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Highlanders v Western Force
April 9, 2010
Queenstown at 12.30pm (AEST)
Last meeting: Western Force 33 bt Highlanders 31 at Perth
Referee: M Jonker (SA)
TV times: Live, Fox Sports 3/3HD.
TAB Sportsbet: Highlanders $1.45 Force $2.65
Sportingbet: Highlanders $1.44 Force $2.80
Sportsbet: Highlanders $1.45 Force $2.75
Greg Growden writes: Fortune finally favoured the Force when they held the Stormers out. The Highlanders could easily be their next victim, but the Force are not exactly the greatest travellers.
AAP writes: Finally off the bottom of the ladder, the Force will be looking for successive victories for the first time this year. They should have a reasonable chance against a Highlanders side just two places and six points above them. The long-awaited return of injury-prone Wallabies back Cameron Shepherd is particularly timely, with veteran Scott Staniforth the latest in a lengthy list of Force casualties. The Force won their only previous clash with the Highlanders in Queenstown in 2008 and should go close again on Saturday.
The Force welcome back prolific pointscorer Cameron Shepherd. Photo: Getty Images
Highlanders: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Kenny Lynn, Jason Shoemark, Fetu’u Vainikolo, Mat Berquist, Jimmy Cowan (captain), Steven Setephano, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bekhuis, Clint Newland, Jason Rutledge, Chris King. Reserves: Jason Macdonald, Bronson Murray, Joe Tuineau, Tim Boys, Sean Romans, Robbie Robinson, Jayden Hayward.
Western Force: James O’Connor, Cameron Shepherd, Mitch Inman, Ryan Cross, Mark Bartholomeusz, David Hill, Chris O’Young, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Matthew Hodgson, Nathan Sharpe (captain), Tom Hockings, Tim Fairbrother, Ben Whittaker, Pekahou Cowan. Reserves: Nathan Charles, Matt Dunning, Ben McCalman, Sam Wykes, Justin Turner, Sam Harris, Dane Haylett-Petty.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...0408-ruxs.html