The next Tom Carter
In probably a new first for the Australian division of the Super 14 both the Western Force and Waratahs run-on sides selected for Saturday’s game in Perth are the same as last weekend.
For Tahs supporters that’s all well and good but for the Force there’d be a sense of disquiet. How could you pick the same guys that were pulped by the Reds the other day?
John Mitchell say’s he’s backing his player’s ability to respond to the challenge and is putting accountability back on the same playing group. This is in effect Mitch-speak for ‘there isn’t anyone else who’s up to the task’.
They’ve lost Pek Cowan (shoulder), Matt Dunning and new boy Jono Jenkins (broken ankle) to injury in their continued horror run on the road to perdition.
For NSW, Chris Hickey’s team came through their last match with only one injury concern. No 8 Wycliff Palu strained his hamstring, but that injury is not as serious as was first thought and he’s in the side.
“You analyse everyone’s performance after every game but after an effort like that against the Lions it was always fairly likely we’d stick with the same squad,” said Hickey.
They were on fire last weekend against an abysmal Lions defensive outfit and scored a record 11 tries in the process.
Their expansive play got the blood pumping, which is unusual for recent NSW efforts; but hey, you take it when you can get it.
I think that the Tahs will be keen to go another round with this style of play, but the Reds match aside, let’s remember that the Force have been in the game until the last 20 minutes each time.
I wouldn’t be doing the ‘Mr Entertainer’ thing until the platform was laid or there were overt signs of disintegration.
“You can’t assume anything going into these all-Australian matches,” said Hickey. “Last year we were six places ahead of the Force on the ladder and they beat us by a point, so we’re definitely not going to be starting the match with any level of complacency.
blue on blue
The reality is that on current form the Force will not be able to match the talent that the Tahs have especially in the set piece and out wide.
The Tahs scrum is without doubt one of the best in the competition and if Tyrrell’s lineout yips continue the glut of possession will be telling.
Hopefully for the Force, David Hill’s second outing will allow him to build some sort of combination with JOC and the other backs, and the forwards win some pill. There were long periods in last week’s match where they were completely bereft of ball.
John Mitchell still has confidence in his team despite both results from last week. He said “You would think that from previous performances some players will want to respond because they weren’t happy with the last performance.”
“The critical thing for us is that we haven’t got through much content in attack, and haven’t got a lot of reward.”
That’s Mitch-speak for ‘I’m not happy Jan; they were shit and better get their act together or I’m history’.
Lance F says: “I don’t think it’ll be a Tahs’ whitewash but a comprehensive win by 20 or so points”.
Late News Friday, 19 March: Palu (hamstring) and Baxter (calf) have been ruled out of tomorrow’s match. Both failed fitness tests. They have been replaced by Ben Mowen (playing off the back) and Sekope Kepu. Dan Palmer and Lachy McCaffrey come onto the bench.
WESTERN FORCE V WARATAHS
Saturday 20 March 2010 (Kick-off 7:10pm AWST, 10:10pm AEDT, 9:10 QLD) Members Equity Stadium, Perthfontein
Waratahs:
15. Sosene Anesi 14. Lachie Turner 13. Tom Carter 12. Berrick Barnes 11. Drew Mitchell 10. Daniel Halangahu 9. Luke Burgess 8. Wycliff Palu 7. Phil Waugh [c] 6. Dave Dennis 5. Kane Douglas 4. Dean Mumm 3. Al Baxter 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 1. Benn Robinson
Reserves:
16. Damien Fitzpatrick 17. Sekope Kepu 18. Will Caldwell 19. Ben Mowen 20. Josh Holmes 21. Kurtley Beale 22. Rob Horne
Western Force:
15. Dane Haylett-Petty 14. Scott Staniforth 13. Ryan Cross 12. James O’Connor 11. Nick Cummins 10. David Hill 9. Brett Sheehan 8. Richard Stanford 7. Matt Hodgson 6. Ben McCalman 5. Nathan Sharpe 4. Sam Wykes 3. Tim Fairbrother 2. Ryan Tyrrell 1. Nic Henderson
Reserves:
16. Ben Whittaker 17. Kieran Longbottom 18. Tom Hockings 19. Luke Jones 20. Chris O’Young 21. Sam Harris 22. Mitch Inman
You can down load your G&GR Team List here , so if your over in Perth and going to the game, print out a whole bunch, fold them in half and impress your mates, saving yourself money at the same time. But if your not at the game, and your just staying home or watching from the pub then print it out anyway. You can still impress your mates…or your wife…dog..anyone. Enjoy!
