Western Force v Lions, Saturday, 28 June @ Optus Stadium 8pm AEST

[Rudderless]

Friday's Long Lunch details

Beale, Carter & White added to Force-Lions Long Lunch line-up

westernforce.rugby

 

[Heavyd]

Have we got any visibility of how ticket sales are tracking for the Force? Surely now the Lions have arrived it will shake out any UK, Saffer, Kiwi who hadn’t yet got tickets along with some inquisitive Non rugby local who want to experience the amazing atmosphere. Hopefully for the Force boys it gets as close to a sellout as possible.

 

[D-Box]

Ticketmaster has low availability on the site. Still tickets in most categories though

 

[Dctarget]

I didn't realise that the Lions play the super teams all before game 1, I thought it was more interspersed than that. I wonder after their slow start on the weekend will we see a more 1st XV selected for the Force and then the 'Tahs a week later.

 

[Dctarget]

Farrell confirmed that the team against Western Force will mostly be made up of players from Leinster, Bath and Leicester, who joined up with the Lions after last Saturday’s United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership finals.

 

[Wilson]

I didn't realise that the Lions play the super teams all before game 1, I thought it was more interspersed than that. I wonder after their slow start on the weekend will we see a more 1st XV selected for the Force and then the 'Tahs a week later.

The theory I've seen out there is that they'll try and go closer to full strength for Reds and Brumbies (a week between the games, 10 days break before the first test) and run the more 2nd string sides for the Force, tahs and Au NZ. I want to say it was Ben Darwin I saw putting this forward as how he'd do it form a cohesion perspective, but it also makes sense from a simple scheduling one if they want the top team fresh but prepared for game 1. May depend a bit on how well Farrel knows what his top team is

 

[Heavyd]

I’m keen to see the Force team announced.

 

[D-Box]

What we know from media reports and those left behind.

1 Roberson
3 Hoskins
4 Swain
6/8 Champion De Crespigny
9 White
10
11 Pietsch

Possible team
1 Roberson
2 Dolly/BPaa
3 Hoskins
4 Swain
5 Carter
6/8 Champion De Crespigny/Harris
7 Koteka
6/8 Champion De Crespigny/Harris
9 White
10 Alex Harford
11 Pietsch
12 Stewart
13 Kuenzul
14 Greely
15 Beale

Beale to redeem the demons from 12 years ago, wear the long studs, and kick the winner from half way

 

[Yoda]

What we know from media reports and those left behind.

1 Roberson
3 Hoskins
4 Swain
6/8 Champion De Crespigny
9 White
10
11 Pietsch

Possible team
1 Roberson
2 Dolly/BPaa
3 Hoskins
4 Swain
5 Carter
6/8 Champion De Crespigny/Harris
7 Koteka
6/8 Champion De Crespigny/Harris
9 White
10 Alex Harford
11 Pietsch
12 Stewart
13 Kuenzul
14 Greely
15 Beale

Beale to redeem the demons from 12 years ago, wear the long studs, and kick the winner from half way

Beale 10, Grealy 15, Poolman on the wing is my tip.

 

[Heavyd]

Offical’s expecting 40-45k crowd. Lions have put Schmidt & RA on notice if they don’t release wallabies for Super rugby games it’s in breach of contract. Plenty of noise in UK about Lions doing France in 2037.

 

[Tomthumb]

Offical’s expecting 40-45k crowd. Lions have put Schmidt & RA on notice if they don’t release wallabies for Super rugby games it’s in breach of contract. Plenty of noise in UK about Lions doing France in 2037.

The irony

 

[Strewthcobber]

Offical’s expecting 40-45k crowd. Lions have put Schmidt & RA on notice if they don’t release wallabies for Super rugby games it’s in breach of contract. Plenty of noise in UK about Lions doing France in 2037.

The media reports are just a bit of revenge out of the Lions camp for the 2013 Force team isn't it?

 

[Heavyd]

Things are heating up nicely and plenty of Super rugby players will be motivated to rip in given the Lions are calling them not up to the standard they want in the build up. Go the Force!

 

[Homer]

Brumbies beat them last time and the Reds had them on the ropes right until the end. They put 100 on the Force in 2001 when WA put up a amateur team of clubbies.
Pretty easy to complain about depth when you have four countries to choose from and still have to take ex-pats from other countries.

Also, Hoskins will likely come off the bench. Would be a slap in the face to the guys who have played the season to miss this one.

 

[Tazzmania]

Also, Hoskins will likely come off the bench. Would be a slap in the face to the guys who have played the season to miss this one.

Hoskins was only called in by the Force coaching staff due to injuries to the current tight head props, and the he fact that the Wallabies requested Robertson to move to loose head exacerbating the current tight head shortage. Robertson played all 14 games for the Force at an average of 62 minutes a game.
(Note: Hoskins had already retired)