• Home
  • Forum
  • Super Rugby
    • ACT Brumbies
    • Melbourne Rebels
    • NSW Waratahs
    • Queensland Reds
    • Western Force
  • Wallabies
    • All Blacks
    • Argentina
    • Barbarians
    • British & Irish Lions
    • England
    • Fiji
    • France
    • Ireland
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Samoa
    • Scotland
    • Wales
  • Women’s Rugby
  • Rugby World Cup
    • 2023 Rugby World Cup Fantasy League
  • Sevens
  • Schoolboy
  • Podcast

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

Game Pre/Review: Argentina vs Chile – Pool A – Saturday 30th September

September 30, 2023

Game Review – New Zealand vs Italy – Pool A Friday 29 September

September 30, 2023

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics 2 – More Lies

September 29, 2023
Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter
Green & Gold Rugby
Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Super Rugby
    1. ACT Brumbies
    2. Melbourne Rebels
    3. NSW Waratahs
    4. Queensland Reds
    5. Western Force
    6. View All

    Friday’s Rugby News – 23/6/23

    June 22, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 12/6/23

    June 11, 2023

    Friday’s Rugby News – 9/6/23

    June 9, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 5/6/23

    June 4, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 5/6/23

    June 4, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 29/5/23

    May 28, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 15/5/23

    May 14, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 8/5/23

    May 7, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 5/6/23

    June 4, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 29/5/23

    May 28, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 15/5/23

    May 14, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 8/5/23

    May 7, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 5/6/23

    June 4, 2023

    Thursdays Rugby News 1/6/23

    June 1, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 29/5/23

    May 28, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 15/5/23

    May 14, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 5/6/23

    June 4, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 29/5/23

    May 28, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 15/5/23

    May 14, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 8/5/23

    May 7, 2023

    Happy’s Thursday Rugby News –Eddie Jones Is the Answer for Australian Rugby

    August 24, 2023

    Happy’s Thursday Rugby News – The Chocolate Wheel of Injustice

    August 17, 2023

    Thursdays Rugby News – May the Force Be With Them

    August 10, 2023

    Happy Thursday – Its Not a Conspiracy If They Are Picking On You

    August 3, 2023
  • Wallabies
    1. All Blacks
    2. Argentina
    3. Barbarians
    4. British & Irish Lions
    5. England
    6. Fiji
    7. France
    8. Ireland
    9. Italy
    10. Japan
    11. Samoa
    12. Scotland
    13. Wales
    14. View All

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #8: Let’s Get ready to rumble!

    September 11, 2023

    Game Review: France v New Zealand – Pool A – Friday 8 September

    September 9, 2023

    Friday’s Rugby News: C’est l’heure.

    September 8, 2023

    Game Pre/Review: Argentina vs Chile – Pool A – Saturday 30th September

    September 30, 2023

    Game Review: Argentina v Samoa – Pool D – Friday 22 September

    September 22, 2023

    Happy’s Thursday Rugby News – Week Two What Did We Learn

    September 21, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #8: Let’s Get ready to rumble!

    September 11, 2023

    Thursday’s Rugby News 25/5/23

    May 25, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 15/11/21

    November 15, 2021

    Monday’s Rugby News – 20/09/21

    September 20, 2021

    Five observations from the Barbarian match

    November 4, 2014

    Thursdays Rugby News 1/6/23

    June 1, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 13/3/23

    March 12, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 20/09/21

    September 20, 2021

    Thursdays Rugby News

    August 19, 2021

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #10: Did we just see the Final?

    September 25, 2023

    Happy’s Thursday Rugby News – Week Two What Did We Learn

    September 21, 2023

    Live Chat: England v Japan.

    September 18, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Happy’s Thursday Rugby News – Week Two What Did We Learn

    September 21, 2023

    Eddie Has to Go!

    September 18, 2023

    Live Chat & Game Review: Fiji v Australia – Pool D – Sunday 8 October

    September 18, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #10: Did we just see the Final?

    September 25, 2023

    France v Namibia – Pool A – Thursday 21 September

    September 22, 2023

    Happy’s Thursday Rugby News – Week Two What Did We Learn

    September 21, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #10: Did we just see the Final?

    September 25, 2023

    South Africa v Ireland: Live Chat

    September 24, 2023

    Happy’s Thursday Rugby News – Week Two What Did We Learn

    September 21, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #10: Did we just see the Final?

