Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Western Force dealing with outbreak ahead of Waratahs game

(Photos / Getty Images)

The Western Force will be aiming to overcome a COVID-19 disruption and the heartbreak of their two most recent losses when they take on the NSW Waratahs in Perth on Saturday night.

ADVERTISEMENT

Force coach Tim Sampson, Wallabies enforcer Izack Rodda, and scrumhalf Issak Fines-Leleiwasa are all isolating and will miss the match against NSW after being deemed close contacts.

The Perth-based franchise are in desperate need of a win after their one-point losses to the Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies left them clinging to eighth spot with a 2-5 record.

Given the Force’s hardest part of the fixture lays ahead of them, a win is a must against the Waratahs.

NSW (4-3) moved up to fifth spot following their 38-14 win over Fijian Drua before the bye.

The Waratahs have been bolstered by the return of captain Jake Gordon from a hamstring injury, while Michael Hooper is in the starting side for the first time this season after making an appearance via the bench against the Drua.< /p>

The Force’s poor starts against the Rebels and Brumbies proved costly.

The Brumbies led 20-3 after 17 minutes, while the Rebels opened up a 13-0 lead after 20 minutes before the Force kicked into gear.

ADVERTISEMENT

Force forward Brynard Stander said there had been a focus on fixing the poor starts.

“It’s obviously been really narrow, the margins,” Stander said.

“It’s important we stay together as a group regardless of the results.

“The Tahs are a quality side. They’ve shown that in the last four or five weeks.

“But we’ve also shown we’re a quality side. Tomorrow night’s difference is going to be who wants it more. I think there’s a lot of fire in our bellies at the moment.”

Force vice-captain Kyle Godwin will notch his 100th Super Rugby appearance when he steps out against the Waratahs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Stander wants to mark the occasion with a victory.

“Being able to share the field tomorrow night with a club legend Kyle in his 10 0th is going to be cool,” Stander said.

“W e all want to get behind him and hopefully get the best result possible, not just for Kyle, but also the club.”

Force attack coach Mark Ozich will take charge in Sampson’s absence, while captain Feleti Kaitu’u and winger Toni Pulu have been named to return to the starting line-up.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

307 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
Search