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Lance Free: A nasty, opinionated little man whose narrow views and felonious intent can only mean 'Trouble' with a capital T. Interests: dwarf throwing and robotics. Favourite Sport: mungo bashing. Does he ever have anything positive to say? 
Nice one Lance.
I’m going to have to agree with you there too mate.
All the best
Come next fucking Saturday we’re gonna roll them c*nts
Yep, Tahs by 20 – good call. Maybe a touch conservative.
Having had hamstring problems myself it’s no shock that palu’s out. Good luck to the force, they’ll need it.
Tahs to win by 15 to 20 points AT LEAST and grab a bonus point in the process.
That is EXACTLY how it’s going to pan out on Saturday
One game the Force should/must become a sacrifice of their compatriots who are one of the main contenders for the play-offs.
Unfortunately for the Force, more grim news is ahead of them with the 2 best SA teams, Bulls + Stormers, coming to Perth after this…….
Then a tough 2 week NZ tour to face Otago + Auckland…… (don’t see them winning either of them)
Crusaders’ visit to Perth will be…… fatal….
Then a tough 3 week SA tour to finish the season with (Lions + Cheetahs + Sharks)…
If they’re lucky, they might finish with one win I guess, but they’re in danger of finishing with no wins whatsoever!!!
Not one team since the Bulls of 2002 season finished the season dead last with not a single win, but if unlucky, the Force could just become that…
Gotta say their Week 12 clash against the Lions in Joburg will be a cracking game of football to determine the wooden spoon this year
I hold little hope for the Western Force as the Tahs know they must continue to develop winning habits now if they’re to compete with the big boys.
Their only hope of avoiding a complete flogging will be if the Tahs take their foot of the accelerator, and that better not happen lest they wish to incur the full wrath of the fans & hopefully the coaching staff.
lance free, lovinn the work. exceptional articles. always a pleasure to read. cheers…. and GO THE TAHS!!!
tahs to go into the match passionless, overconfident & complacent (despite thier mid-week chatter).
force to bounce back (after their shameful display & a big rev up by an angry coach).
force by 9.
if the force don’t put on some kind of cohesive display this weekend they are going to have a terrible run home, like SFan mentioned above.
great write up Lance – nice work.
“One game the Force should/must become a sacrifice of their compatriots who are one of the main contenders for the play-offs.”
Naah, make em earn it – Tah silvertails…:-P
JOC to race through the Carter or Burgess channels like my brother steps through the bar crowd at last drinks. Burgo one pass directly to Hodgson… but Tahs to win by a snippet.
jeez what can I say I been writing on the TWf web site and they just keep editing my messages time and again… what a bunch of soft cocks… they taken to ground and are as insular as we all perceive… I haven’t even used this language there… piss poor WA rugby is gone underground… If your a player don’t sign under John Mitchell you’ll get zero out of it…
here’s to open comment…
The comment above was edited to reflect this site’s East Coast Bias
I think the Force are a big chance here.
They can’t possibly be as poor as last week and the Tahs don’t pose the same attacking threat as the Reds.
The Force were better in the second half last week and showed they can hold the ball for long periods, although they did little with it.
The problem was their lineout and this allowed the Reds off the hook at crucial times. Tyrrell’s lineout throwing was pretty solid in the trials, or so Mitch said after the match, so we’ll put it down to nerves.
Force by 5 for me
You’re dreaming
Tahs to outmuscle and JOC cant carry a whole backline
East coast bully boys by 10
No way, the biggest motivation for the Force will be to win it for their propogandist-in-chief, Exile, who turned 40 yesterday
Great webpage you’ve got here. Will keep coming reading these good articles you are going towrite.
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