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The secret weapon the Western Force are set to drop on the Reds

(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Western Force coach Tim Sampson is banking on youth to run the Queensland Reds ragged in Friday night’s Super Rugby Pacific clash in Perth.

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The Reds are unbeaten after two rounds, but both games were played in wet and heavy conditions.

The Force hope those water-logged pitches will leave the Reds vulnerable in Friday’s clash, with Sampson handing speedy scrumhalf Issak Fines-Leleiwasa a start in a bid to up the ante.

Fines-Leleiwasa, who replaces veteran Ian Prior in the starting side, will team up with 20-year-old playmaker Reesjan Pasitoa in an exciting 9-10 combination that has the potential to dazzle.

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Pasitoa starred in the 29-23 loss to the Brumbies and the 28-3 win over the Rebels, while Fines-Leleiwasa impressed off the bench in both of those matches.

“I think it’s exciting that they both can light up a game pretty easily and quickly,” Sampson said of the former Brumbies teammates.

“They’re pretty cool, calm, collected players. I think they’re looking forward to playing with each other.

“We want to start pretty fast, and Issak brings that. He’s very dynamic around the fringes of the breakdown.

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“They (Queensland) have played a couple of games on a heavy deck, and travelling over here we want to try to start fast and wear them down in the first half to set up the game for the second half.”

Utility back Bayley Kuenzle will miss a second straight game after copping a knock to the head in the season opener.

Sampson said he was playing it safe with Kuenzle, given he has now suffered two head knocks in a short space of time.

The Force secured a maiden Super Rugby AU finals berth last year when they beat the Reds 30-27 in Perth.

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The Reds have plenty of motivation to turn the tables in Friday’s rematch given the devastating floods that have hit Queensland.

“I’m sure they’ll want to play for their state,” Sampson said.

“They’re going through a fair bit. They’re a spirited side. Queensland rugby has a proud history.

“They’ve proven they succeed when their backs are against the wall. I go back to the 2011 floods – the Reds won the Championship that year.”

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AM 9 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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