Fresh Force for Tigers clash
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:36
Western Force will field a young and dynamic front row to play last season's Guinness Premiership finalists - Leicester Tigers - in the final match of their development tour of England.
Force coach John Mitchell has reshuffled his line-up dramatically after last week's 3-22 defeat to Northampton Saints, highlighted by several positional changes.
The Welford Road clash is expected to provide the toughest test of the tour for the Western Australia (WA) side, who have returned two wins and two losses from their four matches in the United Kingdom.
A young front row will step out for the visitors including Pek Cowan (22), Luke Holmes (24) and Kieran Longbottom (22), while impressive Queensland club recruit Filipe Manu has won a recall at No. 8.
Mitchell was disappointed with his team's set piece effort against the Saints last Saturday and has shifted experienced back row forward Tamaiti Horua to lock to provide greater stability in the line-out.
There has also been significant movement in the backline with James O'Connor switching to fullback for Scott Daruda to return to flyhalf and dynamic running pair Junior Pelesasa and Josh Tatupu reinstated in the midfield.
Mitchell said his team would need to improve on its last outing in order to finish the tour with a positive win-loss ratio.
"Our set piece really let us down in the last match but it's been a great experience for our front row in particular to come over here to England and experience the different conditions and the different types of pressure," said Mitchell.
"At the end of the day we won't be judging ourselves on results on this tour but by what we learned and how we adapted to different situations in games," he said.
Mitchell said Saturday's opponents will be at full strength ahead of the start of the Premiership proper next weekend.
"Leicester are one week out from competition so they will be using this match as an opportunity to look at combinations for the start of the [Premiership] season," said Mitchell.
"You look at their side and they are loaded with England Internationals so it will be a good experience for our side coming up against a committed and full-strength opposition," he added.
Western Force: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Josh Tatupu, 12 Junior Pelesasa, 11 Haig Sare, 10 Scott Daruda, 9 Chris O'Young, 8 Filipe Manu, 7 David Pocock (captain), 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Pat O'Connor, 4 Tamaiti Horua, 3 Kieran Longbottom, 2 Luke Holmes, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Tai McIsaac, 17 AJ Whalley, 18 Gareth Hardy, 19 Brent Murphy, 20 Justin Turner, 21 Dion Berryman, 22 Andrew Barrett.
Date: Saturday, August 30
Venue: Welford Road, Leicester
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland)
Touch
judges: R Campbell/ S Makinson
