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SHARPE RETURNS, McISAAC AND POCOCK TO START AGAINST HURRICANES
Emirates Western Force skipper Nathan Sharpe will return to the line-up on Friday night when the West Aussies do battle against the Hurricanes from Wellington at Subiaco Oval.
Sharpe was a late withdrawal from last week’s game against the Waratahs after suffering an injury at training but he is back to full fitness.
Moving into the starting 15 for the first time this Investec Super 14 season are hooker Tai McIsaac and openside flanker David Pocock.
McIsaac swaps his spot on the bench with Brendan Cannon as part of a rotation policy, just as David Pusey will start at lock for Rudi Vedelago.
Pocock’s promotion reflects his strong performances off the bench this season, in particular his accuracy and influence at the breakdown in both attack and defence.
Flanker Richard Brown, also a strong contributor, moves to the blindside.
Coming into the 22 for the first time this year is winger Digby Ioane, who replaces the injured Haig Sare. Also on the injury list is flanker/lock Luke Doherty.
Emirates Western Force head coach John Mitchell said the Hurricanes would be the Force’s biggest test so far, with speed and strength across the park.
He said they played a different brand of football to the one Australian and three South African teams the Force had played this season,
“They are counter-attack specialists and we can’t afford to make too many errors,” Mitchell said.
“I thought our boys showed character and guts to come back from a 13 point deficit last week but the trick is not to give the opposition a head start,” he said.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – this competition is so tight, that only a few errors separate a number of teams and to avoid those mistakes, you have to remain focused for a full 80 minutes.”
Mitchell said Hurricanes lock Paul Tito was a good leader in the pack and the experience of Tana Umaga and Conrad Smith would make for a tough contest.
“Jimmy Gopperth has shown some good form and you can’t give the likes of Ma’a Nonu too much space,” he said.
The squad is:
1. Gareth Hardy
2. Tai McIsaac
3. Troy Takiari
4. David Pusey
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. Richard Brown
7. David Pocock
8. Scott Fava
9. Matt Henjak
10. Matt Giteau
11. Cameron Shepherd
12. Junior Pelesasa
13. Ryan Cross
14. Scott Staniforth
15. Drew Mitchell
16. Brendan Cannon
17. Angus Scott
18. Rudi Vedelago
19.Matt Hodgson
20. Chris O’Young
21. James Hilgendorf
22. Digby Ioane
RUGBYWA MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 7 March 2007