Waratahs V Force - Superugby Rd 4

[Ruggo]

Mumm was good on the weekend, he made something like 18 tackles. No way would you drop him for Peterson though, it would have to be Sitaleki.

Who takes the call of the Tahs lineout, Dennis? This is what keeps Mumm in the 15.

 

[Lee Grant]

Mumm does the lineout calling. It will be interesting to see who is preferred to partner Sitaleki when he gets up to speed, Mumm or Douglas. Mumm is playing well though Douglas is the bigger physical presence.

 

[barbarian]

Force have made plenty of changes:

1.Pek Cowan
2.Nathan Charles
3.Salesi Ma’afu
4.Sam Wykes
5.Nathan Sharpe
6.Angus Cottrell
7.David Pocock (Captain)
8.Matt Hodgson
9.Brett Sheehan
10.James Stannard
11.Alfie Mafi
12.Rory Sidey
13.Will Tupou
14.Samu Wara
15.David Harvey

Reserves
16.Ben Whittaker
17.Kieran Longbottom
18.Phoenix Battye
19.Richard Brown
20.Justin Turner
21.Ben Seymour
22.Winston Stanley

Overall the changes look pretty good, I'm a fan of Angus Cottrell and it will be good to see how both Tupou and Harvey go in the backs.

 

[barbarian]

Here is the press release:

The Emirates Western Force will give FxPro Super Rugby starts to off-season recruit and former NRL young gun Will Tupou as well as recent signing David Harvey in the club’s big clash against the Waratahs on Saturday night in Sydney.

Coach Richard Graham has made seven changes to the run-on side, and nine overall, after being forced to reshuffle his backline following injuries to the club’s three starting outside backs from last weekend. Wingers Nick Cummins and Napolioni Nalaga have been sidelined with calf and ankle injuries respectively while Cameron Shepherd is out with an adductor strain.

Coming into the side is Alfie Mafi who has enjoyed his best ever start to a season and on the opposite wing Samu Wara makes a first run-on appearance. Harvey lines up at fullback where his superb field kicking will be put to good use. While best known as a playmaking first receiver, Harvey is just as adept at 15 where he has spent plenty of time in club rugby.

Tupou’s appearance will mark a successful conversion to rugby from league where he made his start two years ago by scoring a match winning try for the North Queensland Cowboys on debut. A former Australian Schoolboys rugby representative, Tupou is an exciting young talent returning to his roots and is coming off a strong performance for the Emirates Western Force A side last weekend.

In the forwards emerging second row star Sam Wykes and capped Wallabies prop Pek Cowan return to the tight five while Angus Cottrell earns a run-on debut in the backrow after three substitute appearances.

Despite a big turnover in playing stocks from last round Graham said the squad has got on with the job at hand and are ready and raring to put in a big performance to secure the club’s first win of the season.

“It hasn’t changed the way that we prepare, we just need to be strong in our mental approach and understand that a core group of players have been constant in the first three games and it’ll be their responsibility to ensure that we play the way we want to,” said Graham as the team departed Perth for Sydney on Thursday morning.

“It’s wonderful to see Will Tupou and Dave Harvey make their Super Rugby debuts, they join a proud list of players to have represented the club.”

Graham said the breakdown battle will be a pivotal duel where the likes of David Pocock and Matt Hodgson will face a couple of familiar faces with former WA based flankers Jono Jenkins and Tevita Metuisela starting for the Tahs.

“Having coached with Michael Foley and Alan Gaffney I know the Waratahs side will be well prepared,” Graham said.

“You can see that the Tahs want to be more aggressive at the breakdown and it’ll be important that we control that aspect of the game.

“Four of our first five games are derby encounters. While the results of the first two didn’t go our way it’s important that we continue to work hard and believe in what we’re doing in order to get a result.

“Games against your fellow countrymen are always extremely competitive and given the need for both teams to secure a win I don’t expect this week’s match to be any different.”

On the substitutes bench Phoenix Battye returns as does Winston Stanley with second row recruit Toby Lynn (hand) and midfielder Patrick Dellit (cork) both unavailable for selection after picking up niggling injuries against the Hurricanes.

 

[Braveheart81]

If the Tahs backs don't put some points on against that backline, they'll never score tries.

 

[waratahjesus]

Force look like they would e better suitedthis year to the game plan they tried last year. Think it could be a slow dull night.

