Force at outside centre. Jacobs, who has been part of the side’s Wider Training Group, joins the squad on a short-term contract as cover for the injured Winston Stanley and Will Tupou, who both suffered shoulder injuries over the weekend. Jacobs played 35 caps for the Waratahs between 2004 and 2008, and has since represented English Premiership clubs Saracens (2008-2009) and Wasps (2009-2011), and Japanese club, Kyuden Voltex (2011-2013).
The other changes to the Emirates Western Force backline see Sias Ebersohn return to flyhalf, while Sam Norton-Knight moves to fullback.
The Emirates Western Force forward pack has also been reshaped with front-rower Kieran Longbottom replacing Salesi Ma’afu at tighthead prop, while Chris Alcock earns his fourth starting cap of the season at openside flanker.
Alcock’s inclusion sees Ben McCalman move to the back of the scrum and captain Matt Hodgson shift to blindside flanker in his 92nd Super Rugby appearance for the Emirates Western Force – equalling the record number of matches played for the Force set by inaugural captain Nathan Sharpe.
Joining Sheehan on the reserves list is Tetera Faulkner – who along with lock Sam Wykes re-signed with the club for a further two years this week, back-rower Richard Brown and backs Junior Rasolea and Jayden Hayward.
Emirates Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says it’s important that the Force responds following last weekend’s loss to the Brumbies.
“As a squad, we were disappointed with last week’s performance,” he said. “We acknowledge the quality of the Brumbies’ play as one of the leading teams in the competition, but felt there were elements of our play we could have controlled much better.
“Ultimately, we pride ourselves on our standards and while we know we’re in the process of developing our game, we felt last week was not a true reflection of us individually or as a team.
“This week Nick and Brett return to the side after lay-offs from injury, while Ben will make his return to Super Rugby after a number of years playing overseas. They all bring a great deal of experience and will be looking to contribute towards what needs to be a complete team performance on Saturday.”
2013 Super Rugby – Week 12
Emirates Western Force v Reds
nib Stadium, Perth
Saturday, 4 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. Sam Norton-Knight
Reserves
16. James Hilterbrand
17. Tetera Faulkner
18. Rory Walton
19. Richard Brown
20. Brett Sheehan
21. Junior Rasolea
22. Jayden Hayward
Last edited by Happy; 03-05-13 at 19:26.
Sure took a lot of gobldegook to say some of the backs were dropped for playing like busteds. Here's to a better showing.
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Yep. Alcock should be one of the first picked every week. Not sure if Brown Dog needs a rest but it's easier than benching the skipper, I suppose.
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WTF JACOBS!!!!! Why not play CTM there or Junior Foley i have really tried hard to like you but it seems all the shit about you always going for the old jouneryman is starting to ring true here. why bring another player on the books when you ahve plenty of people who can fill the void. give the young boys a shot.
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
CTM may be injured,not named in Wests side this week
Mafi right on the outer by the look of it
Unfortunate Mafi is having disciplinary issues because that would be a rather good looking backline with Dellit at 13 and Mafi at 14, with Sheehan, Rasolea and Hayward off the bench.
A pity Brown dog is on the bench, because he has been getting back to his best form the last few weeks. I guess he'll provide some good impact off the bench though.
1. Pek Cowan v Greg Holmes
2. Heath Tessmann v Saia Faingaa
3. Kieran Longbottom v Albert Anae
4. Toby Lynn v Rob Simmons
5. Sam Wykes v James Horwill
6. Matt Hodgson (c) v Ed Quirk
7. Chris Alcock v Liam Gill
8. Ben McCalman v Jake Shatz
9. Alby Mathewson v Will Genia
10. Sias Ebersohn v Quade Cooper
11. Nick Cummins v Digby Ioane
12. Kyle Godwin v Ben Tapuai
13. Ben Jacobs v Anthony Faingaa
14. Patrick Dellit v Dom Shipperly
15. Sam Norton-Knight v Jono Lance
Reserves
16. James Hilterbrand v James Hanson
17. Tetera Faulkner v James Slipper
18. Rory Walton v Ed O'Donoghue
19. Richard Brown v Jarrad Butler
20. Brett Sheehan v Beau Robinson
21. Junior Rasolea v Ben Lucas
22. Jayden Hayward v Chris Feauai-Sautia
if you dont beat us by 25 with that side,they should be shot!
Time to go to the tab lol
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Good to see Cummins getting a run
Should keep the conspiracy theorists at bay
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Brumbies benchmark side last week, reds benchmark side this week?...
good looking Force line up though but i thought Rory may have started
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