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Western Force (ranked 14th on the ladder) returns home to play top of the ladder Crusaders.
The Force lost a key player in their loss against the Blues and will find it hard to replace him. The Crusaders will look to this game to build momentum for their up coming tour of South Africa.
You’d have to be an idiot to bet against the Crusaders…
Often games in this comp are never a dead certainty.....except in this case it would be almost a formailty for the Crusaders to win....but if the Force manage to win this one it will probably be the upset of the season....
...maybe the upset of all time...
The only reason I'm going is because I got a free ticket. Crusaders will hammer an out of sorts Force line-up, handing the Force a 100% losing run at their home ground.
Crusaders by 46 points.
If the Force wins I'll give them Chiro's 350 pound little sister
LOL Dumbo, wouldn`t that be a miracle of S14 season, a win for the hapless Force?
yeah this is going to be a walkover, and i am not one eyed...
honest
groen en goud you should be in for a rea treat. it will be one sided but you will get to see the likes of Dan Carter (best 10 in the world) Richie mcCaw (best no 7 in the world) and other like rico geat in action with your own eyes. if an out of sorts blues team can but 40 on the force surely the crusaders could be 50 on with ease and maybe even more.
if the force pull this of it will be one of the greatest rugby upsets of all time
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,...7a1823,00.htmlCrusaders reshuffled for Force
20 April 2006*
By RICHARD KNOWLER
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has spun his selection wheel once again, making seven changes for tomorrow night's Super 14 rugby match against the Western Force in Perth.
All Blacks Chris Jack and Greg Somerville are the most notable omissions from the side that beat the Cheetahs 53-17 last weekend.
Loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett and lock Kevin O'Neill get their second starts of the season, Corey Flynn returns to hooker and Ross Filipo to lock.
In the backs, Andy Ellis is back at halfback and Aaron Mauger and Caleb Ralph have been injected into the midfield.
The Crusaders have stuck to the tradition of not talking down their opponents this week, but a loss is as likely as Osama bin Laden being invited to the White House to smoke the peace pipe.
The Force has lost all nine games this season, collecting just two competition points.
The Crusaders have nine wins and with 40 points already seem assured of a home semi-final.
Although Deans and Force coach John Mitchell were former coaching partners with the All Blacks, the former said there will be no sympathy for Mitchell during the match.
"We won't be showing too much empathy for their circumstance until after the fixture," Deans said. "We don't want to be their first result."
That is highly unlikely.
If the Crusaders build a handy lead over the injury-stricken Force, Deans will likely utilise his reserves in the second half.
This should see Bay of Plenty teenage flanker Tanerau Latimer get his first run in the Super 14 and Stephen Brett make his second appearance off the bench at first five-eighths.
In-form blindside flanker Reuben Thorne is the only forward to start every match this season.
The only danger for the Crusaders is if they take their opponents too lightly, giving the Force a sniff of creating the Vesuvius-like boilover.
"Yeah, there's been a bit of talk that we have to make sure we are mentally on our game," Thorne said.
"That is one aspect that is worrying. But, you know, we are focusing on our own standards and performance and just hope that we are able to do that."
He added that playing at an "away" venue can work in the Crusaders' favour.
"We tend to go all right when we are away from home because all those other elements come up against you as well – opposition crowd and those factors. So you pull together."
Deans is mindful of keeping his players fresh for the two-match leg of South Africa, where they will play the Stormers in Cape Town and the Bulls in Pretoria.
The Crusaders arrived in Perth on Tuesday night.
Because franchises are only allowed to take 26 players on tour, lock Craig Clarke and wing Steven Yates have been left behind to play in the Christchurch metro club competition.
Meanwhile, the Force's dreadful run with injuries has continued.
Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon is the latest to be ruled out with a nerve problem in his neck, which has weakened his left shoulder.
First five-eighths James Hilgendorf was ruled out for the rest of the season after being smacked in the eye by Rua Tipoki last weekend.
Lock Rudi Vedelago will also not be seen again.
Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Caleb Ralph, Aaron Mauger, Scott Hamilton, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Mose Tuiali'i, Richie McCaw ©, Reuben Thorne, Kevin O'Neill, Ross Filipo, Campbell Johnstone, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Tone Kopelani, Greg Somerville, Johnny Leo'o, Tanerau Latimer, Kevin Senio, Stephen Brett, Casey Laulala.
