Five players with Test experience will bolster a Western Force starting line up that has the “heeby-jeebies” ahead of Friday’s Super Rugby AU opener against the Brumbies.
The Force suffered a winless return to the Australian domestic tournament last year but have gone shopping since as they prepare for their first Super Rugby game in Perth for almost four years.
Wallabies pair Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies) and Tom Robertson (Waratahs), Argentinians Santiago Medrano and Tomás Lezana, and Irish great Rob Kearney have all been named in the starting line-up.
A bench including former Wallaby prop Greg Holmes, World Cup-winning All Black Richard Kahui, Argentinian playmaker Tomás Cubelli and former Australian Sevens talent Tim Anstee is equally impressive.
The Brumbies this week queried whether the new-look side could find enough continuity to match the defending champions in the tournament opener.
But Lock Fergus Lee-Warner is confident they’ll be able to make a statement.
“We’ve been going down to training with serious heeby-jeebies, because we knew it’d be a hard slog,” he said.
“It’s been a preseason like no other and it’s only going to set us up well and hopefully the Brumbies can keep up with us when we go to work.”
Perth product and backrower Kane Koteka said Friday would be a proud moment for rugby in the city and that had not been lost on them.
“The Force has always been my team and when they got cut it was quite devastating,” he said.
“I went away to Japan for two years, but I’m back now and so grateful that the Force are back in Super Rugby where they belong.”
FORCE: Robert Kearney, Byron Ralston, Tevita Kuridrani, Kyle Godwin, Marcel Brache, Jono Lance, Ian Prior, Brynard Stander, Kane Koteka, Tomas Lezana, Fergus Lee Warner, Jeremy Thrush, Santiago Medrano, Feleti Kaitu’u, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Andrew Ready, Angus Wagner, Greg Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Tim Anstee, Tomas Cubelli, Jake McIntyre, Richard Kahui.
Clelo
Guest
Nobody has mentioned Jeremy Thrush as being an All Black. Came on as a replacement against France in 2015. He also played for NZ Secondary Schools, Under - 19's and the Junior All Blacks.
MO
Guest
Bugger for me. I left it too late. Still reckon they shoulda thrown the doors open. Reckon they'd have got close to the 20,000. Now I need to find a tele with the game on.
MO
Guest
JD Richard Kahui on the bench played for New Zealand in the 2011 world cup. Sure anyone can play for a small country like New Zealand but a national team is still a national team so good on him. Kyle Godwin on the other hand played one test match for the Wallabies against France and played pretty well. Probably why he's starting and Kahui is on the bench. Greg Holmes is past his best but he was a test match tighthead. Marcel Brache is a test representative for the mighty US Eagles.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
The sound of music! Thanks, MO.
MO
Guest
Match sold out.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
That is great news, piru. Forget about my "neutral" tag today, I am behind your boys all the way. You guys deserve this on so many levels.
piru
Roar Rookie
I liked it when the Force ran out to the intro of Galvanize by the chemical brothers That was a good one, I think they used Faster Better Stronger by Daft Punk at one time too.
piru
Roar Rookie
We're at half capacity due to COVID, so 10,250 would be a (half) full house. I think we'd be coming close to that
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
What kind of crowd number is expected for tomorrow?
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I liked it when the Force ran out to the intro of Galvanize by the chemical brothers
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Six players with test experience - don’t forget Jeremy Thrush.
BobT
Guest
Hoping the Force do well, I will be pulling on my 2012 Force jersey for the game. I'm nervous about the Brumbies first up but it will be a good measure on how might go this season.
The real SC
Roar Rookie
Happy to see the Force in action for tomorrow. Sadly, I won't make it to the game tomorrow night. Since their axing in 2017, the Force played in the National Rugby Championship in 2018-19 and GLobal Rapid Rugby in 2018-20. COVID19 pandemic has saw the cancellation of the 2020 SR season and the GRR Season, Western Force were invited tot the 2020 Super Rugby AU comp. The Force didn't win any match. I would like to see Western FOrce return to Super Rugby to be made permanent.
piru
Roar Rookie
Looking forward to the Force running out onto HBF again, seems like it's been ages. It'd be good if they'd go back to the old 'Terminator' inspired intro music instead of the nonsense EDM stuff they fell into towards the end of their last run in Super rugby
MO
Guest
I reckon better to start Prior. He is a real part of the glue and cohesion is the concern.Also he's the captain and we love him. Cubelli is a better halfback who will come on and up the ante in the back half of the game. So makes sense to start Prior. Dunno about Miotti. Maybe a niggle. Maybe a little off. Maybe the Force want go out there with the loyal crew (Prior, Lance, Brache).
Jeansyjive
Roar Rookie
I was a bit surprised he wasn't in the squad at least. Could also argue Cubelli should start but I'm sure Sampson has a plan.
Jeansyjive
Roar Rookie
I meant tomorrow
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
It’s tomorrow night!
MO
Guest
No Miotti at 10?
Ex force fan
Guest
Although cohesion could be a problem the Force can win this game if they : - do not to give the Brumbies penalties to kick to the corners to setup line out mauls - take the extra half meter - defend the maul aggressive with variations in the defence - try not to play too much rugby early on but rather kick our goals The Brumbies will play the territory game with the maul their main attacking weapon, the Force has to do the same until the game opens up. We have a very good bench to bring on and can pull through in the last 20 min