COWAN BRINGS UP CENTURY AGAINST THE CHIEFS
Prop Pekahou Cowan will become the second player to play 100 Asteron Life Super Rugby matches for the Western Force when he runs out against the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium on Friday night.
The 28-year-old loosehead was one of the inaugural members of the Force and joins captain Matt Hodgson (113 caps) as the only players to have reached the 100-match mark for the Western Australian club.
Cowan says he’s honoured to reach the 100-cap milestone.
“I can remember my debut for the club really clearly, it was at Subiaco and I came off the bench against the Waratahs,” he said. “We didn’t go so well but from that day I vowed that I wanted play many more games for the Force and I’m so thankful I’ve had that opportunity to do that.
“I’m so grateful I’ve been able to stay here for 10 years and play some good rugby. To play 100 games of Super Rugby is a huge achievement but do it as a one club player makes it even more special.”
Meanwhile, Hodgson will make his first Asteron Life Super Rugby appearance for the year on Friday when he returns from a hamstring injury sustained in a pre-season fixture against the Asia Pacific Dragons.
The Force skipper will return to his familiar openside flank and join No.8 Ben McCalman and blindside flanker Angus Cottrell in a back-row combination that started in 11 of 16 matches during the 2014 season.
A foot injury to interim captain Sam Wykes sees Steve Mafi shift from side of the scrum into the second row.
In the backline, Ian Prior will start his first match of 2015, replacing scrumhalf Alby Mathewson, who has been sidelined with a knee injury.
On the bench, Cottelsoe scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens is in line to make his Asteron Life Super Rugby debut after a knee injury – requiring a reconstruction – scuppered his 2014 season.
Flanker Kane Koteka makes his return after being rested against the Stormers following a concussion while big lock Wilhelm Steenkamp will also start from the Western Force reserves list.
Head Coach Michael Foley says Cowan has been a stalwart across the club’s 10 seasons.
“One hundred matches at this level is a special achievement for both Pek and his family,” he said. “It’s testament to the sacrifices they’ve made together, which have led to Pek being a consistently high performer over 10 years.
“Last week’s performance was a better reflection of how we want to play as a team. The momentum we achieved [against the Stormers] was much improved and we created a number of opportunities as a result. Composure and early and simple communication will ensure we finish more of what we’re creating.”
Tickets are available for the Western Force’s next home match against the NSW Waratahs at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) on Saturday, 9 May. Tickets are available from ticketmaster.com.au.
2015 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 11
Chiefs v Western Force
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Friday, 23 April 2015
Kick-off: 7.35pm (local)/3.35pm (AWST)
1. Pekahou Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3. Tetera Faulkner
4. Steve Mafi
5. Adam Coleman
6. Angus Cottrell
7. Matt Hodgson (c)
8. Ben McCalman
9. Ian Prior
10. Sias Ebersohn
11. Nick Cummins
12. Luke Burton
13. Kyle Godwin
14. Luke Morahan
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves
16. Heath Tessmann
17. Chris Heiberg
18. Oliver Hoskins
19. Wilhelm Steenkamp
20. Kane Koteka
21. Ryan Louwrens
22. Junior Rasolea
23. Marcel Brache
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