Blues v Force

[RugbyReg]

Blues: Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Benson Stanley, Luke McAlister, Rudi Wulf, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Viliame Ma'afu, Tom Chamberlain, Jerome Kaino, Filo Paulo, Kurtis Haiu, John Afoa/Tevita Mailau, Keven Mealamu (captain), Tony Woodcock/Mike Reid. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Mailau, Andrew Van Der Heijden, Peter Saili, Chris Smylie, Rene Ranger, Paul Williams

Western Force: 1.Nic Henderson, 2.Nathan Charles, 3.Tim Fairbrother, 4.Tom Hockings, 5.Nathan Sharpe (c), 6.Matt Hodgson, 7.David Pocock, 8.Richard Brown, 9.Chris O’Young, 10.David Hill, 11. Cameron Shepherd, 12.Ryan Cross, 13.Mitch Inman, 14. Mark Bartholomeusz, 15.James O’Connor. Reserves: 16.Ben Whittaker (FR), 17.Matt Dunning (FR), 18. Sam Wykes, 19. Ben McCalman, 20.Justin Turner, 21.Sam Harris, 22.Nick Cummins.

interesting that Rene Ranger has been benched for Luke McAlister.

Meanwhile Charles starts with Whitaker on the bench for the Force.

 

[Lee Grant]

Yep Nod - they are both interesting selections.

Ranger is like a bagful of snakes when he has the pill in his hand but he has got to catch it first - and he's not the best at passing either. Stanley's defence is much better than his also, although he usually plays at 12. I think they will work on their defence and bring Ranger on with 25-30 minutes to go. If I were the Blues I would worry more about their forward effort against the Storm - and especially their lineout.

It will be good to see Charles get a start for the Force. Folks in Sydney like myself thought he'd be a bit more than an Academy player by now and I can't still work out why. He lost his starting spot at Sydney Uni last year, even taking into account his absence because of the IRB U/20 tournament, but he was back for the Shute Shield G/Final. Maybe he was injured; I forget.

He looks like a good player but there is nothing like seeing a bloke start in a Super14 game to assess him properly, is there? All three Oz U/20 hookers from last year could get a start in 2010 if TPN is still injured and Kirkpatrick runs on for the Tahs against the Brumbies - though I hope that his throwing has improved by then. But I digress.

I fear Bartho on defence against the Blues left side attack, but let's see how it goes.

 

[matty_k]

The Blues are keeping with their win every second game strategy.

38 - 3 to Blues 8 mins to go.

 

[matty_k]

Since I started watching the game the Force scrum has been penalised. Dunning is copping the blame.

 

[JJJ]

Looks like it's going to be a bad weekend for Aussie rugby.

 

[matty_k]

In the final minutes Pocock scores and then they end the game with a penalty try. For Blues continually being offside.

Blues: 38 - 17