Western Force: Cameron Shepherd, Haig Sare, Josh Graham, Scott Staniforth, Digby Ioane, Scott Daruda, Matt Henjak, Scott Fava, Matt Hodgson, David Pusey, Nathan Sharpe (captain), Pat O'Connor, Angus Scott, Tai McIsaac, Gareth Hardy. Reserves: Luke Holmes, David Te Moana, Luke Doherty, Tim Davidson, Chris O'Young, Brock James, Tajhon Mailata.
[/b]
looks like it will be a walkoverdoesnt matter who plays
*teams are in there btw dumbo so if you want you can copy and paste them from there*
Head to Head:
Force: 1 - Gareth Hardy, 2 - Tai McIsaac, 3 - Angus Scott, 4 - Pat O'Connor, 5 - Nathan Sharpe (Captain), 6 - David Pusey, 7 - Matt Hodgson, 8 - Scott Fava, 9 - Matt Henjak, 10 - Scott Daruda, 11 - Digby Ioane, 12 - Scott Staniforth, 13 - Josh Graham, 14 - Haig Sare, 15 - Cameron Shepherd.
Reserves: 16 - Luke Holmes, 17 - David Te Moana, 18 - Luke Doherty, 19 - Tim Davidson, 20 - Chris O'Young, 21 -Brock James, 22 - Tajhon Mailata.
Crusaders: 1 - Wyatt Crockett, 2 - Corey Flynn, 3 - Campbell Johnstone, 4 - Ross Filipo, 5 - Kevin O'Neill, 6 - Reuben Thorne, 7 - Richie McCaw (Captain), 8 - Mose Tuiali'i, 9- Andrew Ellis, 10 - Dan Carter, 11 - Scott Hamilton, 12 - Aaron Mauger, 13 - Caleb Ralph, 14 - Rico Gear, 15 - Leon MacDonald.
Reserves: 16 - Tone Kopelani, 17 - Greg Somerville, 18 - Johnny Leo'o, 19 - Tanerau Latimer, 20 - Kevin Senio, 21 - Stephen Brett, 22 - Casey Laulala.
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This is really unfair... anyone else think that there might be 100 points in this game?
Originally posted by woosaah@Apr 19 2006, 10:29 AM
yeah this is going to be a walkover, and i am not one eyed...
honest
maybe one eyes bigger than the other
but hmmm...cyborgsaders by 200million points dats like 500,000 bonus points,that will keep them in the top 4 for the next seven centuries
WESTERN FORCE: 1. Gareth Hardy 2. Tai McIsaac 3. Angus Scott 4. Pat O'Connor 5. Nathan Sharpe © 6. David Pusey 7. Matt Hodgson 8. Scott Fava 9. Matt Henjak 10. Scott Daruda 11. Digby Ioane 12. Scott Staniforth 13. Josh Graham 14. Haig Sare 15. Cameron Shepherd 16. Luke Holmes 17. David Te Moana 18. Luke Doherty 19. Tim Davidson 20. Chris O'Young 21.Brock James 22. Tajhon Mailata
Scott Staniforth returns but Cannon,De Bartolo,Hilgendorf are injured and David Fitter has been omitted
Also unavailable for selection through injury are rookie back rower, Richard Brown (ankle sprain), second row Rudi Vedelago (broken leg), Junior Pelesasa (broken leg) and Lachlan MacKay (knee ligaments).
Thats been the story all year...... we get one player back but lose three or four.
The Truth, are you going to the game?
lol Nah mate, im not going to put myself through that kind of punishment.Originally posted by Rassie@Apr 20 2006, 05:07 PM
The Truth, are you going to the game?
But think mate... if they do what NO ONE think they can then you've missed it!
Thus far 50 odd points has been the biggest winning margin... if the Crusaders get their act together could push this to a few more.
Best of luck to the Force though to get some solid points on the board (2 Tries at least).
How it will be? Force - first win, Crusaders - first loss
crusaders 67
western force 6
One thing for certain....the Force will be more geed up for this game than any other game this year....so expect to see the best of the Force or '06 this weekend....
In fact the Force's whole season rests on this one game.....they will measure their whole campaign this year on how they went against the Crusaders....
If they beat the Crusaders and the Crusaders win everything else and become champions again...then the Force will be very confident going itno next season as well as recruiting other players.
Mitchell once worked with Deans in the AB's....he will want to show Deans that he was meant to be the head coach back then and not Deans or the wayward Smith.
Staniforth has too much pride to roll over and die. Enough said about that.
