Western Force unchanged to face Cheetahs

[The InnFORCEr]

5/8/2014
By RugbyWA Media Unit


The Western Force has named an unchanged squad to tackle the Cheetahs at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium on Saturday (10 May).

Head Coach Michael Foley has maintained the same 23-man squad that overcame the Bulls, 15-9, in the team’s last match in Perth a fortnight ago.

The match will mark flyhalf Sias Ebersohn’s first in Bloemfontein since joining the Western Australian club from the Cheetahs for the 2013 Asteron Life Super Rugby season. The Bloemfontein-born pivot played 30 matches for the Cheetahs between 2010 and 2012.

Lock Wilhelm Steenkamp, who will start from the bench on Saturday, also makes his return to the Free State, where he played 13 matches for the Cheetahs in 2012. Steenkamp also represented the Bulls (2008-2009, 2012-2013) and the Sharks (2010) before joining the Western Force this season.

Saturday’s match is the club’s second in a series of four matches against South African opposition, with the Force also to play the Stormers in Cape Town (Saturday, 17 May) before returning to Perth to face the Lions on Saturday, 24 May.

Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says the four remaining matches leading into the June Test break represents an important period for his side.

“It was pleasing to see the boys adapt to a different style of game in difficult conditions against the Bulls,” he said.

“The intensity we played with was excellent and will be critical in overcoming the Cheetahs, who have scored the third most tries in the competition this season.

“The Cheetahs present a different challenge to other South Africa sides; while they use their set piece and kicking game as a weapon, they also play with width. If we maintain our work rate and discipline in defence as a 15, we will earn important opportunities to attack from turnover ball.”

The Force will be chasing its first win in Bloemfontein since 2008 when they edged out the Cheetahs, 16-15. The home side has claimed their past two fixtures in the Free State, winning 29-14 in 2010 and 17-13 in 2012.

2014 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 13

Cheetahs v Western Force

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Saturday, 10 May 2014

Kick-off: 5.05pm (local)/11.05pm (AWST)

1. Pek Cowan

2. Nathan Charles

3. Kieran Longbottom

4. Adam Coleman

5. Sam Wykes

6. Angus Cottrell

7. Matt Hodgson (c)

8. Ben McCalman

9. Ian Prior

10. Sias Ebersohn

11. Nick Cummins

12. Kyle Godwin

13. Marcel Brache

14. Dane Haylett-Petty

15. Jayden Hayward

Reserves

16. Heath Tessmann

17. Tetera Faulkner

18. Ollie Hoskins

19. Wilhelm Steenkamp

20. Brynard Stander

21. Justin Turner

22. Zack Holmes

23. Chris Tuatara-Morrison

[Jeansyjive]

Does anyone know if JB's is showing the game?

Cmon the Force!

[Herbasimplex]

Is Steenkamp injured? Annoys me a little that Wykes gets a run in front of him.

[GIGS20]

Is Steenkamp injured? Annoys me a little that Wykes gets a run in front of him.

Maybe they've noticed a weakness to some ZA tactics and it's a horses for courses selection. It is pretty hard to bag on Wykesey this season, he has stepped up and started to show the potential Sharpie saw in him. as long as he keeps the workrate high and plays the dynamic game in the loose I think he'll go OK. as for Big Willie, it didn't hurt sitting him with the Bulls. I'm prepared to cut the coaching team a little slack, they've done OK so far.

[The InnFORCEr]

Does anyone know if JB's is showing the game?

Cmon the Force!

You will probably only get first half and depending on the band timing, it may be without sound. Bit had with midnight close sorry!

[jargan83]

Does anyone know if JB's is showing the game?

Cmon the Force!

Carbon Bar at the Casino is usually a good place to watch the games from South Africa

[Jeansyjive]

Carbon Bar at the Casino is usually a good place to watch the games from South Africa

Just checked there website, says they have the Force game on the big screen with sound.

[valzc]

Can't get over how suddenly Wykesy come good - it was like an overnight event! He's even on Hq tonight!?!!! Especially after I had lost faith in him. Also he could be the Force secret weapon by just getting him to throw up on the other team - it's bound to be off putting in the breakdown haha!

[Macattack]

Sportsbet has the Cheaters as strong favourites @ $1.50 and us @ $2.55 - They still don't reckon we are the real deal, let's hope we make fools of the bookie (again)!

[GAFFA]

Sportsbet has the Cheaters as strong favourites @ $1.50 and us @ $2.55 - They still don't reckon we are the real deal, let's hope we make fools of the bookie (again)!

i think its more to do with something like 80% of the teams playing at home have won this year, we have lost our last 3 games against the cheetahs and are something like 2 win from 11 games against SA teams the last few years.

This will be a real test for us and one we need to overcome if we want to be there at the end of the year.

We need at least 1 win from this trip.

[chiraag]

I think having Goosen, Brussouw and Coenie back for the Cheetahs is pretty big as well. They are a hell of a lot better with them in the team

[travelling_gerry]

Funnily enough the bookies have got the Force wrong for every game since round 3.

So this week we are going for 10 straight!

[shasta]

Funnily enough the bookies have got the Force wrong for every game since round 3.

So this week we are going for 10 straight!

your other hat is showing

[valzc]

Goosen & Brussouw are definitely a big upper for the Cheetahs- Force will need to be on the alert. However I think Goosen can be shut down by good defence - gets a bit rattled & also is prone to a bit of injury. Brussouw's a tough bugger though, tends to play a bit dirty (surprise surprise) so I hope the guys are onto the dangers of getting lax. But I've got real confidence in how they know their game plan now. Would luuuuuuuuuv to see 4 try bonus game to the Force - am I dreemin?

[SNOB]

Goosen & Brussouw are definitely a big upper for the Cheetahs- Force will need to be on the alert. However I think Goosen can be shut down by good defence - gets a bit rattled & also is prone to a bit of injury. Brussouw's a tough bugger though, tends to play a bit dirty (surprise surprise) so I hope the guys are onto the dangers of getting lax. But I've got real confidence in how they know their game plan now. Would luuuuuuuuuv to see 4 try bonus game to the Force - am I dreemin?

I don't think your dreaming it's definitely possible as long as they stick to the game plan and the awesome defence they have shown this year. Go the Mighty Force!