NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
May 26, 2011, 6:32 am

The makeshift Western Force back line is preparing for an All Black assault in tomorrow's Super Rugby clash.

And a torrid time can be expected from the likes of damaging Hurricanes runner and 56-Test veteran Ma'a Nonu, who will be relishing the task ahead, particularly as he will team up with returning All Black centres Conrad Smith and full-back Cory Jane.

Force coach Richard Graham's squad has been devastated in the inside backs with the loss of three key players in scrum-half Brett Sheehan, fly-half Willie Ripia and inside centre James O' Connor.

In comes No.9 Mark Swanepoel, with only one run off the bench last year, second-string scrum-half James Stannard, who has taken over the playmaker role for the first time, while Rory Sidey and Patrick Dellit will partner in the midfield, also for the first time.

But Graham is confident his new boys on the block will handle whatever is thrown at them.

"There's no doubt that the Hurricanes are going to run at us and ask questions of our inside backs," he said.

"Regardless of our personnel, they would still go into those areas. They would be doing that even if Willie Ripia and James O'Connor were playing."

A lot will rest on the shoulders of the Force pack and their kickers in what is expected to be less than ideal conditions for running rugby.

"We feel with the forward pack that we've got, with the competiveness that they have displayed all season, they will supply the platform," Graham said. "It will then be up to James (Stannard) and Cameron (Shepherd) to make sure we play at the right end of the field."

Graham has made only one change to the pack that started against the Brumbies in last Saturday's 13-13 draw, bringing in former Hurricanes prop Tim Fairbrother for Matt Dunning.

The Hurricanes have dropped captain and All Black hooker Andrew Hore to the bench for the game in Palmerston North after he started every match this season.

Meanwhile Graham believes his captain, Nathan Sharpe, is the natural successor to lead the Wallabies in the Test against Samoa in July.

Australian captain Rocky Elsom is in doubt for the match after the Brumbies skipper suffered an ankle injury in Saturday's match, ending his Super season.

He is unable to train for six weeks.

Graham said Sharpe would be the perfect man to step into the Wallabies captain's role.

"If Rocky was unavailable, Nathan would be ideal," Graham said.

"David Pocock will captain the Wallabies in time but leading into a World Cup is not the right time.

"Nathan is the logical guy for the role, someone who has the respect of players and referees."

TEAMS *

Western Force: *Kieran Longbottom, Nathan Charles, Tim Fairbrother, Sam Wykes, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Matt Hodgson, David Pocock, Ben McCalman, Mark Swanepoel, James Stannard, David Smith, Rory Sidey, Patrick Dellit, Nick Cummins, Cameron Shepherd. *Reserves *: Ben Whittaker, Matt Dunning, Tom Hockings, Richard Brown, Chris Cottee, Mitch Inman, Alfie Mafi.

Hurricanes: *Cory Jane, Andre Taylor, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Aaron Cruden, Chris Eaton, Victor Vito (capt), Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush, Neemia Tialata, Dane Coles, John Schwalger. *Reserves *: Andrew Hore, Jacob Ellison, Bryn Evans, Mark Reddish, Piri Weepu, Jayden Hayward, Julian Savea.


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