News

Minimal changes for Force

Thursday 27th March 2008

Third time lucky: Daruda will make it three starts for the Force this season on Friday

Western Force coach John Mitchell has made minor changes to his line-up to face the Stormers in Friday's Super 14 match at Subiaco Oval in Perth.

Scrum-half Chris O'Young has again been named in the number nine jersey, but will need to prove his fitness in the team's final training session after pulling out of the Queenstown clash against the Highlanders with a shoulder strain.

Scott Daruda, who signed a new two-year contract with the Perth-based team on Thursday, has been elevated from the replacements bench to start at inside centre.

It will be Daruda's third appearance in the number twelve jersey this season, while loose forward Scott Fava returns to the blindside flank.

The Western Australia side will be hoping to celebrate career milestones for captain Nathan Sharpe (100 Super caps) and Tai McIsaac (50 Super caps) with a victory in their second appearance at home in the 2008 season.

The clash with the eighth-placed Stormers is the first of three consecutive matches at Subiaco Oval, with matches against the Bulls (April 4) and Waratahs (April 12) to follow.

Mitchell said his side was hoping to treat the Perth crowd to a strong performance in its first home match in three weeks.

"Our fans haven't seen much of us at home this season but the team is really looking forward to backing up our form overseas with a strong performance against the Stormers on Friday night," said Mitchell.

Mitchell said the Stormers will be determined to complete their Australasian tour with a win.

"The Stormers have shown that they are capable of beating anyone in the competition and they have toured quite well," he said.

"They are probably the best attacking team in South Africa so we are under no illusions as to the threat they pose to us on Friday night."

Force: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Scott Daruda, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Chris O'Young, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fava, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 AJ Whalley, 2 Tai Mcisaac, 1 Pekahou Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Troy Takiari, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Tamaiti Horua, 20 James Stannard, 21 Lachlan MacKay, 22 Nick Cummins

Date: Friday March 28
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Perth
Kick-off: 20:00 (11:00 GMT)
Referee: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Geoff Acton (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Assessor: Brendan McCormick (Australia)