GRR R1 - Western Force v Malaysia Valke - HBF Park - 14 march - 6:15 PM (WST)

[ForceFan]

Double-header at home to kick-off Season 1 of Global Rapid Rugby.

The other game of Round 1 is at 6:15 PM (Fiji Time) - 2:15 PM (WST) -
Fijian Latui v China Lions

 

[ForceFan]

A few words from Coach Tim Sampson with 5 days to go.

 

[ForceFan]

Officials for Round 1

Manuma Samoa vs South China Tigers at HBF Park
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mark Sheriff (Australia), Jordan Kaminski (Australia)
Television match official: Kyle Burnett (Australia)
Assessor: Hugh Watkins (Hong Kong)

Western Force vs Malaysia Valke at HBF Park
Referee: Tim Baker (Hong Kong)
Assistant referees: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong), Sam Jones (Australia)
Television match official: Kyle Burnett (Australia)
Assessor: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

Fiji Latui vs China Lions at ANZ Stadium, Suva
Referee: Cam Stone (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Richard Kelly (New Zealand), Tevita Rokovereni (Fiji)
Television match official: Jonathan Paterson (New Zealand)
Assessor: Greg Hinton (Malaysia)

 

[Sully]

No SA refs. Nice!

 

[ForceFan]

South China Tigers team for match against Manuma Samoa

1. Thomas Bristow
2. Alexander Post
3. Tau Koloamatangi
4. Mark Prior
5. Kyle Sullivan
6. Josh Dowsing
7. Luke van der Smit
8. James Sawyer
9. Liam Slatem
10. Glyn Hughes
11. Ben Axten-Burrett
12. Michael Green
13. Whiria Meltzer
14. Nathan de Thierry
15. George Watkins

16. Callum Mcfeat Smith
17. Campbell Wakely
18. Jack Parfitt
19. James Cunningham
20. Sam Tsoi
21. Bryn Phillips
22. Gregor McNeish
23. Sean Taylor

 

[RugbyReg]

McNeish on the bench seems ludicrous.

Thrilled for Dowsing though - such a big fan of his work.

 

[RugbyReg]

1. Angus WAGNER, 2. Feleti KAITU’U, 3. Kieran LONGBOTTOM, 4. Johan BARDOUL, 5. Fergus LEE-WARNER, 6. Henry STOWERS, 7. Chris ALCOCK, 8. Brynard STANDER, 9. Ian PRIOR ( C ), 10. AJ ALATIMU, 11. Brad LACEY, 12. Henry TAEFU, 13. Marcel BRACHE, 14. Byron RALSTON, 15. Jack MCGREGOR.

Reserves. 16. Andrew READY, 17. Chris HEIBERG, 18. Tom SHEMINANT, 19. Ben GRANT, 20. Tevin FERRIS, 21. Jacob ABEL, 22. Grason MAKARA, 23. Jake STRACHAN

 

[ForceFan]

Strong team..
Fantastic to see Brache, Grant and Ferris back on the pitch.

 

[RugbyReg]

I find it odd that the Force are claiming Angus Wagner, Byron Ralston, Jacob Abel, Grason Makara and Jake Strachan are debutants. Sure it’s only Wagner and Abel?

 

[SteveWA]

I find it odd that the Force are claiming Angus Wagner, Byron Ralston, Jacob Abel, Grason Makara and Jake Strachan are debutants. Sure it’s only Wagner and Abel?

Debutants in Rapid Rugby, having only played in the NRC and in trials.

 

[RugbyReg]

Debutants in Rapid Rugby, having only played in the NRC and in trials.

But they have played for the Force in a competiton haven't they? Or does the trophy won in the NRC actually not mean anything?

And isn't this the first year of GRR? So most of that team would be debutants by that reasoning?

 

[ForceFan]

But they have played for the Force in a competiton haven't they? Or does the trophy won in the NRC actually not mean anything?

And isn't this the first year of GRR? So most of that team would be debutants by that reasoning?

Beggars can't be choosers RR.

The Western Force have counted caps for all games in WSR (2018) and the Rugby Showcase Series (2019) and will count games in GRR.
There'll certainly be many more to come - especially with the planned expansion for next year and beyond.

Off course the NRC finals win meant a good deal (as did the disappointment in the previous season).
Who can forget that 41:3 win over the Canberra Vikings (a team which had 12 Super Rugby experienced players including 5 Wallabies and current form players such as Samu and Banks as well as Miller and Powell)?

The Super Rugby teams don't count trial games or NRC games in their cap count - so what's the difference?

 

[Braveheart81]

The Super Rugby teams don't count trial games or NRC games in their cap count - so what's the difference?

Trial games don't count as capped games because they are played under different conditions (sometimes different game lengths and certainly more than 23 players with unlimited replacements).

The Super Rugby teams don't play in the NRC. They are all different teams.

I think it is kind of strange to make 2018 and 2019 which were primarily one-off games (I know they kept tables for last years' Asian and Pacific showcases) capped appearances but then not count the NRC which is an actual competition with finals.

 

[VassMan]

I think they are trying to differentiate GRR (WSR and Showcase as well) from the NRC just like they used to when in Super Rugby and having the Perth Spirit in the NRC. But they wanted to keep the Force banner flying all year around. Not sure what happens with the stats for players during the NRC then though.

 

[ForceFan]

China Lions team for game against Fijian Latui.

 

[RebelYell]

Tyler Campbell a former Australian Schoolboys winger

 

[ForceFan]

Chance to look at the Round 1 games head-to-head.



Match Review - Fiji v China



Match Review - Samoa v Sth China



Match Review - WForce v Malaysia Valke

 

[kiap]

The Valke

 

[ForceFan]

GAME DAY INFORMATION: FORCE V MALAYSIA VALKE and Manuma Samoa v South china tigers


March 13, 2020
As we have done in the past few months, the Western Force is following the Western Australian Health Department, Federal Government and Rugby Australia advice in relation to the Coronavirus.

Based on the very latest information, tomorrow’s opening match of the Global Rapid Rugby season will go ahead as planned.

We look forward to welcoming as many WA rugby and sports fans to HBF Park as possible.
In the interests of both team and player safety, the usual player interaction with spectators at the end of the match will not occur.

We also ask that everyone attending the match does everything they can from a hygiene perspective to ensure the venue remains safe.

Please do not attend if you are feeling unwell; have returned from overseas travel in the last 14 days; or have had contact with someone confirmed to have COVIOD-19.


Read more.....

 

[HJ Nelson]

Tyler Campbell a former Australian Schoolboys winger

Actually played fly-half at school, and for Australia A. Has played on the wing since going over to NZ though (Waikato NPC)