Super 15: Force - Brumbies in Perth (21-05-2011)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Perth Oval, Perth (21-05-2011 13:05 GMT)

The Brumbies have been the most disappointing team so far in 2011's Super Rugby campaign. With a very nasty schedule ahead of them, they are likely to end last having already gotton their 2 bye's with the Lions and Rebels still getting one. Can the Canberra side beat the Western Force in Perth to prevent this from happening? The team lost to the Lions at home last weekend and now has to travel across the desert to Perth and snatch a win. Matt Giteau and Mark Chisholm will move to Europe at the end of the year and Adam Ashley-Cooper is going to the Waratahs. without these 3, the Brumbies might even do worse next year. They have to defend the honor that fits a previous Super Rugby champion, but it will be tough. They lost the first encounter between the two earlier this season in Canberra.

The Force did beat the Brumbies 19-27 but they are very dependent on James O'Connor. Without the boy-wonder, the Force would not even be close to the spot they have now on the log. Having scored the least tries of all, is a sign that proves the Boys in Blue are depending too much on JOC's kicking with his penalties. The Force have won 3 of the last 4 matches played between the 2 and that says a lot. Matches between the two are usually close and only the first match in 2006 ended in a 10+ win. The Brumbies might see hope in the fact that the last 3 times, the visitors have won in a Brumbies-Force/Force-Brumbies match. Can they extend that and snatch a win? Can they recover and get revenge for that loss in Canberra against the Force?



2011 Brumbies 19-27 Force
2010 Force 15-24 Brumbies
2009 Brumbies 16-25 Force
2008 Force 29-22 Brumbies
2007 Brumbies 14-12 Force
2006 Force 10-25 Brumbies

 

[TNT88]

Similar line up to last time they played for the Force.

1. Pek Cowan
2. Nathan Charles
3. Matt Dunning
4. Sam Wykes
5. Nathan Sharpe (Captain)
6. Matt Hodgson
7. David Pocock
8. Ben McCalman
9. Brett Sheehan
10. Willie Ripia
11. David Smith
12. James O'Connor
13. Rory Sidey
14. Nick Cummins
15. Patrick Dellit

Brumbies:

1. Jono Owen
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. Ben Hand
5. Mark Chisholm
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Colby Faingaa
8. Julian Salvi
9. Josh Valentine
10. Matt Giteau
11. Adam Ashley-Cooper
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Tyrone Smith
14. Henry Speight
15. Pat McCabe

Brumbies have the better backs. But the Force forward pack has had a few games together now (at full strength), and will hopefully blow the Brumbies off the park

 

[Shaggy]

I see the Brumbies have some newbie called R.Elsom listed at 6 ... I wonder how he'll go

... should be a close match ... I predict a win to the Force by 1 point

 

[Darwin]

I'm expecting it to be close. Good to see Elsom back, but he will be up against it a facing a high quality Force loose-trio. I'm picking the Force to win, but it is very hard to call!

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Force are without a shadow of a doubt the WORST team when it comes to closing out tight matches. Force, you disappoint me yet again. Soo many opportunities to win tight games and they ALWAYS find a way to blow it

 

[TNT88]

Pretty disappointing. Hodgeson and Pocock were brilliant, Wykes was great once again (and got MOM), but the rest of the team were pretty average.

It seems like we are going to have to play O'Connor at 10 from now on. You would think he gets better opportunities at 12, but he just gets overly marked and not enough time in a flat backline.