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Two key inclusions for Force as they look to snap winless start to season
Looking to snap their losing run with a win at home on Saturday evening, the Western Force have been boosted by the return of Sam Spink and Nic White from injury spells.
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Nic White is back in the mix after missing the Force’s clash with Moana Pasifika with a swollen knee. The Wallaby will link up with Ben Donaldson in the halves.
Reigning Nathan Sharpe medallist Spink has also recovered from a calf injury to start at outside centre alongside playmaker Hamish Stewart in the midfield.
Sprink’s return has led to a big of a backline reshuffle with Bayley Kuenzle shifting to the right wing and Harry Potter moving to fullback.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
2
Draws
0
Wins
3
Average Points scored
25
38
First try wins
80%
Home team wins
60%
Max Burrey and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa have both been moved back to the bench while Super Rugby-winning Crusader Ben Funnell has been called into the matchday squad.
The Western Force have had a tough season to date. After opening their season with a 30-point defeat at home to the Hurricanes, the men from the west couldn’t bounce back against Australian opposition.
Losses to the Force and Brumbies, and then that defeat to Moana Pasifika, have seen the Force anchored to the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific standings.
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“They’re a group of hard-working young athletes over there with a search for some identity,” former Wallaby Justin Harrison explained on Stan Sports’ Rugby Heaven this week.
“Simon Cron came in and talked immediately about the environment and high-performance environment, and having been over there a few times, you look at that training setup and what they’re doing in Western Australia for rugby, it’s absolutely valid what they’re trying to do.
“This last piece now is them coming through that glass ceiling that they have about winning Super Rugby consistently with an identity.
“They’re tough, they’re working hard, but we want them to get a result – we’re desperate for them to get a result.”
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But they’ll be up against it in round five, with the Force taking on the high-flying Queensland Reds.
Western Force team to take on Queensland Reds
- Ryan Coxon
- Tom Horton
- Santiago Medrano
- Thomas Franklin
- Jeremy Williams (c)
- Tim Anstee
- Carlo Tizzano
- Will Harris
- Nic White
- Ben Donaldson
- Chase Tiatia
- Hamish Stewart
- Sam Spink
- Bayley Kuenzle
- Harry Potter
Reserves
- Ben Funnell
- Josh Bartlett
- Tiaan Tauakipulu
- Lopeti Faifua
- Reed Prinsep
- Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
- Max Burey
- George Poolman
Comments on RugbyPass
The first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to comments