Force v Highlanders - Rnd 15 PERTH

[Moono75]

This thread is for discussing this match only

The Rules

1. Do not give scores for any other match from this round until 24 hours after the last game!
2. Do not discuss other matches in detail.
3. Good hearted banter is encouraged but trolling is not allowed.
4. Be respectful to posters, players, coaches and match officials.

Saturday sees the Force looking to continue it role as the summer bindi in the feet of other Super Rugby teams heading into the pointy end of the season. Yes we'll continue to be pricks....sorry prickles....for some time to come! There's nothing teams dread more than facing a Force team on a hot streak and after 1 game......we are about to go off like Iraqs missing WMD's

Team announcement to come, but on radio last night the Badger alluded to the inclusion of a young fella on the bench so we could see Brad Lacey or maybe Albert Nikoro getting a run. Go Force!

 

[Moono75]

Western Forcev Highlanders
7.45pm (WST) Saturday 23 May 2015
NIB Stadium, Perth

1) Pekahou Cowan
2) Nathan Charles
3) Tetera Faulkner
4) Steve Mafi
5) Adam Coleman
6) Angus Cottrell
7) Matt Hodgson (c)
8) Ben McCalman
9) Ryan Louwrens
10) Sias Ebersohn
11) Nick Cummins
12) Kyle Godwin
13) Marcel Brache
14) Luke Morahan
15) Dane Haylett-Petty

Reserves
16) Heath Tessmann
17) Chris Heiberg
18) Guy Millar
19) Sam Wykes
20) Kane Koteka
21) Alby Mathewson
22) Luke Burton
23) Brad Lacey

 

[D-Box]

Force Team

1 Pek Cowan
2 Nathan Charles
3 Tetera Faulkner
4 Steve Mafi
5 Adam Coleman
6 Angus Cottrel
7 Matt Hodgson
8 Ben McCalman
9 Ryan Lauwrens
10 Sias Ebersohn
11 Nick Cummins
12 Kyle Godwin
13 Marcel Brache
14 Luke Morahan
15 Dane Haylett-Petty

16 Heath Tessmann
17 Chris Heiberg
18 Guy Millar
19 Sam Wykes
20 Kane Koteka
21 Alby Mathwson
22 Luke Burton
23 Brad Lacey (potential debut)

 

[Braveheart81]

Could be the best starting side the Force have trotted out all year.

I reckon they're a reasonable chance to cause an upset in this one.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 John Hardie, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Mark Reddish, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Brendon Edmonds.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka , 22 Richard Buckman, 23 Marty Banks.

Ben Smith's 100th Super Rugby cap.

Kiwi TAB has the Clan as $1.42 - $2.70 favs. Clan picked up 6 valuable comp points in SA & will obviously wanting another 4 or 5 out've this to stay in touch with the Tribe who are similarly fav v Bulls. Go my fellow Southern Men!

 

[Brumby Runner]

Very good to see Godwin back at 12 (hope he hasn't forgotten how to play there) and Lacey on the bench. Not much between Lacey and Kellaway in last year's U20s.

Highlanders will be tough. Go Force.

 

[ChargerWA]

Feeling good about this one.

 

[qwerty51]

Have the Force ever even lost to the Highlanders? I remember you winning the last 3 over there.

 

[todd4]

We've won the last 6 but the Clan have a very strong team this year and it will be a big ask to make it 7 in a row.

 

[ChargerWA]

If Luke Morahan does his speed bump impression again he should be pulled immediately and let Lacey have a crack.

At this point in the season we should be playing every development player we have to see who is worth keeping long term.

 

[qwerty51]

Force have 3 players chasing compared to Highlanders 1 and they still manage to not score. Unreal.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

No matter how often I see them wearing it, I still can't get with the Clan in green concept. If they've gotta have an alternate strip why not good old-fashioned Southland maroon?

 

[ChargerWA]

FFS, pull Brache and put Burton on. Brache's having a shocker.

 

[Forcefield]

Discipline letting us down.

 

[Forcefield]

I think this has been our worst game since the reds in rd 2.

 

[Tordah]

the Highlanders cleanout has been absolutely spot on the whole night. Impeccable performance by their forwards

 

[Gnostic]

Yet again the Force show the limitations of the Foley plan. I feel for the players really. They manage to get more possession and territory, rucks, etc etc. They just do not score because attack is a secondary consideration to field position.

Nothing illustrates this better than with 7 minutes to go and down by 13 with the season already finished both DHP and Ebersohn's first option is to kick long for field position which is easily covered on both occassions and run back by the Highlanders and they almost score from it.

Really Foley should consider going back to his strengths and coaching the forwards.

 

[Bairdy]

I think this has been our worst game since the reds in rd 2.

Hurricanes at home.

 

[Moono75]

Yet again the Force show the limitations of the Foley plan. I feel for the players really. They manage to get more possession and territory, rucks, etc etc. They just do not score because attack is a secondary consideration to field position.

Nothing illustrates this better than with 7 minutes to go and down by 13 with the season already finished both DHP and Ebersohn's first option is to kick long for field position which is easily covered on both occassions and run back by the Highlanders and they almost score from it.

Really Foley should consider going back to his strengths and coaching the forwards.

Only 14 minutes in...a record!

 

[qwerty51]

the Highlanders cleanout has been absolutely spot on the whole night. Impeccable performance by their forwards

Mind sharing what the Canes and Highlanders did for this match? Teams often find Perth a graveyard coming back from SA but both the Canes and Landers looked so fresh in these games.