5/24/2011 Forced changes to touring squad

[LuvUnleashed]

Dave cloette grab your boots little fella...
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[travelling_gerry]

The West Australian
May 24, 2011, 5:18 pm

Western Force have been forced into a major back-line reshuffle with James O'Connor, Willie Ripia, Brett Sheehan and Gene Fairbanks ruled out of the club's match against the Hurricanes on Friday night in Palmerston North.

O'Connor has had several niggles over the past month and after consulting with club medical staff and a specialist, coach Richard Graham has decided to rest the youngster for a week. He will stay in Perth to be treated.

Flyhalf Willie Ripia has succumbed to a calf problem that has been plaguing him for some time. Sheehan and Fairbanks suffered muscle strains during the club's match against the Brumbies.

All four players will be monitored to determine their availability should any of the current touring party come under a fitness cloud ahead of the second leg of the tour against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

In some positive news, the club's all-time leading try scorer, Cameron Shepherd, returns to action while Mitch Inman has also been included.

Up front, Graham has been able to maintain most of his forward pack with former Hurricanes prop Tim Fairbrother coming into the squad in place of Pek Cowan who was ruled out after sustaining a broken cheekbone in last weekend's match against the Brumbies.

The Perth side has also added further depth to the front row by drafting in exciting young loosehead prop Tetera Faulkner on a short-term injury replacement deal.

Faulkner recently signed a contract to join Western Force next season and has outstanding in the NSW 1st grade competition for Southern Districts.

Also joining the tour is Manly Marlins skipper Chris Cottee. The 29-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers in the Shute Shield for several years and will add experience at scrumhalf.

"Obviously losing several quality performers in the back line, in particularly from half-back, isn't ideal but you play the hand you're dealt and we'll continue to prepare well for a big game against the Hurricanes on Friday night," Graham said.

"Nothing changes in terms of our expectations. We go into this game with the intent to perform to our best and get a positive result."

Touring squad

Forwards: Richard Brown, Nathan Charles, Matt Dunning, Tim Fairbrother, Tetera Faulkner, Tom Hockings, Matt Hodgson, Kieran Longbottom, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Nathan Sharpe (Captain), Ben Whittaker, Sam Wykes.

Backs: Chris Cottee, Nick Cummins, Patrick Dellit, Mitch Inman, Alfie Mafi, Rory Sidey, David Smith, Cameron Shepherd, James Stannard, Mark Swanepoel.

New: Tetera Faulkner - prop; age 22; 184cm; 114kg; clubs - Waratahs Academy, Brumbies Academy, Southern Districts (NSW 1st grade); honours: Australian Schoolboys, Australian U19, Australian U20.

Chris Cottee - scrumhalf; age 29; 173cm; 81kg; clubs - Manly Marlins (NSW 1st grade).
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...western-force/

[GIGS20]

Ok, on the strength of that, I'd play an insane back line, intending to just get as much size on the field as possible. I don't see any other options at 10 than Chucky, so that means something like

9 Swanepoel
10 Stannard
11 Smith
12 Dellit
13 Inman
14 Cummins
15 Shepherd

Tell Chucky not to look for holes, try to run straight over the top of the smallest bloke in the field!

[The InnFORCEr]

Tell Chucky not to look for holes, try to run straight over the top of the smallest bloke in the field!

The smallest bloke may be Chucky though GIGS

[GIGS20]

The smallest bloke may be Chucky though GIGS

Ummmm yeah......was more thinking about the smallest guy on the opposition........that could well be Conrad Smith couldn't it?

[Rex Messup]

The backline isn't too bad.
On a positive note, Ripia isn't conducting the orchestra. The bloke has been the dead end in the backs

[zimeric]

both Swanepoel and Chucky have experience at 10 at Shute shield level... Swanepoel is a bigger unit than chucky so in my opinion would be a better option at 10.. we'll see on game day how it pans out i guess.

Wouldve been nice if the EWF had looked locally for talent... as Lununleased mentioned Cloete is easily S14 standard and would be chomping at the bit to pull on a Force jumper.

[GIGS20]

Yeah, I knew that, went with Swanny close to the ruck to try a couple of snipes and keep the pillars honest. Chucky is a proven distributor at a high level and therefore a good option at 10 so t doesn't develop into a 'run or shuffle it on' scenario....... If we can get some passes to the bloke standing at 12 the defense should go to shit out of sheer surprise!

[AndyS]

9 Swanepoel
10 Stannard
11 Smith
12 Dellit
13 Inman
14 Cummins
15 Shepherd

That was pretty much what I was thinking. The big thing would be a change of plan...with that line-up, NO KICKING! Deeper lines, hit the ball moving fast, fast support, keep the ball in hand and make the Hurricanes tackle themselves into the ground. Nothing to lose and, for most of those players, everything to prove!

[Guru]

Pretty dissapointed that when push comes to shove our Force A players get pushed aside for another random from Sydney. Why have the Force A if not for this very predicament. Dave Cloette has been player of the year in club rugby for past 2 seasons & has peformed very well for the Force A. He cant be any worse than Willie Repia. (he is also 1 hell of a goal kicker).

[Rex Messup]

both Swanepoel and Chucky have experience at 10 at Shute shield level... Swanepoel is a bigger unit than chucky so in my opinion would be a better option at 10.. we'll see on game day how it pans out i guess.

Wouldve been nice if the EWF had looked locally for talent... as Lununleased mentioned Cloete is easily S14 standard and would be chomping at the bit to pull on a Force jumper.

I like the sound of a local fella chmping at the bit to wear the local strip. We need more of this. Tell me more about this fella

[Guru]

http://www.rugbywa.com.au/DesktopMod...ascx&siteID=11

[Rex Messup]

Thanks

It's a disgrace they didn't give him a crack.