Force v Brumbies: Teams
An all-Australian clash in Perth sees two struggling teams looking to find a welcome win.
Last Updated: 20/05/11 11:09am
An all-Australian clash in Perth sees two struggling teams looking to find a welcome win in what should be a hit-out at the nib Stadium.
Fresh from a bye, the Force will look to make it a double over the Brumbies after upsetting their Australian rivals at Canberra Stadium in Round Eight.
The Force will also be desperate to secure what will be only their second win at home this season - their one and only victory in Perth so far this year was against the Bulls - and keep the misfiring Brumbies below them in the standings.
The Brumbies are two from eleven this year, and for the very first time in their history have now lost four home games in the one season.
Injuries to prop Salesi Ma'fafu, number eight Ita Vaea and hooker Huia Edmonds doesn't help matters either, so their task gets even tougher.
The return of skipper Rocky Elsom will be a boost for the Brumbies and gives them a whole different look. It's for this reason that Force skipper Nathan Sharpe believes his team will have to be on their toes to secure the points for a second time in 2011.
"We came away with the points against the Brumbies in Canberra and they would have taken some lessons out of that, as have we. I think it will be a completely different contest tomorrow night," Sharpe said.
"We have our goals that we want to tick off, while there is also a strong desire amongst the boys to give a good performance in front of our home supporters who have again been outstanding this season."
Western Force: 15 Patrick Dellit, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Rory Sidey, 12 James O'Connor, 11 David Smith, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe (capt), 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Tom Hockings, 19 Jono Jenkins, 20 James Stannard, 21 Gene Fairbanks, 22 Alfie Mafi.
Brumbies: 15 Patrick McCabe, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Julian Salvi, 7 Colby Faingaa, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Jono Owen.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Peter Kimlin, 19 Michael Hooper, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Andrew Smith.