Force looking Sharpe for opener
Western Force coach John Mitchell is leaning heavily on his World Cup Wallaby stars as his team prepare for the first Super 14 pre-season hit-out, against the Crusaders in Melbourne on Saturday.
Western Force coach John Mitchell is leaning heavily on his World Cup Wallaby stars as his team prepare for the first Super 14 pre-season hit-out, against the Crusaders in Melbourne on Saturday.
Mitchell named a 28-man squad for the encounter at Olympic Park.
World Cup Wallabies Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Cameron Shepherd are among 13 backs named for the match, while skipper Nathan Sharpe anchors a 15-man forwards contingent.
Sharpe said the team's opening trial would provide an opportunity for players to build towards the start of the season proper.
“It's a great opportunity to play rugby again and to start focusing on the things we need to do on the field and build some match fitness and confidence leading into our South Africa tour,” said Sharpe.
The Olympic Park clash continues the tradition of pre-season meetings between the Western Force and the Crusaders, with the two teams having met in the Victorian capital for the past two years.
Sharpe said the match will serve as an important build up to his team's Super 14 season opener against last year's finalists, the Sharks, in Durban on February 15.
“We only have two full hit-outs before the season kicks off, being tomorrow's match and a trial match against the Reds at Members Equity next Thursday night, so we're really looking to gain as much as we can from the next two weeks before we take off for South Africa,” he said.
The 28-man squad features a number of new faces, among them local Perth product Dane Haylett-Petty earning his first run in a Western Force jersey alongside 17-year-old Nudgee College recruit James O'Connor.
Western Force squad:
Backs: Kane Allen, Ryan Cross, Nick Cummins, Scott Daruda, Matt Giteau (vice-captain), Dane Haylett-Petty, Matt Henjak, Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor, Haig Sare, Cameron Shepherd, James Stannard, Josh Tatupu.
Forwards: Richard Brown, Pek Cowan, Scott Fardy, Gareth Hardy, Tom Hockings, Matt Hodgson, Luke Holmes, Tai McIsaac, Thomas Murday, David Pocock, Nathan Sharpe (captain), Troy Takiari, Sitaleki Timani, AJ Whalley, Sam Wykes.
Date: Saturday, 2 February
Venue: Olympic Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19.30 (08.30 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson
Touch judges: Paul McKay, Daniel Kershaw
Assessor: Rick Watsford