Force vs Crusaders highlights: Crusaders steal victory late

Roar Guru

8th April, 2016

6883 Reads

Kick-off: 9:00pm (AEST)
Venue: NiB Stadium, Perth
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Betting: Force $4.00, Crusaders $1.25
TV: Live, Fox Sports

Force
1. Pek Cowan, 2. Heath Tessman, 3. Tetera Faulkner, 4. Steve Mafi, 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Matt Hodgson (captain), 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Peter Grant, 11. Semisi Masirewa, 12. Junior Rasolea, 13. Ben Tapuai, 14. Luke Morahan, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty

Subs
16. Nathan Charles, 17. Francois van Wyk, 18. Jermaine Ainsley, 19. Rory Walton, 20. Richard Hardwick, 21. Ryan Louwrens, 22. Ian Prior, 23. Albert Nikoro

Crusaders
1. Wyatt Crockett, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Jordan Taufua, 7. Matt Todd, 8. Kieran Read (captain), 9. Mitchell Drummond, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Nemani Nadolo, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Sean Wainui, 14. Johnny McNicholl, 15. Ben Volavola

Subs
16. Ged Robinson, 17. Joe Moody, 18. Mike Alaalatoa, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Jimmy Tupou, 21. Andy Ellis, 22. Kieron Fonotia, 23. Jone Macilai

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The Crusaders are flying high. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Nathan Farebrother

Roar Guru

8th April, 2016

6883 Reads

The Force will enter their clash with the pumped-up Crusaders on Friday night with a 1-5 record this season. Tune into The Roar from 9:00pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary, and to see whether or not the Force can get their second win this season.

In the solitary change to the Force’s line-up, coach Michael Foley has given Ross Haylett-Petty another week off after receiving a nasty head-knock in their loss to the Hurricanes last weekend. For this reason, Steve Mafi will make his long-awaited return to the starting line-up, whilst prop Francois van Wyk will make his first appearance off the bench after recovering from his own injury.

Even though Foley and the whole organisation that is the Western Force have been disappointed with the results so far in 2016, there are definitely positives that can be taken away.

“We set about changing the way we play this season by being more dynamic with ball in hand and while we haven’t got the wins we’d all like, we will persevere”, Foley stated.

Meanwhile across the Tasman, the Crusaders have made numerous changes to the side that just trumped the Lions by six points in their round 6 clash.

All-Black Sam Whitelock, flanker Jordan Taufua, exciting scrumhalf Mitchell Drummond and centre Sean Wainui all make their way back into the starting squad, meaning that Scott Barrett, Jimmy Tupou, Andy Ellis and Kieron Fonotia all take their respective places on the bench.

Additionally, Fijian international and former NSW Shute Shield player Ben Volavola returns to the 15 jersey, replacing the injured David Havili and hooker Ged Robinson (formerly a Melbourne Rebel) has been given a chance as a second-fiddle behind Codie Taylor.

For the Crusaders, heading to Western Australia is a difficult task often met with grim results. The Crusaders have only managed to win one of their last three matches in Perth.

However, if you’re a Force fanatic, you’d have to be concerned with the 80 points that the Force have conceded in the last quarter of matches this season – the most by any team. In contrast, the Crusaders have managed to keep a positive differential in all four quarters, only the second team to achieve this.

Prediction
Even though the Crusaders struggle in Perth, it’s likely they will be too strong on Friday night given the form they have shown.

Crusaders by 13.

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