MacKay to fill the boots of Giteau
Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:30
Lachlan MacKay will wear the No.10 jersey for the Western Force when they take on the Reds in a Super 14 clash in Brisbane on Friday.
The 25-year-old MacKay will make his first appearance at flyhalf for the Force, after joining the team from the Waratahs in its inaugural season of 2006.
MacKay's elevation to the starting line-up has opened the door for 17-year-old rookie James O'Connor to make his first appearance in the Force match 22.
O'Connor, who has Australian, Kiwi and South African ancestory, joined the Perth franchise from Brisbane this season after graduating from renowned rugby nursery Nudgee College.
An Australian Schoolboys representative last year, the 82kg inside back starred for the Australian Sevens team at the recent IRB World Series Sevens event in Adelaide.
Coach John Mitchell has kept his forward pack intact after last week's epic clash with the Waratahs, but has made one additional change to his backline.
Haig Sare, who earned five minutes from the reserves bench in his comeback appearance from a lengthy suspension last Saturday, has been elevated into the starting XV at right wing with Nick Cummins reverting to the bench.
Experienced flank Tamaiti Horua also returns to the reserves bench after playing for Cottesloe in the Western Australia Senior Competition last weekend.
He will replace Matt Hodgson in the No.19 jersey.
Mitchell said his team's play-off destiny was still in its hands despite last week's defeat to the Waratahs.
"We feel that we're in control of our destiny from here onwards and obviously we've got no choice but to win each of our remaining matches," said Mitchell.
Mitchell said the Reds would enter the contest refreshed after their bye week.
"Having the bye week is hugely beneficial for recovery and those sorts of things, and they've been back from South Africa now for a couple of weeks so they'll be nice and fresh," he said.
Mitchell said his team was preparing for yet another confrontational battle against their Australian rivals.
"It's another Australian derby so it’s going to be just as full on and committed as it was [against the Waratahs] you'd think," said Mitchell.
Scott Staniforth has been named as the team's new vice-captain in the absence of Giteau.
Western Force: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Haig Sare, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Scott Staniforth (vice-captain), 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Lachlan MacKay, 9 Chris O'Young, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fava, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Troy Takiari, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 AJ Whalley, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Tamaiti Horua, 20 James Stannard, 21 James O'Connor, 22 Nick Cummins.
Date: Friday, April 18
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off:
19.40 (09.40 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Julian Pritchard (Australia), Simon Moore (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
