It’s the dance of the desperates this week, with both sides craving 4 points after patchy starts.
The Tahs have been so close on two occasions, and are showing some promising signs despite the usual lengthy injury list. Axel Foley has stayed true to the men who fought so valiantly against the Highlanders last week, making just the one change to the starting XV (Jono Jenkins in for the injured Pat McCutcheon). They should be starting to hit their straps, and expect them to come out firing at their first REAL home game at the SFS.
Woody Graham, on the other hand, has made plenty of changes. Some are tactical but many are injury forced. They have lost last week’s back 3 to minor ailments, as well as second rower Toby Lynn. In come a couple of fresh-faced debutants in the backline (Dave Harvey and Will Tupou) and some promising younger players in the pack (Sam Wykes and Angus Cottrell). Where the Tahs have been promising bigger things, the Force have lacked the consistency to put in a full 80-minute effort. But Chucky Stannard is just finding his feet at 10 and they have put in some good 10-20 minute bursts so far. If they can show that form for the entire 80 watch out.
The Teams
Waratahs : 15. Bernard Foley 14. Tom Kingston 13. Rob Horne 12. Berrick Barnes 11. Adam Ashley-Cooper 10. Daniel Halangahu (capt.) 9. Sarel Pretorius 8. Tevita Metuisela 7. Jono Jenkins 6. Dave Dennis 5. Kane Douglas 4. Dean Mumm 3. Sekope Kepu 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 1. Benn Robinson Replacements: 16. John Ulugia 17. Paddy Ryan 18. Sitaleki Timani 19. Lopeti Timani 20. Chris Alcock 21. Brendan McKibbin 22. Tom Carter
Western Force : 1. Pek Cowan 2. Nathan Charles 3. Salesi Ma’afu 4. Sam Wykes 5. Nathan Sharpe 6. Angus Cottrell 7. David Pocock (Captain) 8. Matt Hodgson 9. Brett Sheehan 10. James Stannard 11. Alfie Mafi 12. Rory Sidey 13. Will Tupou 14. Samu Wara 15. David Harvey Reserves: 16. Ben Whittaker 17. Kieran Longbottom 18. Phoenix Battye 19. Richard Brown 20. Justin Turner 21. Ben Seymour 22. Winston Stanley
The Details
Played at the SFS on Saturday night, with kickoff at 7:40pm EDST. Weather is looking patchy, with showers forecast.
Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Angus Gardner (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia) (Who else?)
The Game Breaker
Berrick Barnes had a good comeback game last week, and the Tahs will be hoping he continues this good form into Saturday’s game. The Force midfield is a critical area of weakness for them (even Graham admitted as much on the latest G&GR Podcast) and a player of BB’s calibre should be looking to carve them up. The key will be his first impulse on receiving the ball. Too often BB’s default is to put the ball on the toe, regardless of position on the field or men outside. He needs to back himself to take on the young Force backs, and if he does it could be a long night for the Sandgropers.
The Matchup
I am really looking forward to seeing Jono Jenkins take on David Pocock. Jenkins is making his first starting appearance for the Tahs after playing with the Force in 2011. He turned heads after coming on for McCutcheon in Dunedin and is a real workhorse. He won’t be scoring flashy tries or putting in George Smith-style chip kicks, but he will be making copious tackles and making hard yards around the ruck. So I do wonder how he will go against the master in Pocock. I don’t need to describe Bam, suffice to say that if Jenkins is the slightest bit off the boil then Dave will have an absolute field day and it will put the Force in a position to steal an upset.
The Fearless Prediction
Not too much thought needed here. The Tahs should be too good for the Force in most aspects. It may not be a pretty affair, and the Tahs rock-solid defensive wall should be enough to see them through if Hangers is on song with the boot. Will there be tries? By god I hope so. But I doubt this one will be a high scorer.
Tahs by 12
Who are you tipping?
