SUPER RUGBY – WEEK 5: HIGHLANDERS V WESTERN FORCE

[The InnFORCEr]

WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 14 March 2014

The Western Force has crossed the Tasman for the first time in 2014 ahead of its Week Five Asteron Life Super Rugby clash with the Highlanders at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday (15 March).

The Western Australians will be looking to build on their 32-7 bonus point win over the Melbourne Rebels last week at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium). The Force scored four tries in the opening 30 minutes to mark Matt Hodgson's 100th Asteron Life Super Rugby cap with the club.

The Force has named an unchanged line-up to the one that defeated the Rebels with winger Luke Morahan in line to record his 50th Asteron Life Super Rugby match.

The Highlanders resume their campaign following the bye and have made several changes to the side that was narrowly beaten by the Chiefs, 21-19, a fortnight ago with John Hardie moving to the blindside flank while Shane Christie starts on the openside. In the backline, Kurt Baker receives his first start of 2014 on the left wing with Malakai Fekitoa shifting to the centres.

Western Force fullback Jayden Hayward, who played with the Highlanders in 2009 and 2010, will come up against his former club after slotting a late penalty goal to defeat the Otago side, 19-18, when the two sides last met in Perth last year.

Highlanders v Western Force
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Saturday, 15 March, 2014
Time: 7.35pm (local)/2.35pm (AWST)
Coverage: Live on Fox Sports 2 and 2HD.
Weather Forecast: Min: 13C Max: 18C. Cloudy, drizzle at times. Northeast winds.
Where to watch in Perth: The Oxford Hotel (368 Oxford St, Leederville)
Official Twitter hashtag: #HIGvFOR
Live match updates available on Twitter (@westernforce) with half-time/full-time scores available on Facebook (facebook.com/westernforce)

Last Meeting: Western Force 19 def Highlanders 18 in Perth (2013)
Head to head: Played 7 –Western Force 5; Highlanders 2
In New Zealand: Played 4 –Western Force 3; Highlanders 1
Biggest win: Western Force 41 def Highlanders 27 in Queenstown (2010)
Biggest loss: Highlanders 25 def Western Force 22 in Dunedin (2006)

2014 record:
Western Force: Played 3; Won 1, Lost 2; 5pts (10th)
Highlanders: Played 2; Won 1, Lost: 1; 6pts (8th)

Western Force: 1. Pek Cowan, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Sam Wykes, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Matt Hodgson (c), 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 11. Nick Cummins, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Junior Rasolea, 14. Luke Morahan, 15. Jayden Hayward. Res: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Tetera Faulkner, 18. Ollie Hoskins, 19. Adam Coleman, 20. Brynard Stander, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Zack Holmes, 23. Marcel Brache.

Highlanders: 1. Kane Hames, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Chris King, 4. Jarrad Hoeata, 5. Joe Wheeler, 6. John Hardie, 7. Shane Christie, 8. Nasi Manu (c), 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Kurt Baker, 12. Shaun Treeby, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 14. Richard Buckman, 15. Ben Smith (c). Res: 16. Ged Robinson, 17. Matias Diaz, 18. Craig Millar, 19. Josh Bekhuis, 20. Elliot Dixon, 21. Fumiaki Tanaka, 22. Hayden Parker, 23. Phil Burleigh

Referee: Glen Jackson Assistant Referees: Garratt Williamson, Ben O’Keefe TMO: Vinny Munro

Tickets to the Western Force’s home match against 2013 Super Rugby champions, the Chiefs, next Saturday (22 March) are already selling fast. Tickets can be secured through Ticketmaster – visit www.ticketmaster.com.au.

[valzc]

What's this weird story bout media training? Is it just more growden grubbing for when you can't come up with anything to write so just make it up as you go?
Rebels played like shit again against a not very good Crusaders game either and yet the fox numbats still trying to make them heroes WTF?! How come the Rebels are suddenly flavour of the month?

[GIGS20]

Melbourne money.

Not only is the TV market massive over there but the aru have a significant investment that they need to justify. The force is being run on an oily rag in comparison

[MI5_Dog]

What's this weird story bout media training? Is it just more growden grubbing for when you can't come up with anything to write so just make it up as you go?

To the best of my knowledge media training is part and parcel of being a super rugby player.
Mostly it's just enough to stop players looking like idiots and to stop them falling for the usual media tricks.

[Alison]

It's likely part of every professional sports player's training. Hell, even public servants get media training! I would want media training too if I had to face douchebags like Growden! It's a total non-issue - akin to reporting the Pope's a catholic

[valzc]

To the best of my knowledge media training is part and parcel of being a super rugby player.
Mostly it's just enough to stop players looking like idiots and to stop them falling for the usual media tricks.

Oh you mean like Tom English on Fox HQ LOL!!!

[shasta]

The Honey Badger must have wagged school.

Anyone noticed Daniel Riccardo has also adopted the honey badger as his animal spirit? He's a sandgroper, so maybe a Force fan too? Or very unoriginal.

[WFDom]

Yes yes yes. In there Cheese!!!!!!

Awesome takle from Longbum for the preceding pen.

[Alison]

Cheesel!!!!

[WFDom]

Good on Iiron Smuth... Very honest

[Tonkar]

Nathan Charles try number 1

[valzc]

The kicking has started again! What's with all the bloody offsides come on guys concentrate!
You bewdy Sias!

[WFDom]

Go Sias!!!!!! Great read

Need to keep the discipline in ruck boys. Too many pens.

[valzc]

Still not feeling dynamic enough in attack tho - could do with more urgency! Gotta watch those wings!!!

[valzc]

Can we swap theNZ commentators for the Fox numb it's! Nice to hear balanced informative commentary for these games for a change!