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Former Chief set to make 50th Super Rugby appearance as Force eye up Hurricanes scalp

Toni Pulu of the Chiefs is tackled by two Hurricanes defenders

The Western Force have made four changes to their starting side for Friday night’s match against the Hurricanes, with Jeremy Thrush returning from injury to face his former side.

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Thrush missed last week’s 25-15 loss to the Highlanders in Perth through injury, but has joined hooker Andrew Ready, fly-half Domingo Miotti and winger Toni Pulu as inclusions for the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby clash in New Zealand.

It will be Thrush’s first game against his former side since moving to the Force in 2018.

Miotti replaces Jake McIntyre (concussion) while Ready has edged out Feleti Kaitu’u, who moves to the bench.

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Pulu returns after serving his suspension.

Former Wallaby Tevita Kuridrani, who missed the start of the Trans-Tasman competition through suspension, is also back in the match-day 23. The centre is named on the bench alongside Jack McGregor.

Force coach Tim Sampson says the squad is embracing the trip to NZ and the challenge the Hurricanes present.

“We’re in a great place here in Napier. Hawke’s Bay Rugby Club have been very welcoming and it feels like home,” Sampson said.

“Toni provides spark for us. He’s full of energy and he’s raring to go. Tevita is itching to get back. He’s a player that has played a lot of rugby over here against New Zealand and provides impact off the bench.

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“Having that experience coming on at the back end of the game is going to be important for us.”

“The Hurricanes are a well-rounded team with a lot of strike power. If we apply pressure defensively in certain areas, then we’re positive about controlling the game. We’ve prepared well and we’re looking forward to Friday.”

Force: Rob Kearney, Toni Pulu, Richard Kahui, Kyle Godwin, Jordan Olowofela, Domingo Miotti, Tomas Cubelli, Tim Anstee, Kane Koteka, Fergus Lee-Warner, Sitaleki Timani, Jeremy Thrush, Santiago Medrano, Andrew Ready, Tom Robertson.
Res: Feleti Kaitu’u, Angus Wagner, Greg Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Jack McGregor, Tevita Kuridrani.

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AM 42 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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