[2017 Super Rugby] Round 1: Waratahs vs. Force (25/02/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Allianz Stadium
Time: 10:45 (CAT, GMT+2)​

Teams

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Reece Robinson, 13 Israel Folau, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Michael Wells, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Jack Dempsey, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Tom Robertson

Substitutes (one to be omitted): 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 David Lolohea, 19 Ned Hanigan, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Matt Lucas, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 24 David Horwitz

Force: 1 Pek Cowan, 2 Heath Tessmann (C), 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 4 Ross Haylett-Petty, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Brynard Stander, 7 Kane Koteka, 8 Richard Hardwick, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 10 Jono Lance, 11 Chance Peni, 12 Bill Meakes, 13 Curtis Rona, 14 Luke Morahan, 15 Dane Haylett-Petty D (VC)

Reserves: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Tetera Faulkner, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Isireli Naisarani, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Ian Prior, 23 Alex Newsome

 

[Jaguares]

Waratahs starting XV:

1. Tom Robertson
2. Tolu Latu
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Dean Mumm
5. Will Skelton
6. Jack Dempsey
7. Michael Hooper (C)
8. Michael Wells
9. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Rob Horne
12. Irae Simone
13. Israel Folau
14. Reece Robinson
15. Andrew Kellaway

Reserves:

16. Hugh Roach
17. Paddy Ryan
18. David Lolohea
19. Ned Hanigan
20. Brad Wilkin
21. Matt Lucas
22. Bryce Hegarty
23. Taqele Naiyaravoro
24. David Horwitz
*One to be omitted.

 

[Millsy]

Looking forward to seeing a new look Force and hopefully we will be able to surprise a few teams this season.

 

[Millsy]

Here's how the Western Force will lineup

1 Pek Cowan
2 Heath Tessmann (C)
3 Jermaine Ainsley
4 Ross Haylett-Petty
5 Adam Coleman
6 Brynard Stander
7 Kane Koteka
8 Richard Hardwick
9 Ryan Louwrens
10 Jono Lance
11 Chance Peni *
12 Bill Meakes *
13 Curtis Rona *
14 Luke Morahan
15 Dane Haylett-Petty D (VC)

Reserves
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau**
17 Ben Daley**
18 Tetera Faulkner
19 Matt Philip
20 Isireli Naisarani *
21 Michael Ruru *
22 Ian Prior
23 Alex Newsome *

 

[The Jones Boy]

Israel Folau at centre, that will be interesting.

 

[SomeOke]

Israel Folau at centre, that will be interesting.

He played at centre quite successfully most of last year. Honestly he's good enough to play anywhere, I still think he should play at FB but the Tahs are stacked with OB's and extremely short on centres.

 

[galumay]

The Force have been the Tah's nemisis the last few seasons so this will be a nervous game for the Tah's. Hopefully they can get their season rolling with a solid win against the men from the west!

 

[Jaguares]

Israel Folau at centre, that will be interesting.

Did you see the 2016 season? He plays there since Gibson is the head coach

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Force not only standing their ground but actually leading. Interesting 2h ahead.

 

[galumay]

Even as a Tah's supporter that game nearly bored me to sleep. If they played against a NZ side like that they would lose by 30. It was almost a sense of deja vu, a wet night and the Force outsmarting the Tah's playing rugby to the conditions. At least this time the Tahs ground out a win.

Things to like, well not much really, Latu was good, Big Willy looks lean & keen....thats about it.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Caught the last 20 and thought I was watching the Northern Hemisphere. The Oz conference will be very competitve this year it seems (if the Rebels can get going), but how much they'll be able to compete with the SA and NZ sides seems questionable (although it's first blood for Reds vs Sharks).

 

[Car]

I thought about switching off early and heading to the gym, but thought maybe it'll get better and I can always go later. Except I forgot the gym closes early on Saturdays and there wasn't enough time. Honestly, I should have switched off after 25 minutes or so and have gone there, it surely would have been better than wasting my time like that. I really didn't enjoy the matches I've watched live so far. Shame really, no wonder the attendance is so poor.

 

[Millsy]

I myself liked the way the Force played in a tough loss, can't wait to see us play on a dry track... Have to say I don't agree with taking Lance off in the final 10 for Prior who has played a majority of his career at scrum-half.