Who do you think you are kidding Mr Bison....
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Jayden Hayward is happy the Western Force coaches never saw his one and only kick at goal in New Zealand provincial rugby.
If they had, he may never have been handed the goalkicking duties at his new Australian Super Rugby franchise.
In turn, they may not have beaten the Crusaders 16-14 in Perth last weekend, when Hayward booted 11 points in a four-from-five return.
Playing out of position at fullback in his first start for the season, usual midfield back Hayward was also handed the kicking tee, with regular marksman Sias Ebersohn having made way for Sam Norton-Knight at first five-eighth.
The 26-year-old's radar was almost faultless, unlike his sole previous effort away from club rugby. It was from a handy position during a 2011 NPC match for Taranaki against Canterbury, while teammate Jack Cameron was off the field.
'It went about 10m high and I hooked it badly. I thought that might be it for my kicking career,' he told NZ Newswire ahead of Friday's match against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
The 26-year-old was wrong.
Following two seasons of limited service at the Hurricanes he began his two-year contract at the Force late last year by asking to be included in a training group of five goalkickers.
'I took a couple of shots, just to see how I'd go. They went all right so I put my mind to it and it started going from there,' he said.
'With goalkicking, there's a bit of pressure on you but that's something I enjoy.'
Hayward is unsure if he'll remain at fullback for the long term.
He enjoyed the space and time afforded him against the Crusaders but missed the frontline defensive duties of the midfield, having watched his teammates perform heroics without the ball for long periods last Saturday.
Hawera-born Hayward hopes his Super Rugby career can kick off after making just 24 total appearances over two patchy seasons each with the Highlanders then Hurricanes.
Training and playing in the Perth heat has been the biggest change from his time in Wellington, noting a temperature drop of about 20C when crossing the Tasman this week.
He hopes another giant-killing performance is within his 12th-placed side, with their two wins this year being boilovers against the Queensland Reds and Crusaders.
'We don't have a team full of stars. Our main message through pre-season, and still now, is to play for each other.
http://www.skynews.com.au/sport/article.aspx?id=864506
MAGIC MOMENT: Cam Shepherd boots us home against the 'Canes.
MAGIC MOMENT: Cam Shepherd boots us home against the 'Canes - YouTube
Force named to front 'Canes in Wellington
By RugbyWA Media Unit
Prop Tetera Faulkner, flanker Angus Cottrell, outside centre Winston Stanley and winger Patrick Dellit have been selected in the Emirates Western Force starting line-up to take the Hurricanes in Wellington tomorrow night.
Stanley returns to the midfield after scoring a try and setting up a second for Dellit a fortnight ago against the Rebels, while Cottrell returns to the blindside flank where he has started in six of the Force’s eight matches in 2013.
Faulkner has worked his way into the starting tighthead role after several dynamic performances off the bench for the Force. He joins Heath Tessmann and Pek Cowan in the front row, and will replace Salesi Ma’afu (knee).
Dellit also returns to the run-on side on the right wing, joining Ed Stubbs and former Hurricane, Jayden Hayward, in the Western Australian back three. Alfie Mafi, the competition’s equal leading try-scorer, will start from the bench having ranked amongst the highest running metres through the first half of the competition.
Prop Kieran Longbottom returns to the Force line-up via the bench, after missing last weekend’s match following a head knock sustained against the Rebels. Longbottom will provide front row coverage for the Emirates Western Force along with hooker James Hilterbrand, who is in line to make his Super Rugby debut on Friday night.
Emirates Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says it’s important for his side to back up following last weekend’s win over the Crusaders.
“We welcome back Gus, Tetera, Winston and Paddy this week,” he said.
“Last week the players set a new standard in preparation against the Crusaders, which reflected in how we played. We worked extremely hard for each other and it’s important we push for more of the same against another quality New Zealand side.”
2013 Super Rugby – Week 10
Hurricanes v Emirates Western Force
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Friday, 19 April 2013
Kick-off: 7.35pm (local)/3.35pm (AWST)
1. Pek Cowan
2. Heath Tessmann
3. Tetera Faulkner
4. Toby Lynn
5. Sam Wykes
6. Angus Cottrell
7. Matt Hodgson (c)
8. Richard Brown
9. Alby Mathewson
10. Sam Norton-Knight
11. Ed Stubbs
12. Junior Rasolea
13. Winston Stanley
14. Pat Dellit
15. Jayden Hayward
Reserves
16. James Hilterbrand
17. Kieran Longbottom
18. Rory Walton
19. Chris Alcock
20. Mick Snowden
21. Sias Ebersohn
22. Alfie Mafi
Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
More 'quality' journalism from the hack that is Fox Sports' Matt Cleary
Perenara has been benched, Vito ain't available due to a dodgy calf, and Foxtel is showing the game on Fox Sports 1!Hurricanes v Force, Westpac Stadium, 5:30pm (EDT) Friday FS2HD
Western Force have proven to many "experts" (particularly the one who tipped them to be "obliterated" by Crusaders last week) that they are not the worst mob of West Australians to confuse a Gilbert with a Sherrin.
Their backrow is hard, Kyle Godwin has game, and Alfie Mafi runs like a big scalded cat.
But the Hurricanes will have too many weapons at home Friday night, not the least of which is exciting wing-oxen Julian "Big Bus" Savea. When you’re over 100 kilos and can run very fast in various directions, you’re a proposition. Good to watch, the Bus.
Elsewhere halfback TJ Perenara is having a handy season, Conrad Smith is doing lots of hard things hard, and Victor Vito is among the game’s best backrowers.
The Force are strong and determined and play tight, professional rugby. But the Canes - while they were flogged by the Blues last week and the Force upset the Crusaders - are a 20-point better side at home.
Tip: Hurricanes by 20.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...3#.UW-nCaLvh8H
No Godwin at all and Dellit starting rather than Mafi?
Also, Hilterbrand on the bench rather than Whittaker?
Some odd selections; resting knocks or rotation?
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Message to self: read other threads before commenting!
That guy is a twat. (matt cleary)
I'm worried about our line out again, just have to hope Sam gets his act together.
Article from Sportal re the game today.
Three games in 16 days is tough for any rugby team, but when the third involves travelling from Perth to Wellington it makes it that much more difficult.
Read more: http://www.sportal.com.au/rugby-unio...v-force-230953
May the FORCE be with you!
Am surprised he got the nod ahead of Rory Walton.Originally Posted by SNOB
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Couldn't agree more.
May the FORCE be with you!
I'm surprised Sam Wykes gets the nod over a wheely bin or a traffic pole
Really needs to find his pre-injury 2012 form
Expect Wreck it Rory to come on and tear it up
looks like a chilly southerly for tonite
I may have to watch from the members bar
what a pity
It's a hard life...
He's gotta pick it up or I'd say he's gone at the end of the year.
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Anyone know what this is about in The Worst?
James Hilterbrand, who flew to New Zealand on Wednesday as a late replacement for Ben Whittaker.He has returned home for personal reasons.
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