Western Force coach Richard Graham insists revenge won’t be on his players’ minds when they take on defending Super Rugby champions Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
The Force twice suffered heartbreak at the hands of the Reds last season, losing 21-20 in the opening-round fixture before being pipped 24-21 later in the year.
Queensland also dented the Force’s confidence during the 2012 pre-season with a thumping 40-10 trial victory in Perth last month.
But revenge isn’t being spoken about at the Force ahead of Saturday’s rematch, with the Perth franchise more concerned about notching their first win of the year following last week’s 19-17 defeat to the Brumbies.
“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Graham said on Thursday.
“We’ve got a strong rivalry dating back to our foundation when a number of their players came here.
“The two games last year were really close, physical encounters.
“This weekend, we’re not going to leave anything to wonder when we walk off the field.”
The Force made just one change to their run-on side, naming hard-hitting outside centre Pat Dellit at the expense of Rory Sidey.
Dellit, who won the Force’s Rising Star award last year, will partner Winston Stanley in the centres, while fullback Cameron Shepherd (leg), lock Sam Wykes (hamstring) and flanker Richard Brown (shoulder) could all come into contention next week.
Former Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon has implored the Force to play a far more adventurous brand of rugby against the Reds than the dour effort displayed against the Brumbies last week.
“What disappointed me most about the Western Force’s performance was just their inability to get the ball wide to their promising outside backs, Napolioni Nalaga and Nick Cummins,” Cannon told foxsports.com.au
“Both those guys love to run with the ball and Nalaga we’ve heard so much about, but we really didn’t see anything of what he was capable of last Friday night in Canberra.
“I really would like to see James Stannard step up and take control of the fly half.
“He and Brett Sheehan really need to start to improve their performance in controlling a game and giving good, clear direction to the team.”
Queensland, who will enter the clash without injured duo Scott Higginbotham (glute) and Anthony Faingaa (hamstring), were lucky to escape with a last-gasp win over NSW last week.
Western Force: Alfie Mafi, Nick Cummins, Patrick Dellit, Winston Stanley, Napolioni Nalaga, James Stannard, Brett Sheehan, Ben McCalman, David Pocock (capt), Matt Hodgson, Nathan Sharpe, Toby Lynn, Salesi Ma’afu, Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan. Res: Ben Whittaker, Kieran Longbottom, Phoenix Battye, Angus Cottrell, Ben Seymour, Rory Sidey, Sam Wara.
Queensland: Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Ben Tapuai, Jono Lance, Digby Ioane, Mike Harris, Will Genia, Radike Samo, Beau Robinson, Jake Schatz, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Albert Anae, Ben Daley. Res: James Hanson, Greg Holmes, Van Humphries, Eddie Quirk, Liam Gill, Ben Lucas, Rod Davies.
PJ
Guest
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PJ
Guest
Common Force do it by 1-12 please! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
sittingbison
Guest
God there is some rubbish written about the Force. They tough it out every week, its their finest quality. If you read the article it points out the Reds had real scares TWICE last year. They repeatedly lose it in the last 10 minutes when the game is within their grasp, which is not a sign of being sot, the problem is lacking the self belief that comes with a sniff of success. Don't be at all surprised if they beat the Reds, and it wont be the result of dragging them down.
rl
Guest
Cowan and M'aafi may not be as good as the Tah's props, but they are still pretty competent scrummagers, and Cowan does a truckload of work on and off the ball. They gave the us a couple of good scares last year, I wouldn't read too much into the trial game, and they surely couldn't play as badly as last week. And Sharpie's last game at his "real" home ground should get them good and fired up. Reds, but not by much.
Harry
Guest
The Force will attempt to play in their usual negative and tedious style - as Blinky points out, well exposed by Kafer last night. However I think the Reds forwards will match lthem -, particuarly at 1 and 3 - Cowan and M'aafi aren;t as good as Robinosn and Kepu and the Reds backs will show better combination. The Force were dire last week and it will be a real shame if they drag the Reds down to their level. In 2010 the Force got a wuppin at Lang Park and I'm hopeful this will be repeated.
The Great G Nepia
Guest
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Western Force are soft. It's time for them to harden up, get aggressive, and play rugby the way it's supposed to be played, fast, furious and frightening, because at the moment, they wouldn't scare a bunch of 10 year old schoolboys with the way they play.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen (proudly Waratah country)
Guest
I really enjoyed Kafe's chalk board analysis on the Rugby Club show about the one off stuff the Force is subjecting it's fans to. It was damning! Hopefully it will sting them into more adventurous play that is smart & creates try scoring opportunities that excite their fans. They are crying out for a quality 10 to work with that fiesty 9 of their's (Brett Sheen) and give their attack more direction & options. Unfortunately for them I can't see what ever they come up with as making a hoot of difference against a pretty good Reds outfit at home.
Rugbug
Guest
It's hard not to see this match as going to be a rout, I will be surprised if the Force get within 10 of the Reds