MATCH PREVIEW - EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE VS HURRICANES

[RugbyWA]

Thursday, 8 May 2008 11:49am
Byron Biggar
Venue & Time:

Westpac Stadium (Wellington), 7.35pm (local) Friday 9 May

Head-to-Head:

Played: 2, Won: 1, Lost: 1; Drawn: 0

Previous match:

March 9, 2007: Emirates Western Force (18) v Hurricanes (17) – Perth

Who could forget the last time these two sides did battle? The last encounter was a blockbuster which tore the non-existent roof off of Subiaco Oval. Cameron Shepherd crossed in the dying minutes of the match and converted after the siren to help his team post their first win at home. This time around, the Hurricanes would be keen to put the Emirates Western Force to bed early, knowing full well of the potency of the Force's ‘never-say-die’ attitude.

The Emirates Western Force will come off last week’s match on a high. Battling with a large number of injured players, the team worked hard for each other and eventually accounted for the Chiefs with a Matt Giteau penalty after the siren. The WA-side was poised in attack, crossing for three tries and showing a marked improvement from the barren matches against the Reds and Waratahs.

The Hurricanes, on the other hand have lost only three of their 11 matches and are sitting on third on the Investec Super 14 ladder, but will be dangerously close to slipping out of finals contention if their visitors can post a win on Friday. The Emirates Western Force will have their work cut out for them if they are to do so. The Hurricanes have hit the ground running in the business end of the season, posting some emphatic victories and scoring an average of almost 35 points per game in their last four.

Injuries will be of concern again this week for John Mitchell, with the grinding encounter against the Chiefs taking its toll on a number of players. Ryan Cross (broken cheekbone), Nick Cummins (broken leg), Pek Cowan (dislocated thumb) and Scott Fava (ankle) look set to add to the club’s growing injury list which already includes Scott Staniforth (knee),Tamati Horua (knee), Pat O’Connor (knee), Junior Pelesasa (knee), James Hilgendorf (hamstring) and Tom Hockings (shoulder).

Players to watch:

Drew Mitchell (EWF): Mitchell played one of his best games for the club against the Chiefs, named Man-of-the-Match and scoring a terrific try despite carrying a hip injury into the fixture. He will be keen to back it up with another solid performance in a relatively inexperienced backline this week.

Ma’a Nonu (Hurricanes): Nonu has been tearing through defences this season, and is currently tied with the Chiefs' Lelia Masaga as top try scorer in the competition. The Force defence will have to be switched on, or this excitement machine will run rampage on the field and scoreboard.

Teams:

Emirates Western Force


1. Gareth Hardy 2. Tai McIssac 3. Troy Takiari 4. David Pusey 5. Nathan Sharpe (c) 6. Matt Hodgson 7. David Pocock 8. Richard Brown 9. James Stannard 10. Matt Giteau (vc) 11. Drew Mitchell 12. James O’Connor 13. Josh Tatupu 14. Dane Haylett-Petty 15.Cameron Shepherd Reserves: 16. Luke Holmes 17. Kieran Longbottom 18. Sitaleki Timani 19. Sam Wykes 20. Chris O’Young 21. Scott Daruda 22. Haig Sare.

Hurricanes

1. Neemia Tialata 2. Andrew Hore 3. Tim Fairbrother 4. Jeremy Thrush 5. Jason Eaton 6. Chris Masoe 7. Scott Waldrom 8. Rodney So’oialo 9. Piri Weepu 10. Willie Ripia 11. Zac Guildford 12. Ma’a Nonu 13. Conrad Smith 14. Hosea Gear 15. Corey Jane Reserves: 16. Hikawera Elliottt 17. John Schwalger 18. Craig Clarke 19. Thomas Waldrom 20. Alby Mathewson 21. Jimmy Gopperth 22. Tamati Ellison.

[pieter blackie]

Go the

[BeeJay]

For all the talk about the battle of the backs, and the Canes' centre pairing in particular against our 'baby backs', the game will be won or lost in the forwards. If our loosies can gain parity or ascendance against the Hurricanes stellar back row (and I think they can) and we are aggressive at the breakdown, I think we can do it. I like the look of our tight five - perhaps the most experienced part of our team. Our setpiece needs to be spot on, and Stannard needs to be a thorn in Weepu's side. If we use thewidth of the field like we did last week against the Chiefs, it may come down to fitness. Like the look of our bench - hopefully the likes of Wykes, Holmes and Timaniget good game time when the game opens up in the 2nd half. Anyone know the weather forecast?

[travelling_gerry]

For Friday Clear 16 degrees

[Flamethrower]

Cook up another strudel boys

[laura]

Kiwis turn air blue for the visitors
DAVE HUGHES WELLINGTON
8 May 2008


New Zealand’s rugby exodus has extended from superstars to supporters.

More than 50 previously loyal Kiwis have transferred their allegiance across the Tasman and the Nullarbor to the Western Force and will wear the Perth club’s colours to Westpac Stadium tomorrow to cheer on Nathan Sharpe and his team against the third-placed Hurricanes.

The group will drive to the national capital from the North Island town of Pukekohe, having converted to the Force as their preferred Super 14 side in March.

Between wins over the Blues and Highlanders in their previous trip to New Zealand this season, the Force accepted an invitation from a group of rugby supporters in Pukekohe to show up at a charity function.

“Our own New Zealand players weren’t interested but the Force sent their big names and they were fantastic,” said one of the function organisers.

“We had Wallabies mixing with the guests and Sharpie auctioned off a signed Force jersey. Everyone was rapped. We made a bundle on the day.”

Such was the new-found enthusiasm for the Force on the day that a New Zealand branch of Force supporters was hastily convened, bringing with it a promise to show the blue and make as much noise as possible when the tourists try to continue their trend this year of upsetting New Zealand teams.

[Flamethrower]

Good on ya guys

Lets hope they find TWF and can give us a match report

[jono]

no AJ again?
is this due to injury? or other players performing better at the moment?

[laura]

AJ was out racing remote control cars today. He beat Matt Pridis. Union beat AFL woohoo! Thsi is probably not why he isn't in NZ though.