    September 25, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #8: Let’s Get ready to rumble!

    September 11, 2023

    The Chewsday Chew

    April 10, 2023

    Game Pre/Review: Japan v Samoa – Pool D – Thursday 28 September

    September 28, 2023

    Live Chat: England v Japan.

    September 18, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Game Review: Japan v Chile – Pool D – Sunday 10 September

    September 10, 2023

    Game Pre/Review: Japan v Samoa – Pool D – Thursday 28 September

    September 28, 2023

    Game Review: Argentina v Samoa – Pool D – Friday 22 September

    September 22, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 18th July 2022

    July 17, 2022

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #10: Did we just see the Final?

    September 25, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #8: Let’s Get ready to rumble!

    September 11, 2023

    Live Chat: South Africa v Scotland

    September 11, 2023

    Hamish and Eddie: it’s time for both of you to go and write your books, now!

    September 25, 2023

    Wales v Australia: Just Beat It!

    September 25, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #10: Did we just see the Final?

    September 25, 2023

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #9: David v Goliath

    September 18, 2023

    Friday’s Rugby News: Vote #1

    September 29, 2023

    Happy’s Thursday Rugby News – We Reap What We Sow

    September 28, 2023

    Hamish and Eddie: it’s time for both of you to go and write your books, now!

    September 25, 2023

    Wales v Australia: Just Beat It!

    September 25, 2023
  • Women’s Rugby

    Compare and contrast of AU and NZ women’s rugby

    September 7, 2023

    Friday’s Rugby News: The Gaul of it.

    August 25, 2023

    Kirby Sefo on Women’s Rugby

    August 24, 2023

    Yowie on the Loose: World Cup squads, coach-helpers and some catch-up for women’s rugby

    August 23, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 24/7/23

    July 23, 2023
  • Rugby World Cup
    1. 2023 Rugby World Cup Fantasy League
    2. View All

    Game Pre/Review: Argentina vs Chile – Pool A – Saturday 30th September

    September 30, 2023

    Game Review – New Zealand vs Italy – Pool A Friday 29 September

    September 30, 2023

    Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics 2 – More Lies

    September 29, 2023

    Round 3 Completed: Rugby World Cup Fantasy League

    September 29, 2023

    Game Review – New Zealand vs Italy – Pool A Friday 29 September

    September 30, 2023

    Round 3 Completed: Rugby World Cup Fantasy League

    September 29, 2023

    Friday’s Rugby News: Vote #1

    September 29, 2023

    Game Pre/Review: Japan v Samoa – Pool D – Thursday 28 September

    September 28, 2023
  • Sevens

    Australia’s Iona College brave but beaten in Rugby Heritage Cup Final

    September 7, 2023

    Brisbane’s Iona College through to the world semi-finals of Rugby Heritage Cup

    September 6, 2023

    Happy Thursdays Rugby News 27/7/23

    July 27, 2023

    Thursday’s Rugby News 20/3/23

    April 20, 2023

    Monday’s Rugby News – 10/4/23

    April 9, 2023
  • Schoolboy Rugby

    Nudgee College win 44th QLD GPS Rugby Premiership

    September 14, 2023

    Thursday’s Rugby News 24/3/22

    March 23, 2022

    Rugbycology report -Super Rugby AU Round 6

    August 10, 2020

    It all starts with ambition: A schools rugby analysis piece

    August 4, 2019

    Australian Schools Championships – the tradition continues

    July 4, 2019
  • Podcast

    Happy’s Thursday Rugby News – We Reap What We Sow

    September 28, 2023

    The Dropped Kick-Off 98 – Caretakers Of A Jersey w Nutta

    September 27, 2023

    The Dropped Kick-Off 97 – Put it in H

    September 20, 2023

    The Dropped Kick-Off 96 – ‘First Gear’ Wallabies (RWC2023 Fiji Preview) with Hoss

    September 15, 2023

    The Dropped Kick-Off 95 – World Cup Bites (RWC2023 Week One) with Hoss

    September 13, 2023
Green & Gold Rugby
Home»Super Rugby»Preview: Force v Lions
Super Rugby

Preview: Force v Lions

Luke BairdBy Luke BairdMay 23, 20144 Comments1 Views
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

The Western Force return home from Cape Town this week, to host the injury depleted Lions at the final pitstop of their Australasian tour: NIB Stadium, this Saturday night.


