Force side named for final clash of the season
The Western Force have made one change to the match day 23 for the club’s final match of the 2016 Asteron Life Super Rugby season against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night with Brynard Stander to start and Kane Koteka coming onto the bench.
The Western Force will be looking to finish the season on a winning note in the nation’s capital while the Brumbies will be going all out to secure a finals position.
Interim Head Coach Dave Wessels said the team is determined to convert their effort into points this weekend against a talented Brumbies outfit.
“The whole focus this week has been that there are only 80-minutes of rugby left and as a group we’re determined to win each of those 80-minutes and to finish the season on a high.”
“The Brumbies obviously have a lot to play for this week but we aren’t worried about that. We just want to look at what we are doing. Over the last two weeks the effort and intent has been there but lapses in key moments have hurt us, we know that if we can execute for 80-minutes we will be able to get the job done.”
In the front row Pek Cowan and Guy Millar will start at tighthead and loosehead respectively with 22-year-old Harry Scoble to start at hooker.
Ross Haylett-Petty and Rory Walton both put in strong performances against a quality Stormers pack last week and will look to take it up another level when they link up in the second row.
In the only change to the backrow Brynard Stander comes into the starting side to replace the injured Angus Cottrell at blindside flanker, Chris Alcock starts at openside with Richard Hardwick rounding out the starting pack at No.8 in just his second run-on start.
Ian Prior gets the nod as starting scrumhalf and will look to get the Force on the front foot by providing flyhalf Jono Lance with quick ball.
Centres Kyle Godwin and Ben Tapuai will be on the hunt for a quality performance as they look to help the Force get over the line in the final match of the season.
Captain Luke Morahan will start on the left wing with Marcel Brache on the right and Dane Haylett-Petty completes the starting XV at fullback.
Coming off the bench, Francois van Wyk, Ryan Louwrens and Semisi Masirewa will look to make their presence felt after strong performances off the bench last week while Kane Koteka will be keen to run on for his first cap of the 2016 season if called upon.
1. Pek Cowan
2. Harry Scoble
3. Guy Millar
4. Ross Haylett-Petty
5. Rory Walton
6. Brynard Stander
7. Chris Alcock
8. Richard Hardwick
9. Ian Prior
10. Jono Lance
11. Luke Morahan ©
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Ben Tapuai
14. Marcel Brache
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
16. Anaru Rangi
17. Francois van Wyk
18. Jermaine Ainsley
19. Matt Philip
20. Kane Koteka
21. Ryan Louwrens
22. Peter Grant
23. Semisi Masirewa
2016 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 17
Western Force vs Brumbies
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Kick-off: 5:45PM AWST
Related Posts
« 5 Things business can learn form rugby BNZ Crusaders team to play the Hurricanes »
