Force bring out big guns for Qld trial

[KenyaQuin]

Force bring out big guns for Qld trial
5th February 2008, 9:53 WST

http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.a...oryName=456909

Western Force coach John Mitchell has named close to his strongest team to take on Queensland in Thursday's Super 14 trial game in Perth.

After a narrow loss to the Crusaders in the Force's first trial game last weekend, Mitchell welcomes back Wallaby back Scott Staniforth into the midfield after his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered during Australia's World Cup campaign.

Matt Giteau will again play at flyhalf, where he has trained for the entire pre-season and has categorically stated he wants to stay this year.

His duel with potential Wallaby rival Berrick Barnes could be one of the highlights of the game, and one of the talking points of the Super 14 season.

Mitchell will also have both his errant back rowers, Richard Brown and Scott Fava, in action together for the first time since their off-season "Quokka" disgrace during drunken antics on Rottnest Island.

Fava had been struggling with a slight hamstring niggle.

David Pusey will partner captain Nathan Sharpe in the second row, while Lachlan MacKay also makes a welcome return to the Force bench after two years battling various injuries.

Western Force: Cameron Shepherd, Haig Sare, Ryan Cross, Scott Staniforth, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Matt Henjak, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Scott Fava, Nathan Sharpe (capt), David Pusey, AJ Whalley, Tai McIsaac, Gareth Hardy. Res: Luke Holmes, Troy Takiari, Pek Cowan, Sitaleki Timani, Tom Hockings, James Stannard, Scott Fardy, Matt Hodgson, Sam Wykes, Scott Daruda, Josh Tatupu, Nick Cummins, Dane Haylett-Petty, James O'Connor, Kieran Longbottom, Lachlan MacKay.

AAP

[zimeric]

what an awesome squad!!!

may the Force be with them!

[goony]

should make for an awesome game to watch on thursday night!! screw training - im there!!

[The InnFORCEr]

That is an awsome run on line up...expect big things from Haig this year as well.

[inactive]

should be good. Will have to organise my tickets now haha!! May aswell just get them at the gate!

[GIGS20]

Great to see Haig get a run at wing this game. It appears I was wrong, Mitch seems to be all about conditioning by the look of that lineup, I expect a hard 40 minutes from most of the starters, followed by about 40 minutes from the bench. It'll probably be as close as you can get to S14 intensity in a trial........I'm stoked!

[hopep]

Don't know about 40 minutes. They may use the 'trial' rule from last season and take a drinks break at 20 min.
Anyone heard about that yet?

[AndyS]

Norm is 4 quarters and unlimited substitutions

[Shaun]

I've always been a fan of Haig- this could be his year.

[oxleymoron]

Even Lachlan Mackay has been named on the bench, that also looks promising for the future, as it has been a long two years for him.

[GIGS20]

Haig dropped due to a 'niggle' anybody got details?

[jazza93]

cross for first try


i havent heard anything on haig but i cant see him in the team they announced today