Force team to play Waratahs

[Use The Force]

Force team to play Waratahs

February 28, 2007 WESTERN Force team named today to play New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 14 match at Aussie Stadium on Friday night:

Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross, Junior Pelesasa, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Matt Henjak, Scott Fava, Richard Brown, David Pusey, Nathan Sharpe (captain), Rudi Vedelago, Troy Takiari, Brendan Cannon, Gareth Hardy. Replacements: Tai McIsaac, Angus Scott, Luke Doherty, David Pocock, Chris O'Young, James Hilgendorf, Haig Sare.

source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html

Turinui switching to wing
By Jon Geddes
February 28, 2007 NEW South Wales coach Ewen McKenzie may spring a selection shock by picking Australia centre Morgan Turinui on the wing for the match against Western Force at Aussie Stadium on Friday night.

The Waratahs are poised to field a new look backline for their first showdown of the season against an Australian team, in what is shaping as fiery contest.

For most of yesterday's training, points-scoring ace Peter Hewat ran at full back with Lote Tuqiri and Turinui filling the two wing spots.

That suggests Sam Norton-Knight is likely to be the player to miss out and will probably come off the bench.

Norton-Knight started at full back in the Waratahs' first three Super 14 games this season, and he assumed the captaincy in their last outing, against the Cheetahs, when Phil Waugh hobbled from the field with a serious ankle injury after just 37 seconds.

When he joined the main team yesterday, Norton-Knight ran on the wing.

Turinui, one of the Waratahs' smartest playmakers, is a specialist centre, but he did play on the wing in the Wallabies game against the Ospreys in Wales last year.

The situation indicates just what a loss Wendell Sailor has been to the squad this season.

In another change, Josh Valentine is likely to start at halfback, with Brett Sheehan a reserve, judging from the way the main team was running yesterday.

And Daniel Halangahu spent most of the time at inside centre, with Sam Harris replacing him at various stages.

The Force fixture shapes as a big test for Halangahu, with McKenzie indicating he will not be surprised to see the Perth-based side switch powerful back Scott Staniforth from wing to inside centre for the game.

The Waratahs produced a sharp 90-minute hitout at Aussie Stadium yesterday, with only two balls dropped in general play and everyone emerging unscathed.

"That was the best we have trained for a couple of weeks," captain Adam Freier said.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html

Very interesting