Western Force coach John Mitchell has named close to his strongest team to take on Queensland in Thursday’s Super 14 trial game in Perth.
After a narrow loss to the Crusaders in the Force’s first trial game last weekend, Mitchell welcomes back Wallaby back Scott Staniforth into the midfield after his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered during Australia’s World Cup campaign.
Matt Giteau will again play at flyhalf, where he has trained for the entire pre-season and has categorically stated he wants to stay this year.
His duel with potential Wallaby rival Berrick Barnes could be one of the highlights of the game, and one of the talking points of the Super 14 season.
Mitchell will also have both his errant back rowers, Richard Brown and Scott Fava, in action together for the first time since their off-season “Quokka” disgrace during drunken antics on Rottnest Island.
Fava had been struggling with a slight hamstring niggle.
David Pusey will partner captain Nathan Sharpe in the second row, while Lachlan MacKay also makes a welcome return to the Force bench after two years battling various injuries.
Western Force:
Cameron Shepherd, Haig Sare, Ryan Cross, Scott Staniforth, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Matt Henjak, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Scott Fava, Nathan Sharpe (capt), David Pusey, AJ Whalley, Tai McIsaac, Gareth Hardy. Res: Luke Holmes, Troy Takiari, Pek Cowan, Sitaleki Timani, Tom Hockings, James Stannard, Scott Fardy, Matt Hodgson, Sam Wykes, Scott Daruda, Josh Tatupu, Nick Cummins, Dane Haylett-Petty, James O’Connor, Kieran Longbottom, Lachlan MacKay.
Terry Kidd
Guest
A couple of match ups in this game will be interesting to have a look at, obviously Giteau v Barnes at flyhalf, but also the opposing front rows ..... the Reds have a 'test' front row while the Force have an emerging and very capable front row. The scrums will be good to watch. I wonder how much effort Sharpe will put in during the scrums? Has he taken on board any of the very justified criticism of his play in the RWC?