Big names return for battle with Blues
The Road Safety Western Force have made several changes to the match day 23 that take on the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland this Saturday, 1 April at 12:15 pm (AWST).
Tetera Faulkner comes back into the starting front row replacing Jermaine Ainsley who dislocated his elbow against the Crusaders last week. After making his Vodafone Super Rugby debut last week, Richie Arnold has been given his first start in the second row, while club stalwart Matt Hodgson comes into the familiar number 7 jersey.
Inside the centre, Bill Meakes comes back into the squad in the number 12 jersey, after recovering from an ankle complaint, with Marcel Brache moving to outside centre. Curtis Rona is unavailable for the game after suffering a concussion against the Crusaders. Wallaby Dane Haylett-Petty returns to the fullback position and will look to pick up where he left against the Brumbies in Round Three.
On the bench, Anaru Rangi – another product of Perth’s local club rugby – is set to play his first match of the season and Australian Under 20s sensation and former Future Force Foundation product Shambeckler Vui is in-line to make his Vodafone Super Rugby debut off the bench.
Head Coach Dave Wessels says his team needs to improve on last week’s performance and taking on the Blues at Eden Park provides the opportunity to do so.
“We know that to turn around the outcome of last week we need to be a lot better in a number of key areas – not least our defence. It’s great to have the experience of Dane, Billy and ‘Hodgo’ back in the side this week.
“The boys have trained really hard this week under difficult circumstances and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of this team.”
2017 Vodafone Super Rugby – Round Six
Blues v Road Safety Western Force
Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday, 1 April 2017
Kick-off: 12:15 PM AWST
Road Safety Western Force Team
- Ben Daley
- Tatafu Polota-Nau
- Tetera Faulkner
- Matt Philip
- Richie Arnold
- Ross Haylett-Petty
- Matt Hodgson
- Isi Naisarani
- Ryan Louwrens
- Jono Lance
- Alex Newsome
- Billy Meakes
- Marcel Brache
- Chance Peni
- Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves
- Anaru Rangi
- Pek Cowan
- Shambeckler Vui
- Richard Hardwick
- Kane Koteka
- Michael Ruru
- Ian Prior
- Robbie Coleman
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