Nathan Sharpe wants to prove to the Wallaby selectors that he can lead an average team against current and ex AB's and be competitive....he wants to show the selectors that he has leadership material when the odds are stacked against him. Also he is captaining against the probable AB' captain.....so "who has the x factor in leadership" will be at stake this weekend.
Angus Scott knows the Wallaby front row isn't a certainty for the usual incumbents....so he will scrummage like a man possesed in this game.
Scott Fava actually has the ability if he applies himself to dominate Mose Tualii...so expext a big performance by him as he pushes his personal need to claim the Wallaby Number 8 jersey.
Matt Hodgson did well against George Smith in Round one. Now he will want to show to himself, the Aussie public, and the Wallaby selectors that he is worthy to shut out McCaw. So expect the game of the season from him when he plays against the premier No7 of the world. If he kills McCaws effectiveness then he will have one hand on a Wallaby squad invite....as well as go a long way to giving the Force a chance.
David Pusey though lacking in experience compared to Reuben Thorne is faster. He could possibly nudge Reuben out all day if he came with his A game.
What an arena for Tai McIsaac to step into!!! To play the mighty Crisaders!!! He is an unknown element for the Crusaders front row to deal with. His oppostie Corey Flynn has been playing steadily but not dramatically.....expect Tai to try and take advantage of this....
So for all those Force supporters who are not going....you may just miss out on something special.....maybe.....who knows????? I mean....it is home advantage for the Force and the Crusaders have NEVER been there!
yeah you could be right there gay guy, althought i expect the crusaders too have far too much quality, although if the force can starve them off ball. who knows?
and come on how many time will you get to see dan carter and mcCaw 2 of the best players in the game at the moment live in the flesh. even if the force do get hammered it would be a great experince to see guys like carter play.
I cannot really see the force causing the crusaders any problems at all. although it is rugby so anything is possible
Good to see Scott Daruda get a run. They just need to keep faith in the bloke.
Still can't believe they stuck with Matt Henjak at halfback, hes been shocking all year.
Yep.....just like Rugby2006....I have a freind who is so good on the game....he rarely loses and he like NEVER loses with England at Twickenham.Originally posted by esoj@Apr 21 2006, 11:26 AM
it is rugby so anything is possible
Anyway I chose Ireland to play against him at Twickers.....now I know Ireland has BOD but he is not a whole team....he does need to get the ball....
I dominated so much possesion during that game that everyone watcing was so shocked! Can't put our finger on it why this happened in that one game where England were like Samoa.....score.....28-7 to Ireland.
My mate is so good he never loses this badly even if he has a bad team.....
Rugby......on a given day there are always upsets
yes they are upset but the crusaders would have to play really badly to lose to the force. an upset could happen for sure but I would say it is unlikely
Thats no consolation for the AB's of the '99 semifinal...........Originally posted by esoj@Apr 21 2006, 02:02 PM
yes they are upset but the crusaders would have to play really badly to lose to the force. an upset could happen for sure but I would say it is unlikely
I know but well the dam french can play dam well at times.
and don't forget for all those that are keen that the u19 world cup final is on at 4am on tv3 which is just a few hours after this game will finish.
Originally posted by Gay-Guy+Apr 21 2006, 02:20 PM-->
One thing for certain....the Force will be more geed up for this game than any other game this year....so expect to see the best of the Force for '06 this weekend....
But even Angus Scott will know that he has absolutely no chance of making the Wallabies squad.... even if he scored 10 tries and got 15 tight heads..........did you mean to say Gareth Hardy?Angus Scott knows the Wallaby front row isn't a certainty for the usual incumbents....so he will scrummage like a man possesed in this game[/b]
George Smith was named man of the match in round 1, that doesn't bode to well for Matt.Matt Hodgson did well against George Smith in Round one.[/b]
I'm not a cynic ,i agree that anything can happen in rugby and i'm tipping it to be closer than most in this thread have suggested.......i just wouldn't put any money on this one.
Or the Blues v WaratahsBut this is different.
This isn't France vs New Zealand, it more resembles Japan vs New Zealand.[/b]
I think some other teams have had quite a few injuries this year not sure if they had 8 out though. brumbies have had injury problems so too the hurricanes and highlanders. teams do struggle with injury but even if the force were at full strength they would still get owned by the crusaders and almost any other team in the comp
wtf whats going on? what parrallel universe am i in? wheres quin? (the sliders guy)
Force are leading at half time 20 odd to 8... biggest upset of thte Super 14 looming...
Truth you should have been there!
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