The Teams

Last week, the Force went down meekly to the Stormers 24-8 in Cape Town. The Force were made to defend for the majority of the match, and could not get their game going until the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, the Lions were outmuscled 41-13 in Sydney by the Waratahs, whose power game proved too much for the men from Johannesburg to cope with for 80 minutes.

Head to head, the Force are 5-1 against the Lions. At home, the Perth based team are 2-1, and in the last five matches are undefeated.

The seventh-placed Force look to notch up another win against South African opposition in order to keep pace with the top six, as the 14th-placed Lions look to win for the second time in Perth since 2007, and second time in history against the Force.

#486829495 / gettyimages.com

The Players

The Force has made a few changes in their starting lineup. The only change in the forwards is the return of lock Wilhelm Steenkamp to the run-on side. Adam Coleman is relegated to the bench.

The backs are largely unchanged, except for the injury to utility back Marcel Brache (ankle). Dane Haylett-Petty returns from injury (groin), for a straight swap at wing.

The Lions have been hit hard by injury. There are six changes in the forwards: props Corne Fourie and Ruan Dreyer, and hooker Armand van der Merwe start, forming a completely new front row, while Rudi Mathee and Franco Mostert are the lock pairing. Warwick Tecklenburg is promoted from the bench to start in the backrow.

Meanwhile, in the backs: scrumhalf Ross Cronje is promoted to the starting XV in place of Faf de Klerk, as Anthony Volmink starts on the left wing. Alwyn Hollenbach and Deon van Rensburg start at inside and outside centre respectively, and Coenie van Wyk will be at fullback.


Key Match Ups

Leading By Example: Warren Whiteley v Matt Hodgson

#487928709 / gettyimages.com

Unlucky to miss out on the Springboks squad, Whiteley has been outstanding for his side this year. In a mixed season for the Lions, the rangy and dynamic eighthman’s workrate is rarely topped. Whiteley has the second highest tackle count in the competition, with 137 in eleven appearances. Being sixth in the competition for lineout takes (41), he is a dependable lineout option as well as a contributor in the loose. When he is on the field, the Lions lift, as the Force do with Matt Hodgson.

The 32-year-old Hodgson goes from strength to strength. Playing arguably the best form of his career, he has earned a Wallabies recall on the back of the Force’s resurgence. The heart and soul of the team, he has been there when the Force hit rock bottom in 2012, and is prominent now in its breakout season. Hodgson is the leading tackler in Super Rugby this year with 179 in eleven appearances, and leads in turnovers won (23).


Directing the Play: Marnitz Boshoff v Sias Ebersohn

#489094857 / gettyimages.com

In a game likely to be decided by seven points or less, the role of the kicker, and to a greater extent, the flyhalves, will be crucial. Boshoff and Ebersohn are similar in playing style: being facilitators whose first option is to pass and kick, the latter of which they are proficient at. They are both also handy with the kicking tee; Boshoff is among the top ten in the competition for goal kicking, and Ebersohn is no slouch either.


The Set Piece Battle: Scrum & Lineout

#486847879 / gettyimages.com

The set piece of the Force is much improved from last week. The front row of Pek Cowan, Nathan Charles and Kieran Longbottom has held its own against some very good South African scrums, and has been rewarded with Wallabies call-ups for Cowan and Charles. Against the Stormers, the Force scrum (with one man in the bin) won a tighthead against the feed, despite McCalman locking in the second row.

The Force lineout is improving, but their defence against the lineout drive was exposed last weekend. The lineout will be bolstered by Steenkamp’s inclusion into the starting XV.

In comparison, the Lions’ setpiece is underestimated.  The Lions scrum this year has a success rate of 93% – number one in the competition. Compare that to the Force whose scrum success rate is 83%, and it is clear that the Lions’ coaches will be targeting this area. With the complete change to the front row, it will be interesting to see what bearing it has on the strength of their scrum.

Their lineout, too, is functional. Looking at the tapes of the Force, the Lions will be looking to get some pay with their rolling maul.


Prediction

The Force return from a gruelling South African tour, and will no doubt be feeling the effects of the travel. In the same light, the Lions have been on the road in Australasia and have yet to win outside South Africa.

