This is going to be one lekker stoush in Perthfontein. The media have been focussing on the JO’C v Lambie match-up as you’d expect but that’s just superficial.
Sure, both these guys were Man of The Match and pointscoring machines in their most recent games and there’ll be interest in how Rabbit deals with the next big bagel from Jappiesdorp.
However, the real action will be in the clash of the forward packs.
The Force international back five were immense against the Reds in their last outing with Ben McCalman looking very much at home as a mobile second rower.
But the Shorks have one hell of a pack with the du Plessis broers, and chommie’s The Beast, John Smit, Willem Alberts and Ryan Kankowski to the fore.
As Hansie from Chiltern Hills would say: “Listen oke, connections are everything”.
A torrid encounter is expected up front with the South Africans having a decided advantage in the front row stakes, notwithstanding an impressive Force scrum against the Reds. The style of play will be interesting as the Sharks adopted a more free-ranging ball in hand game last week against the Blues.
If we see that again I’d expect the Force to counter à la the Reds, using their class loose forwards to slow down the play and pressure McLeod and Lambie. I hope the Ripia-less Force play to their strengths and use Cameron Shepherd’s booming boot, with intoxicating effect. Gerrardo for the Rebels showed the way last week.
Force Coach Richard Graham has made just one change to the side that stepped out against the Reds in round one with veteran fatty Tucky Dunning coming onto the bench.
Dunning, with more than 100 Super rugby appearances and 45 tests, returns from injury and replaces young prop Kieran Longbottom who was ruled out after hurting his shoulder at training.
“Matt is ready to go and keen to be back playing, we know what we’re going to get from a player of his experience” said Graham.
This is the first time the Force have had the luxury of naming a virtually unchanged side since 2009 and enables the starting XV a chance to build on combination’s developed over the past few weeks.
After two wins to start the season the Sharks venture out of South Africa on a four match stretch and Graham is expecting a tough battle. The teams last met in Round 14 in 2010 with the Sharks narrow five point victors at Kings Park Stadium.
“Their performances over the past two games have been very good, they’re a big physical side and certainly if you look statistically at their games the forward pack plays a huge part in their attack and where they’ll look to establish dominance,” Graham said.
The Force will be buoyed with three players re-signing this week until 2013 in Ben Whittaker, Nick Cummins and Sam Wykes.
The Sharks have made only one change to their winning team from last week. JP Pietersen comes in for Lwazi Mvovo, and Craig Burden and Jacques Botes take bench spots.
Assistant Coach Grant Bashford indicated last week that they wanted to play more of a running game.
“Probably because we haven’t done a lot of it we weren’t as accurate as we could have been and that resulted in missed opportunities against the Blues.
“If we get a bit more accurate, then we can hurt teams. That’s a positive. There aren’t going to be too many sides in the tournament that hold the Blues tryless.”
He was thrilled with the discipline and commitment on defense.
Anticipation is growing from Cottesloe to Kununurra. It’ll be a starry starry night in the Town of Vincent this Saturday with a definite home ground advantage.
The recently renamed nib Stadium will be humming with hopefully the odd pen and ink and a good crowd. A capacity 20,000 is now a possibility – they’ve secured 14,700 season ticket holders.
What a stupid and embarrassing moniker for a venue but hey, anything goes in trying to make a rand these days.
As Hansie would say: “kak name man but struesbob, if they’re paying top tom for the privilege, why not?”
Key Match-up: No, not the Beibers but The Beast v. Tim Fairbrother (aka The Fox). This will be an intriguing battle with the technically correct and improving Fairbro’ battling the Zimbabwean zebu. Like Ian Smith v. Robert Mugabe, there’ll be blood on the floor. Fairbrother won’t be overawed but he’ll need to exceed expectations to get on top of this one.
Lance says: “Force by 3 points.”
Saturday, 5 March 2010 at nib Stadium
7.05pm AWST 9.05pm BrisVegas 10.05pm AEST
Referee: Keith Brown (NZ)
Force: Pek Cowan, Ben Whittaker, Tim Fairbrother, Nathan Sharpe, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson, David Pocock, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan, James O’Connor, David Smith, Gene Fairbanks, Mitch Inman, Nick Cummins, Cameron Shepherd.
Reserves: Nathan Charles, Matt Dunning, Sam Wykes, Tevita Metuisela, James Stannard, Alfi Mafi, Rory Sidey.
Sharks: Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Steven Sykes, Alistair Hargreaves, Keegan Daniel, Willem Alberts, Ryan Kankowski, Charl McLeod, Patrick Lambie, JP Pietersen, Meyer Bosman, Stefan Terblanche, Odwa Ndungane, Louis Ludik.
Reserves: Craig Burden, John Smit, Anton Bresler, Jacques Botes, Conrad Hoffmann, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Lwazi Mvovo
