The Rugby Forum

The Western Force have named their team to play the Sharks at nib Stadium on Friday with Alby Mathewson returning to the starting line up.
The Force have retained the same 22-man squad that pushed the Chiefs in their 22-21 loss to the reigning Super Rugby champions, with Mathewson's promotion to the starting XV the only change in the Western Australian line-up.
Prior to last week's encounter, the Kiwi scrumhalf had started in each of the Force's previous 11 matches.
Friday's match represents the first of five consecutive home matches for the Force, including Super Rugby fixtures against the Sharks, Highlanders, Waratahs and Brumbies, and their tour match against the British & Irish Lions.
Emirates Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley says these matches are an opportunity to demonstrate the progress the squad has made this season and the direction of the side moving forward.
"After undertaking an extensive travel schedule this season, the challenge is to strive for greater consistency in our last five performances at home." he said.
"I'm extremely pleased in the way the boys have continued to challenge themselves through what's been difficult circumstances over recent weeks.
"The performances against the Reds and again against the Chiefs indicates the extra effort they've put into preparing themselves to play for each other.
"While we were disappointed with the result against the Chiefs, I was proud of the character the boys demonstrated in outscoring an excellent attacking side like the Chiefs two tries to one.
"While we continue to develop our game, our immediate challenge is to back up our previous two performances with the same outstanding effort against a dangerous Sharks side tomorrow night."
Western Force
1. Pek Cowan,2. Heath Tessmann,3. Kieran Longbottom,4. Toby Lynn,5. Sam Wykes,6. Matt Hodgson (c),7. Chris Alcock,8. Ben McCalman,9. Alby Mathewson,10. Sias Ebersohn,11. Nick Cummins,12. Kyle Godwin,13. Ben Jacobs,14. Patrick Dellit,15. Jayden Hayward
Replacements : 16. James Hilterbrand,17. Tetera Faulkner,18. Rory Walton,19. Richard Brown,20. Brett Sheehan,21. Junior Rasolea,22. Sam Norton-Knight

Original source - http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_...s.asp?id=39046

"The Waratahs have named Paddy Ryan to make his fourth start of the season in this weekend's Australian derby clash against the Brumbies.
Ryan's inclusion at tighthead prop in place of Sekope Kepu is one of two changes to the side that last week overpowered the Stormers 21-15, with Drew Mitchell also elevated from the bench in place of Peter Betham.
The game is NSW's first of the season at ANZ Stadium and Head Coach Michael Cheika's first visit to the venue.
"There's always something special about these Australian derby games because there's so much rivalry built up over all the years of playing each other. With the Brumbies also leading the competition, this is a very important game for us," said Cheika.
"Last time we played them in Canberra back in Round 4, our effort was simply not good enough to compete with a very well drilled Brumbies outfit."
"Throughout this season, we've been working hard at developing our identity and becoming an honest hardworking team and I think now we're starting to play the kind of attacking running rugby that we want to be known for. "
"How we play under the pressure of this match up will show how committed we are to play the brand of rugby that we want associated with NSW rugby.
"For me, building a winning mentality is about getting up for every game, about having that obsessive mentality every day in training as well as when you step out onto the pitch but there will be a little extra edge in the game, something I personally enjoy in rugby.
"The Brumbies have been showing the way all season. They're well ahead of us on the table, they're very disciplined in the way they play the game and they've got good leadership."
"I'm sure they'll think they will have an edge on us so it's up to us to respond in kind. We'll require the level of physicality that we showed against the Stormers last week plus 10 per cent."
Waratahs
1. Benn Robinson , 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau , 3. Paddy Ryan , 4. Sitaleki Timani , 5. Kane Douglas , 6. Dave Dennis (c), 7. Michael Hooper , 8. Wycliff Palu , 9. Brendan McKibbin , 10. Bernard Foley , 11. Drew Mitchell , 12. Rob Horne , 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper , 14. Cam Crawford , 15. Israel Folau
Replacements, 16. John Ulugia , 17. Sekope Kepu , 18. Will Skelton , 19. Mitchell Chapman , 20. Matt Lucas , 21. Berrick Barnes , 22. Peter Betham"