 

[Moono75]

Surprised Toby Lynn has gone from starting along side Sharpie to out of the game day 22 completely. Phoenix Battye preferred on the bench. Well one things for sure it's going to be different.....different good or different bad we will see on Saturday. Hope to see Will Tupou have a big game in the centres.

 

[barbarian]

Lynn has a hand injury

 

[Waylon]

great to see Cottrell getting a start at 6. One of the few bright lights for the Force in 2012

RG has panicked

Loved his podcast...........despite getting belted by 30 points "we were tactically spot on..........."

RG lives on another planet

 

[Brumbies Guy]

RG has panicked

Loved his podcast...........despite getting belted by 30 points "we were tactically spot on..........."

RG lives on another planet

You've got squad with some great names, but a squad prone to break down, and without a quality 10. RG didn't injure you're key players, and he had nothing to do with the Wipia incident. This is a team which prior to all this was already tipped for this years wooden spoon. I like the Force, but I think you've come into this season with too high an expectation and you're looking for a scapegoat because I don't see too many other options outside of that 22.

 

[tranquility]

Maybe, but the team is playing with little guts. You should never get beaten by 20 odd points on your home ground. I expected much more so far from this squad.

 

[p.Tah]

... and he had nothing to do with the Wipia incident.

just a thought. The Force had suspected Ripia was stealing since last year. How did they think this would resolve when he was sprung? In hindsight perhaps they should have started thinking about another 10 at that point in time. Easily said from the comfort of my couch.

 

[tranquility]

Very true.

 

[I like to watch]

just a thought. The Force had suspected Ripia was stealing since last year. How did they think this would resolve when he was sprung? In hindsight perhaps they should have started thinking about another 10 at that point in time. Easily said from the comfort of my couch.

Who was available?

 

[p.Tah]

Who was available?

Giteau

 

[Langthorne]

I still can't understand Carter on the bench, and getting only 7 mins last week.

If I was going to rotate the squad and give Carter less than a full 80 mins, I would certainly start with him and then replace him later in the match. He is an ideal player for doing the hard running and tackling that will tire out an opposition and give his potential replacement that little bit of extra room to exploit.

Halangahu has been playing well, by his standards, but he does fall off too many tackles for my liking. His kicking from hand is pretty poor for our starting 10 too.

 

[Forcefield]

just a thought. The Force had suspected Ripia was stealing since last year. How did they think this would resolve when he was sprung? In hindsight perhaps they should have started thinking about another 10 at that point in time. Easily said from the comfort of my couch.

Yeah. Good call.

Who was available?

Given that Ben Seymour isn't considered ready now, he shouldn't have been signed. If there were any doubts over Ripia, which there were, Harvey should have been signed in Seymour's place. Harvey would have also made a good cover option for Cam Shepherd too.

 

[Waylon]

You've got squad with some great names, but a squad prone to break down, and without a quality 10. RG didn't injure you're key players, and he had nothing to do with the Wipia incident. This is a team which prior to all this was already tipped for this years wooden spoon. I like the Force, but I think you've come into this season with too high an expectation and you're looking for a scapegoat because I don't see too many other options outside of that 22.

Actually, I think the Brumbies were tipped for the spoon

I see you are in the RG camp ................ "they were tactically spot on"

I say they were tactically inept, poorly coached, poorly drilled, have no idea how to get the ball across the chalk and play for penalties as a method of trying to stay in the contest

It's very very boring

It's an old mans game they are playing............7 at the breakdown, pick and flop and seal off, slow recycle............pray for penalty as there is no other hope for scoring points

RG is losing the Force a lot of supporters with the worst rugby spectacle in the super 15

His plan to bore the Tahs into error in 2011 was symptomatic of his stupidity and disrespect for the game as an entertainment

 

[Slim 293]

Actually, I think the Brumbies were tipped for the spoon

Nope... not even despite the overhaul...

I don't think anyone aside from Greg Clark has tipped them for the spoon...

 

[Moono75]

I don't think anyone aside from Greg Clark has tipped them for the spoon...

Depends where you read. Plenty of opinions on Super rugby outside of what you read in the Australian media. That said we have made a good start towards securing the spoon. I think with the situation at the moment at least RG is giving the bench a chance to impress with Cottrell and Tupou getting extended looks. Its imperative that the Force get a win on the board. If the backs aren't going to do it, be boring and grind it out in the forwards.