Second big blow for Force
The Western Force, still reeling from the news that scrumhalf Matt Henjak had his contract torn up, were dealt a second big blow with the announcement that fullback Cameron Shepherd has been ruled out of the Super 14 Week Two clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday.
The Western Force, still reeling from the news that scrumhalf Matt Henjak had his contract torn up, were dealt a second big blow with the announcement that fullback Cameron Shepherd has been ruled out of the Super 14 Week Two clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday.
The Force will face a Cheetahs outfit desperate to make amends for last weekend's shock season-opening loss to the Lions.
The Perth-based team also has to contend with the loss of Shepherd, who was ruled out on Wednesday with a knee ligament strain, and Henjak – who was told on Tuesday that his contract with the Force has been terminated as a result of his barroom brawl with teammate Haig Sare in Perth almost a fortnight ago.
Drew Mitchell will play his 50th Super Rugby game and will return to the position he played for the majority of last year, fullback, in Shepherd's absence.
The change prompted a reshuffle of the backline, with Scott Staniforth and Ryan Cross sliding out one position to outside centre and wing respectively, while Scott Daruda moves from the bench to inside centre.
Former Brisbane-based boilermaker James Stannard will make his run on debut at scrumhalf, after a 15-minute cameo from the replacement bench in his Super 14 debut against the Sharks last Friday – taking the spot vacated by Henjak, found guilty of a serious breach of the team's Code of Conduct regulations.
Stannard, who goes by the nickname 'Chucky', has extra reason to celebrate this week – with his 25th birthday occurring the day before his starting debut.
Coach John Mitchell has also tinkered with his forward pack, selecting a rookie blindside flank and a new-look front row.
Australian Under-19 star Sam Wykes will make his Super 14 debut in the No.6 jersey, while another relative rookie, Pek Cowan, will make his starting XV debut at loosehead prop.
Troy Takiari replaces AJ Whalley at tighthead prop, while rookie lock Tom Hockings has edged out David Pusey to retain his place in the second row alongside captain Nathan Sharpe.
Mitchell has provided plenty of cover for his big men, naming five forwards on the reserves bench.
Former Brumbies flank Tamaiti Horua will make his debut appearance for his new team, after gaining a release from Japanese club Toyota last week.
Horua, whose last appearance for the Brumbies came prior to the expansion of Super Rugby in 2005, will celebrate his return to Australian rugby alongside a resurgent Lachlan MacKay.
MacKay has managed just three appearances for the Western Force since joining the team for its debut season in 2006, spending the majority of the past two years rehabilitating from various leg injuries.
The coach, Mitchell, said he had always planned to mix up his team selections during the three-week South Africa tour.
“We had a plan for every member of the touring squad to play football on this tour and we're sticking to that plan,” said Mitchell.
“Obviously with Matt [Henjak] returning for the tribunal we were left with one less back in the squad for this match so we've had to go with five forwards on the bench,” he said.
Western Force: 15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Ryan Cross, 13 Scott Staniforth, 12 Scott Daruda, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Matt Giteau (vice-captain), 9 James Stannard, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Sam Wykes, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Troy Takiari, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 AJ Whalley, 18 David Pusey, 19 Tamaiti Horua, 20 Scott Fava, 21 Lachlan MacKay, 22 Josh Tatupu.
Date: Friday, 22 February
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 18.00 (16.00 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Michael Cupido (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel (South Africa)
Performance auditor: Ian Scotney (Australia)