Changes for victorious Force
Western Force coach Michael Foley has made several changes to his team to the face the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby encounter in Wellington on Friday.
Prop Tetera Faulkner, flank Angus Cottrell, outside centre Winston Stanley and wing Patrick Dellit have been selected in the starting line-up.
Stanley returns to the midfield after scoring a try and setting up a second for Dellit a fortnight ago against the Rebels, while Cottrell returns to the blindside flank where he has started in six of the Force's eight matches in 2013.
Faulkner has worked his way into the starting tighthead role after several dynamic performances off the bench for the Force.
He joins Heath Tessmann and Pek Cowan in the front row, and will replace the injured Salesi Ma'afu (knee).
Dellit also returns to the run-on side on the right wing, joining Ed Stubbs and former Hurricane, Jayden Hayward, in the Western Australian back three.
Alfie Mafi, the competition's equal leading try-scorer, will start from the bench having ranked amongst the highest running metres through the first half of the competition.
Prop Kieran Longbottom returns to the Force line-up via the bench, after missing last weekend's match following a head knock sustained against the Rebels.
Longbottom will provide front row cover for the Western Force along with hooker James Hilterbrand, who is in line to make his Super Rugby debut on Friday.
The Force coach, Foley, said it's important for his side to back up following last week's win over the Crusaders.
"Last week the players set a new standard in preparation against the Crusaders, which reflected in how we played," he said.
"We worked extremely hard for each other and it's important we push for more of the same against another quality New Zealand side."
Western Force: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Patrick Dellit, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Junior Rasolea, 11 Ed Stubbs, 10 Sam Norton-Knight, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Richard Brown, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Sam Wykes, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Heath Tessmann, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Rory Walton, 19 Chris Alcock, 20 Mick Snowden, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Alfie Mafi.
Date: Friday, April 19
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT; 15.35 AWST)
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
