Force v Crusaders

[Shaker]

Cowan
Tessmann
Faulkner
Mafi
Coleman
Cottrell
Hodgson
McCalman
Mathewson
Grant
Mesirewa
Rasolea
Tapuai
Morahan
DHP

Charles
Van Wyk
Ainsley
Walton
Hardwick
Louwrens
Prior
Nikoro

1. Cowna 1. Pekahou Cowan

2. Heath Tessmann
3. Tetera Faulkner
4. Sitiveni (Steve) Mafi
5. Adam Coleman
6. Angus Cottrell
7. Matt Hodgson (C)
8. Ben McCalman
9. Alby Mathewson
10. Peter Grant
11. Semisi Masirewa
12. Solomoni (Junior) Rasolea
13. Ben Tapuai
14. Luke Morahan
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves
16. Nathan Charles
17. Francois van Wyk
18. Jermaine Ainsley
19. Rory Walton
20. Richard Hardwick
21. Ryan Louwrens
22. Ian Prior
23. Albert Nikoro
- See more at: https://www.westernforce.com.au/article/force-side-named-battle-crusaders#sthash.wlf9wmZx.dpuf

 

[Shaker]

Stoked to see Van Wyk on the bench again after his horror run of injuries. Walton also a chance to see his first minutes in a long time.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Blackadder has made five changes to the 23:

Crusaders: Ben Volavola, Johnny McNicholl, Sean Wainui, Ryan Crotty, Nemani Nadolo, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ged Robinson, Joe Moody, Mike Ala'alatoa, Scott Barrett, Jimmy Tupou, Andy Ellis, Kieron Fonotia, Jone Macilai.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Match officials have been named:

Referee: Ben O'Keefe
Assistant Referees: Mike Fraser & Graham Cooper
TMO: Ian Smith.

 

[galumay]

'Saders should be able to practice plenty of plays! The guy on the scoreboard will be verrrry busy.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Match preview is up:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/force-v-crusaders-preview/#disqus_thread

 

[RebelYell]

Force vs. Crusaders, (#FORvCRU) Friday April 8th, 21:00 (AEST), Perth:
Friday night sees the Western Force host the seven-time champion Crusaders, who have called up All Black Israel Dagg and former Rebels hooker Ged Robinson as injury cover for a game that represents their final stop on a three-match tour that’s also taken in Durban and Johannesburg. Ominously, they’re undefeated on tour thus far and have lost just the one match this season, still sitting only third on the New Zealand conference table behind the excellent Chiefs and Highlanders.

The Force will be pleased to be back at home after a tough tour of New Zealand where they came up second best against the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders. There’s no shame in that, with those three teams having lost a grand total of four matches between them, and the Force have been without some of their most important players for prolonged periods in 2016.

Western Force stars Tetera Faulkner, Kyle Godwin, Jonno Lance and Luke Morahan have played a combined total of 11 of their side’s 24 matches so far this year, while we’re yet to see the likes ofLuke Burton and Francois van Wyk at all. It’s meant that fellow Wallaby hopefuls Adam Coleman, Pek Cowan, Dane Haylett-Petty, Matt Hodgson and Ben Tapuai have been on the field for 2,291 of a possible 2,400 minutes this season; it’s been very tough for the Force to spread the load.

Their main issue has been the final 20 minutes of matches, where for a reason yet to be established they’ve conceded 80 points; exactly four times as many as they’ve been able to score in reply, and the most in the competition. Against the Highlanders, only a late try to centre Jason Emery robbed them of a bonus point; with just five minutes remaining, they were still a massive chance of a win. In contrast, the Crusaders and Stormers are the only two teams to have a positive points differential in each of the four quarters of matches so far this season.

So what do the Force need to do this weekend to please the home fans and get back in the winners’ books? They need to play to their strengths, that’s what! Haylett-Petty has averaged more than 11 carries per game, grabbing nearly 6 metres each time and beating nearly three defenders each week, while Hodgson continues to lead the tackling chart (a whopping 15 tackles clear of Blake Gibson (Blues) and Shane Christie (Highlanders) if you don’t mind!).

Last week their forward pack gave them plenty of impetus going forward, with Coleman, Faulkner, Ben McCalman and Heath Tessmann combining for nearly 50 carries. Angus Cottrell is in line for his 50th Force cap this weekend, and he’ll be looking to build after winning 3 turnovers last time out, while Steve Mafi was busy off the bench and has been named to return to the Force starting side.

The Crusaders have won three of their last four matches against the Force, though have been victorious in only one of their last three trips to Western Australia, and the hosts will look to build on those famous wins from 2013 and 2010 this time around.

From: http://www.rupa.com.au/news/the-players/stat-attack-round-seven-2016

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Izzy D on Instagram today:

"The legend that is #normberryman's whanau visited the crusader boys today... thanks for coming whanau hope to see you all again.. #freakishskills #RIPnormy #crusader legend"

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...n-norm-berryman-as-family-visit-team-in-perth

 

[Moono75]

Time for us to put together an 80 minute game and this could be the one. We have a good record against the Crusaders at NIB.

Its almost 3 years to the day since the famous win when Tetera Faulkner snuffed out the Crusaders attack by pilfering the ball and Mick Snowden(?) roosted it into the grandstand. God the crowd roar was loud that day....IT CAN BE LOUD AGAIN! Come on Force!!

 

[Mr Pilfer]

Crusaders: Ben Volavola, Johnny McNicholl, Sean Wainui, Ryan Crotty, Nemani Nadolo, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ged Robinson, Joe Moody, Mike Ala'alatoa, Scott Barrett, Jimmy Tupou, Andy Ellis, Kieron Fonotia, Jone Macilai.​

Reading through the backline I wasn't that impressed compared to previous years but then you get to the forward pack and it is ridiculously good. ​

 

[Moono75]

Crusaders: Ben Volavola, Johnny McNicholl, Sean Wainui, Ryan Crotty, Nemani Nadolo, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Kieran Read, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ged Robinson, Joe Moody, Mike Ala'alatoa, Scott Barrett, Jimmy Tupou, Andy Ellis, Kieron Fonotia, Jone Macilai.​

Reading through the backline I wasn't that impressed compared to previous years but then you get to the forward pack and it is ridiculously good. ​

Kieran Read is a great player and the Crusaders forwards link up nicely with their backline so they are always dangerous no matter who is playing. I can just see Nemani Nadolo burning us for a couple of tries out wide. Our defence out wide has been poor and is an area we need to tighten up on. Big jobs for Masirewa and Morahan.

 

[D-Box]

Late change. Prior to 9 Godwin to bench

Sent from my HTC_0PJA10 using Tapatalk

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Nice lefto from Read off the back of an attacking scrum eventually results in a try to Drummond in the far corner. Mo'unga misses, 5-0.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Crockett goes for the HB a nano-second early, Grant makes it 5-3.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

TRYTIME: BEAVIS DRUMMOND.

 

[Forcefield]

That was a shithouse half from the Force. I cant believe the Saders are only up by 7.

Tessman needs to be dragged desperately.

 

[louie]

Eating left over Easter chocolate to keep me awake. This is a hard one zzzzzz

 

[Teh Other Dave]

TRYTIME: BEAVIS DRUMMOND.

ARE YOU THREATENING ME???

 

[saulityvi]

Replacement scrum half over for the Force, Grant converts, 19-13

 

[Pedrolicus]

Fuck me this has been a good half of footy drama wise. Force can't win a lineout but all the rest of the luck is with them.