MITCHELL ANNOUNCES EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE TEAM TO PLAY NEWCASTLE IN UK TOUR OPENER
Thursday, 7 August 2008 1:48pm
RugbyWA
Emirates Western Force Coach John Mitchell has named his team to play Guinness Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons in the first of six matches on a development tour of England.
The side, captained by 20 year old flanker David Pocock, includes two Test rugby veterans and a wealth of experienced Super 14 campaigners.
Dual Rugby World Cup back Scott Staniforth will play on the right wing, while 8-Test Wallaby Tai McIsaac has been listed on the reserves bench.
The Friday night clash (Sat am WST) kicks off a torrid five-week tour across England, where the WA side will clash with four top-flight English Premiership teams and two regional academy sides.
Mitchell has opted for a mix of youth and experience for the tour opener, highlighted in the halves where recently-turned 18 year old James O’Connor has been paired with 29-capped scrumhalf Chris O’Young.
O’Connor will wear the number 10 jersey and assume the chief playmaker role for the first time in Emirates Western Force colours, while his namesake, Pat, makes his long-awaited return at lock.
After a standout maiden Super 14 campaign in 2006, Pat O’Connor will don the ocean blue jersey for the first time since recovering from back-to-back knee reconstructions.
Mitchell has also named Australia A representatives Pek Cowan, Matt Hodgson and Scott Daruda,plus Australian Under 20s starsPocock, Sam Wykes and Dane Haylett-Petty in a strong looking 22.
Daruda has been named as one of three reserve backs, alongside new Emirates Western Force recruit Caleb Brown and recently-named Australian Schoolboys scrumhalf Justin Turner.
Australian Sevens star Brown signed a two-year deal with the club in June after three seasons with the Queensland Reds.
Mitchell said the aim of the tour is to assess different combinations and to provide an opportunity for younger squad members to experience high quality rugby.
“We’ve gone for a very good mix of youth and experience and it will be interesting to see how the different combinations work,” he said.
“We will certainly look to mix our squad around during the tour to provide the whole squad with some quality time on the field.”
“With that said we have named players in positions they are competing for ahead of our next Super 14 season. We aren’t just plugging gaps with different players, so it will be interesting to see which players emerge on this tour.”
Mitchell said it will be important for some of his squad members to get some competitive rugby under their belts after lengthy injury lay-offs.
“I’m excited for guys like Pat (O’Connor) and Junior (Pelesasa), who have had long term injuries and have fought their way back to fitness,” he said.
“It will be an extremely important experience, this tour, for so many of our squad and we are looking forward to kick off this Friday night,” he said.
The match gets under way at 8pm local time (3am Saturday 9 August WST) and a full match report will be issued on the morning after the match.
Emirates Western Force v Newcastle Falcons
Friday 8 August, 2008
Kingston Park, Newcastle, England
Kick off: 8pm (3am Saturday 9 August WST)
Emirates Western Force
1. Pek Cowan
2. Luke Holmes
3. AJ Whalley
4. Sam Wykes
5. Pat O’Connor
6. Matt Hodgson
7. David Pocock (c)
8. Tamaiti Horua
9. Chris O’Young
10. James O’Connor
11. Haig Sare
12. Junior Pelesasa
13. Josh Tatupu
14. Scott Staniforth
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves
16. Tai McIsaac
17. Kieran Longbottom
18. Valeni Tia Tia
19. Filipe Manu
20. Justin Turner
21. Scott Daruda
22. Caleb Brown
