Road Safety Western Force named for clash with Reds
The Road Safety Western Force have re-shuffled the starting forward pack but made no changes to the backline in their team to face the Queensland Reds at nib Stadium in Round Two of the Vodafone Super Rugby competition on Thursday, 2 March.
Head Coach Dave Wessels has brought young lock Matt Philip into the starting line-up and he will link with Wallaby big man Adam Coleman in the second row.
In other changes, Ross Haylett-Petty will move to blindside flanker and Brynard Stander will start at No. 8. New recruit Ben Daley will get his first start in the blue jersey at loosehead prop, making a straight swap with stalwart Pek Cowan.
Local products Curtis Rona and Chance Peni will make their long-awaited debuts in front of their home crowd as they line up at inside-centre and right wing respectively.
Road Safety Western Force Head Coach Dave Wessels says that the team will be looking to improve on last weekend’s performance and play some exciting rugby for the Sea of Blue.
“We felt that we were good in a number of areas of the game last Saturday, but we were disappointed that we didn’t win the game.
“So, what we’re looking to do this week, in hopefully better conditions, is be able to show more of what we’ve been working on from an attack perspective.
Wessels went on to say that all Rugby fans need to get down to this game and support Rugby in Western Australia.
“We’re very excited to play in front of our home crowd for the first time this season, and I think there’s a rallying call for West Australians, that if you love rugby and if you want to see Super Rugby continue in this state, whether you support the Force or not, you need to come on Thursday night.
“More than that, we’d like you to bring a mate, it’s really important that we show our numbers at this game that we want to keep professional rugby in Western Australia.”
The Road Safety Western Force kick off against the Queensland Reds at 6:30 pm (AWST) on Thursday, 2 March at the ‘Force Field’ nib Stadium. Gates open at 5:30 pm.
Road Safety Western Force Team
- Ben Daley
- Heath Tessmann (C)
- Jermaine Ainsley
- Matt Philip
- Adam Coleman
- Ross Haylett-Petty
- Kane Koteka
- Brynard Stander
- Ryan Louwrens
- Jono Lance
- Chance Peni
- Billy Meakes
- Curtis Rona
- Luke Morahan
- Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves
- Tatafu Polota-Nau
- Pek Cowan
- Tetera Faulkner
- Richard Hardwick
- Isi Naisarani
- Michael Ruru
- Ian Prior
- Alex Newsome
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