The Force had the opportunity last week to become the most victorious team in the club’s history but slipped up. They wont likely make the same mistake twice, especially in front of the ‘Sea of Blue’.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann will be targetting this match as a ‘must win’, as they hope to return home with at least one victory under their belt.

But as this game is more important to the Force than the Lions, in terms of making the play-offs, the Force will be extremely motivated to win it at all costs.

Force by 5.


Pek Cowan1Corne Fourie
Nathan Charles2Armand van der Merwe
Kieran Longbottom3Ruan Dreyer
Sam Wykes4Rudi Mathee
Wilhelm Steenkamp5Franco Mostert
Angus Cottrell6Jaco Kriel
Matt Hodgson (c)7Warwick Tecklenburg
Ben McCalman8Warren Whiteley (capt)
Ian Prior9Ross Cronje
Sias Ebersohn10Marnitz Boshoff
Nick Cummins11Anthony Volmink
Luke Burton12Alwyn Hollenbach
Chris Tuatara-Morrison13Deon van Rensburg
Dane Haylett-Petty14JW Jonker
Jayden Hayward15Coenie van Wyk
Reserves
Heath Tessmann16Robbie Coetzee
Tetera Faulkner17Jacques van Rooyen
Ollie Hoskins18Julian Redelinghuys
Adam Coleman19Willie Britz
Brynard Stander20Stephan de Wit
Justin Turner21Faf de Klerk
Zack Holmes22Elton Jantjies
Patrick Dellit23Stefan Watermeyer
Location:nib StadiumPerth
Kickoff:Sat 24 May 19:40
Referee:Steve Walsh
Assistant Ref 1:James Leckie.
Assistant Ref 2:Ian Smith
TMO :Peter Marshall.

 

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleSuper Rugby Tipping Preview – Round 15.
Next Article Friday’s Rugby News
Luke Baird

An affable guy with a passion for rugby union.

Related Posts

Happy’s Thursday Rugby News –Eddie Jones Is the Answer for Australian Rugby

August 24, 2023

Happy’s Thursday Rugby News – The Chocolate Wheel of Injustice

August 17, 2023

Thursdays Rugby News – May the Force Be With Them

August 10, 2023

Happy Thursday – Its Not a Conspiracy If They Are Picking On You

August 3, 2023
GAGR Podcast
Our Picks

Hamish and Eddie: it’s time for both of you to go and write your books, now!

September 25, 2023

The Chewsday Chew – Where’s my magician?

September 26, 2023

Wales v Australia: Just Beat It!

September 25, 2023

Friday’s Rugby News: Vote #1

September 29, 2023
Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Don't Miss
Argentina

Game Pre/Review: Argentina vs Chile – Pool A – Saturday 30th September

By NuttaSeptember 30, 20230

Hola mis amigos, Welcome to this 53rd clash between the Los Puma’s of Argentina (FISM’s)…

Game Review – New Zealand vs Italy – Pool A Friday 29 September

September 30, 2023

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics 2 – More Lies

September 29, 2023

Round 3 Completed: Rugby World Cup Fantasy League

September 29, 2023

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from Green & Gold Rugby.

About Us
About Us

greenandgoldrugby.com is your one stop shop for all things Rugby Union - news, podcasts, opinions, fixtures, events & everything in between.

greenandgoldrugby.com - created by fans of rugby, for fans of rugby.

About
Submit a Story
Authors
Contact
Privacy

Our Picks

Hamish and Eddie: it’s time for both of you to go and write your books, now!

September 25, 2023

The Chewsday Chew – Where’s my magician?

September 26, 2023

Wales v Australia: Just Beat It!

September 25, 2023
New Comments
  • Eloise Pasteur on Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics 2 – More Lies
  • Eloise Pasteur on Hamish and Eddie: it’s time for both of you to go and write your books, now!
  • Brumby Runner on Hamish and Eddie: it’s time for both of you to go and write your books, now!
  • Reds and wallabies fan on Game Review – New Zealand vs Italy – Pool A Friday 29 September
  • Eloise Pasteur on Game Review – New Zealand vs Italy – Pool A Friday 29 September
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Super Rugby
  • Wallabies
  • Podcast
  • Privacy Policy (2023)
© 2023 Ponderosa Publishing Pty Ltd | ABN 76 668 430 386.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.