NALAGA RETURNS FOR FORCE

[The InnFORCEr]

The Emirates Western Force will welcome back dynamic winger Napolioni Nalaga from injury as they set themselves for a clash against leading South African side the Stormers in Perth on Saturday night.

The big Fijian International comes straight into the run-on side and his return is timely given a wrist injury to Cameron Shepherd which will sideline him for 6 weeks.

“Naps is very determined and eager to have an input into the second half of the season,” said Emirates Western Force Defence & Skills Coach Phil Blake.

“He is raring to go. We just need make the best use of his ability by getting him into the game, I have no doubt he can be a real force for us this weekend and for the remainder of the campaign.”

The only other change to the backs from the club’s last start is Samu Wara who has been named in the reserves after recovering from a hamstring strain.

In the forwards Wallaby Ben McCalman will start at No.8 with Matt Hodgson sliding to the six jersey, while Richard Brown will make his impact from the bench.

“Ben played some really nice minutes for us against the Waratahs a couple of weeks ago and we felt it was time to get him back into the run-on side,” Blake said.

“It’s a change-up that we felt would benefit us by having Poey (David Pocock) and Hodgo (Matt Hodgson) on the flanks and being able to call on Richard Brown to give us some real thrust at the back end of the game.”

Exciting young prop Salesi Manu is in line to make his Emirates Western Force and FxPro Super Rugby debut after being named as a substitute. A former Australian U20 and Aussie Schoolboys representative, Manu was recruited from Shute Shield side Warringah ahead of the 2012 season and previously played under Blake at Manly.

Following a bye the Emirates Western Force squad is refreshed and eager to make a strong statement against the high flying Stormers.

“We should be energised after the break and we need to make the most of our home ground support against one of the competitions best sides this season,” Blake said.

“Getting the job done this weekend is a matter of having our attitude right and so far this week the attitude at training has been spot on.”

Players unavailable for selection include Patrick Dellit who’ll miss after sustaining a chest injury in local club rugby last weekend while WA prop Kieran Longbottom has had surgery to a correct a disc bulge and is out for approximately 8 weeks. Sam Wykes, who was expected to return to action after overcoming an ankle injury, will unfortunately be sidelined for the remainder of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at training late last week.


2012 FxPro Super Rugby – Week 10
Emirates Western Force v Stormers
Saturday, 28 April 2012 at nib Stadium
Kick-off: 5.40pm (Perth Time)

1. Pek Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Toby Lynn
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Matt Hodgson
7. David Pocock (Captain)
8. Ben McCalman
9. Brett Sheehan
10. David Harvey
11. Napolioni Nalaga
12. Winston Stanley
13. Nick Cummins
14. Rory Sidey
15. Alfie Mafi

Reserves
16. Elvis Taione
17. Salesi Manu
18. Phoenix Battye
19. Richard Brown
20. Josh Holmes
21. Ben Seymour
22. Samu Wara

[GAFFA]

Its not all doom and gloom than i guess

[The Ethicist]

It's actually a quality team they are fielding

The pack is as good as any in the competition

The backline has some quality for a change

I'm backing the lads to dig deep and win for caretaker coach Blake. It's an unwritten rule but if Blake starts winning, he'll get the job

Force by 10

Dead set

[palitu]

Seymoure on the bench

[brokendown gunfighter]

need a kicker,hence Harvey

[Buddha Handy]

1. Pek Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3. Salesi Ma’afu
4. Toby Lynn
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Matt Hodgson
7. David Pocock (Captain)
8. Ben McCalman
9. Brett Sheehan
10. David Harvey
11. Napolioni Nalaga
12. Winston Stanley
13. Nick Cummins
14. Rory Sidey
15. Alfie Mafi
Reserves
16. Elvis Taione
17. Salesi Manu
18. Phoenix Battye
19. Richard Brown
20. Josh Holmes
21. Ben Seymour
22. Samu Wara

Not bad, would prefer Seymour at 10, Sidey at 12 and Wara at 14 but as mentioned we need a goalkicker and Harvey has been good in that department and sounds like Wara is carrying an injury still. Hopefully we can get a good impact from the bench

[GIGS20]

I would prefer Harvey at 10 Seymour at 12 and Stanley on the pine......we haven't done anything good when we've had one ballplayer on the field, and I think that'll continue.

We're gonna get reamed, hopefully Phil can limit the damage.

[BeeJay]

Great to see that Maa'aaafu, Staaanley and Waaaraa are not injured, as had been feared.

[brokendown gunfighter]

mind you the team that takes the field may be entirely different to that named

[James]

I reckon that Sidey was picked over Wara for his defence and his ability at the breakdown. We need it too. The Stormers gave the Reds headaches all night out wide. I reckon Nagala will miss at least 3 tackles.

[todd4]

Have Cowan and Ma'afu made miraculous recoveries? I thought they were both injured...

Anyway good news, we might be a chance after all.

[travelling_gerry]

Sssssssshhhhhhhhhuuussshhh


Its a Fine Cotton fix but we dont want anyone to know.

[valzc]

Finally get to see Nalaga - yes guys that's Nalaga, not Nalanga, Nagala, Nagalangi, Nagoli, Nogalini.....................! anyway great to see him having a run and hopefully someone will pass him the ball.
Looking at Stormers game last week, seemed that they're lineouts were pretty hopeless so Nathan will have a great time disrupting that I hope. It also seemed that when the Reds finally started to be more aggressive off the line, especially at the restart is when they began to get more run at the ball, best form of defence is attack. Hope the Force come out firing and maintain it for the full 80.
ps 'TAHS' backwards is 'SHAT' - giggle

[The InnFORCEr]

So the two players that missed selection and are not injured are Paddy Dellit and Will Topou!

[GAFFA]

So the two players that missed selection and are not injured are Paddy Dellit and Will Topou!

"Players unavailable for selection include Patrick Dellit who’ll miss after sustaining a chest injury in local club rugby last weekend"