Captain Cowan

Inaugural front-rower Pek Cowan will become the seventh player to captain the Emirates Western Force when he leads the side onto the field in tomorrow night’s season opener against the Rebels in Melbourne.

 

The 26-year-old veteran steps into the role in place of injured skipper Matt Hodgson, who remains sidelined after suffering a minor hamstring injury.

 

While excited to spearhead the team he has worked tirelessly for since 2006, Cowan is keen to ensure the added responsibility doesn’t alter his demeanour around the camp.

 

“I’ll stay pretty similar to how I have been with the group,” Cowan said. “I’m pretty open and pretty approachable to most of the boys and that’s the way I’d like to stay.

 

“It’s just a matter of making some hard decisions out on the field. I’ve been doing what I can to earn the respect of the group and I know whatever the decision I make the group will follow and follow it as best they can.”

 

Following a pre-season of change and a renewed focus on quality, standards and earning respect within the squad, Cowan believes the Force has put themselves in a prime position to for their 2013 Super Rugby campaign.

 

“We are so much better prepared, mentally and physically,” he said. “We have a clear understanding of how we want to play; we’ve got great people in the right positions to lead the team forward.

 

“The dynamic of the team is really exciting and it’s a great group of guys to be given the opportunity to lead and I’ve got some great guys around me who are really helpful.”

 

Cowan’s focus leading into tomorrow’s match is centred on what his team can control and not the opposition, boasting the familiar faces of former Force representatives Nic Henderson, Luke Jones, Rory Sidey, Mitch Inman, James O’Connor and Paul Alo-Emile.

 

“At the end of the day we’re going out there tomorrow to play a game of footy, we’re really clear with how we want to play and with the group of guys that we’ve got there is no reason why we can’t get a good result,” he said.