SRP (Super Rugby Pacific) Round 1 25/02/23 Force v Rebels

[KevinO]

interesting competition the Rebels are running on FB, name the first round stating XV, gives an indication who is (at this stage of the week ) fit for selection, of the doubtful as distinct from the no chance, no Hosea, but Gibbon is an option, so is Pone F. all the other usual suspects.

Gibbon is not injured, his wife is due to give birth any day now.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Well my fears of a long and painful season have just got worse...

 

[RugbyReg]

that's a bugger. He was very strong v the Drua. A big loss.

This game is very hard to tip

 

[GaffaCHinO]

My stab at the 23 for the first game...I must say it doesn't full me with much hope the rest of the season a few injuries (already noticeable) and it's a veryyyyy long season.

1 Tom Robinson
2 Folau Fainga'a
3 Santiago Madrano
4 Ryan McCauley
5 Jeremy Williams
6 Tim Anstey
7 Ollie Callan (no news on Koteka unsure if available hasn't been involved in trials)
8 Michael Wells

9 Ian Prior (think they will go this way to give a calm head to start the game/season)
10 Hamish Stuart
11 Manasa Mataele
12 Bailey Kunzal (appeared to be injured during trial if out no idea...Poolman/Tapine? )
13 Sam Spink
14 Toni Pulu
15 Chase Tiatia

16 Faleti Kaitu'u
17 Angus Wagner
18 Bo Abra
19 Jackson Pugh
20 Felix Kalapu
21 Issac Fines
22 Bryce Hegarty
23 Jack Strachan

 

[Rebel man]

My stab at the 23 for the first game...I must say it doesn't full me with much hope the rest of the season a few injuries (already noticeable) and it's a veryyyyy long season.

1 Tom Robinson
2 Folau Fainga'a
3 Santiago Madrano
4 Ryan McCauley
5 Jeremy Williams
6 Tim Anstey
7 Ollie Callan (no news on Koteka unsure if available hasn't been involved in trials)
8 Michael Wells

9 Ian Prior (this they will go this way to give a call head to start the game/season)
10 Hamish Stuart
11 Manasa Mataele
12 Bailey Kunzal (appeared to be injured during trial if out no idea...Poolman/Tapine? )
13 Sam Spink
14 Toni Pulu
15 Chase Tiatia

16 Faleti Kaitu'u
17 Angus Wagner
18 Bo Abra
19 Jackson Pugh
20 Felix Kalapu
21 Issac Fines
22 Bryce Hegarty
23 Jack Strachan

What’s happened to the young bloke who carved us up at 10 at AAMI park? Played at Nudge.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

What’s happened to the young bloke who carved us up at 10 at AAMI park? Played at Nudge.

Pasitoa he did his ACL playing club footy around August will be out for most of the season.

 

[RugbyReg]

I thought Felix Kalapu was very good in the trial v the Drua. I'd be inclined to pick him.

 

[Rebel man]

Pasitoa he did his ACL playing club footy around August will be out for most of the season.

Fuck sorry to hear

 

[swingpass]

ill take a stab, given the apparent availability of all the below
1 Orr
2 Mafi
3 Eloff
4 Canham
5 Tualima
6 Kemeny
7 Wilkin
8 Ioane
9 Tuttle
10 C Gordon
11 M Ioane
12 Jooste
13 Illi
14 Anderson
15 Hodge

16 toss up but Uelese ?
17 Gibbon
18 Talakai
19 Cardall
20 Hardwick
21 Ekausi
22 Louwrens
23 Ripley

i think they will run 6/2 bench if not then Ekausi drops out and Pincus comes in.

 

[Dctarget]

ill take a stab, given the apparent availability of all the below
1 Orr
2 Mafi
3 Eloff
4 Canham
5 Tualima
6 Kemeny
7 Wilkin
8 Ioane
9 Tuttle
10 C Gordon
11 M Ioane
12 Jooste
13 Illi
14 Anderson
15 Hodge

16 toss up but Uelese ?
17 Gibbon
18 Talakai
19 Cardall
20 Hardwick
21 Ekausi
22 Louwrens
23 Ripley

i think they will run 6/2 bench if not then Ekausi drops out and Pincus comes in.

I think Pincus will be there instead of Anderson.

Excited to see Ekausi, think he could be a real dark horse.

 

[KevinO]

That's nearly what I picked in that comp, had illi and Ripley in the centers

 

[RugbyReg]

Western Force Team list
1 Tom Robertson
2 Folau Fainga'a *
3 Santiago Medrano
4 Felix Kalapu **
5 Jeremy Williams *
6 Tim Anstee
7 Ollie Callan
8 Michael Wells (C) *
9 Ian Prior
10 Bryce Hegarty *
11 Zach Kibirige **
12 Hamish Stewart *
13 Sam Spink **
14 Manasa Mataele
15 Chase Tiatia *
16 Feleti Kaitu'u
17 Angus Wagner
18 Siosifa Amone ***
19 TBC
20 Jackson Pugh
21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
22 Bayley Kuenzle
23 Toni Pulu
*Denotes Force debut
**Denotes Super Rugby Pacific debut
***Denotes possible Super Rugby Pacific debut

 

[Slim 293]

Sooooo.... Hamish Stewart isn't going to play flyhalf?

 

[scrans21]

How often do you see a professional team who's captain is also playing their first game for the club? (not including pre-season matches)

 

[KevinO]

How often do you see a professional team who's captain is also playing their first game for the club? (not including pre-season matches)

Let alone against the team he was captain of the previous season

 

[Slim 293]

How often do you see a professional team whose captain is also playing their first game for the club? (not including pre-season matches)

Ben Mowen, Brumbies 2012.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Western Force Team list
1 Tom Robertson
2 Folau Fainga'a *
3 Santiago Medrano
4 Felix Kalapu **
5 Jeremy Williams *
6 Tim Anstee
7 Ollie Callan
8 Michael Wells (C) *
9 Ian Prior
10 Bryce Hegarty *
11 Zach Kibirige **
12 Hamish Stewart *
13 Sam Spink **
14 Manasa Mataele
15 Chase Tiatia *
16 Feleti Kaitu'u
17 Angus Wagner
18 Siosifa Amone ***
19 TBC
20 Jackson Pugh
21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
22 Bayley Kuenzle
23 Toni Pulu
*Denotes Force debut
**Denotes Super Rugby Pacific debut
***Denotes possible Super Rugby Pacific debut

19 TBC this must be the announcement hinted by Jono Lance aswell as Michael Wells on a podcast with heath tessman

 

[GaffaCHinO]

I actually don't hate the side would love to have Koteka back in the forwards along with the 2 big losses of Rodda and Pasitoa but otherwise I think it's a team able to be competitive but as soon as injuries happen I feel the pain will be quick

 

[swingpass]

teams up

 

[swingpass]

interesting no Orr or Eloff (injured ?) otherwise as expected 23