The Western Force will be disappointed about their effort against the Reds last week and will be planning to ambush the Hurricanes who will be cock-a-hoop after winning both their games in South Africa.
Last Week
Most Force fans will want to erase the Reds game from their collective memories. It was dire with a capital “D”. The set-piece was a shambles; the breakdown was a mess. Three forwards left the pitch with injuries ranging from a game or two on the sideline, to season-enders.
You know the whole team has performed poorly when almost nobody comes into contention for the Australian Team of the Week – yet the Reds weren’t that good.
The only positive is that the Reds and Waratahs looked like this after Round 1 and managed to bounce back in Round 2.
The bell has tolled on the Force scrum…
The Hurricanes must be buoyant after two solid wins on the road in South Africa. A win in Perth would make it three from three on the road. That’s impressive. But some would say they were lucky to get the points against the Bulls at Loftus.
Will their luck run out in Perth?
The Game
Many will be writing off the Force after last weekend, especially when you take one look at the star studded Hurricanes’ back line. However when you consider some of the factors, the Hurricanes winning in Perth might be more of a challenge than outsiders would expect.
The Hurricanes have a six-day turn-around from their game in Pretoria and they will be lucky to have arrived in Perth by midday Monday local time.
They will be weary from their travel and will have little time to shake niggling injuries inflicted by the physical South Africans. They won’t be pushovers, but they will probably be at their most vulnerable all season.
The Force will aim at forward dominance. With one eye on the Hurricanes backs, the Force will keep the game tight. Metres will be made close to the ruck and through the 10 channel where Beauden Barrett is not a renowned defender. This is familiar territory for the Force and would be playing to their strengths.
Beauden Barrett (right) – not a renowned defender
The Hurricanes on the other hand will want a fast, unstructured game where the individual skills their backs will come to the fore. In the absence of Hodgson and Alcock (not announced but likely), the Hurricanes will also target the breakdown through the likes of Ardie Savea and Victor Vito.
Quick ball for the Hurricanes could have a cricket score notched up against the Force. The selection of Blade Thomson (normally a backrower) in the second row emphasises how important the Hurricanes see winning the battle of the breakdown.
Team News
The Hurricanes welcome back Victor Vito and Ardie Savea to the starting team having sat on the bench against the Bulls. They will be rested and ready to rip in.
Meanwhile star players Conrad Smith and TJ Perenara are out of the starting XV, with the former out of the match day 23 altogether. Force fans will be glad Perenara will start on the bench as he scored a hat-trick last time he played here.
The Force are yet to name their starting line-up. Injuries to Francois van Wyk, Adam Coleman and Chris Alcock are likely to see these three on the sidelines. Force fans will be hoping that Pek Cowan is back and will hope that Wilhelm Steenkamp, who should replace Coleman, might help their lineout woes.
The Key Match-ups
An interesting match up in this game is the head to head between the two halfbacks, Alby Mathewson and Chris Smylie. Both seasoned campaigners who have overlapped their careers at the Hurricanes and the Blues. This could get messy if Mathewson has anything to say about it.
This also happens to be the area where the Force appear to have an advantage. Mathewson has an important leadership role in marshalling the Force forwards and organising the Force attack.
Smylie’s selection is an interesting one. He appears to be an experienced head brought in to offset the loss of Conrad Smith, or maybe it’s just a tour rotation.
As for picking game changers: you can’t go past the battle for the breakdown. With an unnamed Force side, it will have to be the colossal struggle between Ben McCalman and Victor Vito. Two capped internationals who will be desperate to assert themselves in the minds of their national selectors.
The Fearless Prediction
I just can’t see the Force winning this one as much as I try.
The game will be close at half time, but the Hurricanes will breeze away to a 12 point victory at the final whistle.
Force v Hurricanes
Pek Cowan 1 Reggie Goodes
Nathan Charles 2 Dane Coles ( c)
Tetera Faulkner 3 Ben Franks
Sam Wykes 4 Blade Thomson
Steve Mafi 5 James Broadhurst
Angus Cottrell 6 Ardie Savea
Brynard Stander 7 Brad Shields
Ben McCalman 8 Victor Vito
Alby Mathewson 9 Chris Smylie
Zack Holmes 10 Beauden Barrett
Marcel Brache 11 Julian Savea
Solomoni Jnr Rasolea 12 Ma'a Nonu
Kyle Godwin 13 Rey Lee-Lo
Luke Morahan 14 Cory Jane
Luke Burton 15 James Marshall
Reserves
Heath Tessmann 16 Brayden Mitchell
Chris Heiberg 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
Oliver Hoskins 18 Chris Eves
Rory Walton 19 Mark Abbott
Kane Koteka 20 Callum Gibbins
Ian Prior 21 TJ Perenara
Sias Ebersohn 22 Matt Proctor
Mitchell Scott 23 Nehe Milner-Skudder
Location: nib Stadium, Perth
Kickoff: Fri 27 Feb 22:00
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Ref 1: Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 2: Graham Cooper
TMO : George Ayoub
