ASTERON LIFE SUPER RUGBY – WEEK 1: NSW WARATAHS V WESTERN FORCE
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Loading...The Western Force will kick off its 2015 Asteron Life Super Rugby season – the club’s 10th in the competition – against the reigning champions, the NSW Waratahs, in Sydney this Sunday (15 February).
With regular skipper Matt Hodgson (hamstring) sidelined until after Week Eight, Sam Wykes will become the ninth player to lead the Western Force, with Chris Alcock will start on the openside flank.
Foundation squad member Pek Cowan will equal Nathan Sharpe’s tally of 92 matches for the club – second only to Hodgson’s 113 games.
Recruit Steve Mafi, who joined the squad from the Leicester Tigers, is in line to make his Asteron Life Super Rugby debut against the Waratahs, where three seasons between 2008 and 2010.
The Waratahs have named a familiar line-up, with the exception of giant winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, who has been named to make his starting debut while captain Dave Dennis has made the shift to the second row.
The Force has won two and drawn one of its encounters with the Tahs in Sydney, and will be looking to back up its 28-16 result over the Waratahs in their last meeting in Perth in 2014.
Tickets to Western Force’s opening home match of the season against the Hurricanes (Wellington, New Zealand) are now available! Visit www.westernforce.com.au.
NSW Waratahs v Western Force
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Sunday, 15 February, 2015
Time: 4.05pm (local)/1.05pm (AWST)
Coverage: Live on Fox Sports 2 and 2HD.
Weather Forecast: Min: 20C Max: 28C Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Chance of a thunderstorm.
Official Twitter hashtag: #WARvFOR
Live match updates available on Twitter (@westernforce) with half-time/full-time scores available on Facebook (facebook.com/westernforce)
Last Meeting: Western Force 28 def Waratahs 16 (2014)
Head to head: Played 13 – Western Force 3; Waratahs 9; Drawn 1
In Sydney: Played 6 – Western Force 2; Waratahs 3; Drawn 1
Biggest win: Western Force 28 def Waratahs 16 in Perth (2014)
Biggest loss: Waratahs 31 def Western Force 3 in Perth (2011)
Western Force: 1. Pek Cowan, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Tetera Faulkner, 4. Sam Wykes (c), 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Chris Alcock, 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 11. Marcel Brache, 12. Solomoni Jnr Rasolea, 13. Kyle Godwin, 14. Luke Morahan, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty. Res: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Francois van Wyk, 18. Oliver Hoskins, 19. Steve Mafi, 20. Brynard Stander, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Zack Holmes, 23. Luke Burton.
NSW Waratahs: 1. Benn Robinson, 2. Tatafu Polota Nau, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Dave Dennis (c), 5. Will Skelton, 6. Jacques Potgieter, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Wycliff Palu, 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Rob Horne, 12. Kurtley Beale, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Taqele Naiyaravoro, 15. Israel Folau. Res: 16. Tolu Latu, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Sam Lousi, 20. Mitchell Chapman, 21. Stephen Hoiles, 22. Brendan McKibbin, 23. Matt Carraro.
Referee: Steve Walsh
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