Staniforth to Raise Super Century in Subi Farewell Match

[RugbyWA]

Western Force Head Coach John Mitchell has announced his team for Saturday night’s final round Investec Super 14 clash with the Highlanders at Subiaco Oval.

The stage is set for an emotional night as the WA side take to the ground for the final time before a move next season to the rectangular Members Equity Stadium.

The club will bid farewell to foundation players Tai McIsaac and Scott Staniforth, who along with Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Tamaiti Horua and Josh Valentine will suit up for the final time in ocean blue.

The night will also feature a pair of significant milestones, and signal the end of a famous streak.

12-test utility Scott Staniforth will earn his 100th Super Rugby cap in what will be his last match in Australia before moving to Japan to join newly-promoted Top League club Yokogawa.

The 2006 West Australian/Rosendorff Player of the Year recovered from a pre-season knee injury and will reach the ton with his ninth appearance of the season this Saturday night.

While Staniforth celebrates his century it will also be a significant night for flanker Tamaiti Horua, who will play his 50th Super Rugby match after being named in the starting lineup for the second consecutive week.

Horua, who played 31 matches for the Brumbies before joining the Emirates Western Force in 2008, will wear the Number 8 against the Highlanders with Richard Brown to remain on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

The night will also see the end of a remarkable streak of consecutive appearances for hooker Tai McIsaac, who by the end of Saturday night’s fixture will have played in all 52 of the WA side’s Super 14 matches since the team’s inception in 2006.

Mitchell has been forced to make two changes to his starting lineup after last week’s dramatic loss to the Stormers, while winger Nick Cummins makes his return from a fractured leg.

AJ Whalley will start at tighthead prop for the injured Ben Castle, who has played his final match for the club after spraining the AC joint in his left shoulder against the Stormers last weekend.

Inside centre James O’Connor (shoulder) and winger Cameron Shepherd (knee) will also miss the clash after being ruled out with injuries.

O’Connor’s place in the starting side has been taken by Josh Tatupu with Junior Pelesasa returning to the reserves bench after missing out on match time in South Africa.

Cummins will start on the left wing, leaving Haig Sare to revert to the bench.

Prop Troy Takiari has also been included on the bench for the first time since the opening round of the season. The 31-year-old has had his season disrupted by a fractured hand he sustained in a weights session early in the season.

2009 Investec Super 14 Week 14

Emirates Western Force v Highlanders

Saturday 16 May, 2009

Subiaco Oval, Perth

Kick off: 7.45pm WST

Emirates Western Force
1. Pek Cowan
2. Tai McIsaac
3. AJ Whalley
4. Sam Wykes
5. Nathan Sharpe (c)
6. Matt Hodgson
7. David Pocock
8. Tamaiti Horua

9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Giteau
11. Nick Cummins
12. Josh Tatupu
13. Ryan Cross
14. Scott Staniforth
15. Drew Mitchell

Reserves

16. Ben Whittaker
17. Troy Takiari
18. Tom Hockings
19. Richard Stanford
20. Chris O’Young
21. Junior Pelesasa
22. Haig Sare

[Darren]

Emotional about leaving Subiaco Oval? I don;t think so!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlzPFm44Wac[/ame]

[eleypinkbit]

Good to see McIsaac will be playing his 52nd consecutive match for the Force - how crap would it have been for him if he was injured for his last ever match as a player!

[Tazzmania]

Great news that Tai will see out his time at the Force on the field, together with Spanner they have been instrumental in helping keep alive the dream of rugby here in the West. Two scholars and absolute gentleman.

Lets also not forget Horua and that storming try against the Blues in Auckland last year, Mitchell like him or not has been there for us too many times to mention with his great retention stregnth in a tackle.

Finally Giteau, the entertainer, magician, master of his craft, he has brought us so much joy and jubiltaion in the past three years that nothing short of a standing ovation will be fitting to thank him (no matter what his reasons were) for being a stand out for us during his time here in the West.

I and I am sure many others salute you Matt, Drew, Scott, Tamati, and Tai.

Thanks for the memories

[prop53]

Good luck to all the boys that are leaving

[lara93]

wheres o'connor?shep?
but will be a sad game

[prop53]

Both are injured Lara93

[TommyM]

Mitchell like him or not has been there for us too many times to mention with his great retention stregnth in a tackle.

Um... mentioned this elsewhere, but Drew has turned the ball over around 20 times this year according to the Fox Sports statisticians

[tragic]

Emotional about leaving Subiaco Oval? I don;t think so!

Glee and relief are both emotions

But it will be sad saying oo-roo to Spanner, Tai, Gits, Drew, Valo and Tamati (have I missed anyone? )

[Wallyworld]

I think you will find spanner and his family arent leaving perth in the long term having bought a house in cottesloe recently

[travelling_gerry]

Future Coach in the making you think Wal??

[mudskipper]

Spanner could make an excellent coach or backs coach... Good luck to the all boys tomorrow night...

The Force by plenty....

[sandgroperrugby]

Glee and relief are both emotions

But it will be sad saying oo-roo to Spanner, Tai, Gits, Drew, Valo and Tamati (have I missed anyone? )

Have we all forgotten our Kiwi mate Ben Castle who will not be playing due to I believe an arm injury. Ben came across to strengthen our forward pack and provide go forward at the set piece. The guy was the goods if there was a report card there would be gold stars all over it maybe even a few scratch and sniff ones as well. He was a major contributor to me not cringing but cheering every time we packed down for a scrum.

Cheers Ben a good luck in the future.

[palitu]

Definately, good on ya to ben castle.

nice line up, would have rathered seen COY start, instead of coming on off the bench. cheers fellas!

[inactive]

Also goodbye to Jnr