Force bring back their Irish brains to face the Chiefs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force will be going to battle this Saturday against the Chiefs in Perth in the inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season opener.
With the Force, fresh from a week off following their historic first-ever appearance in the Super Rugby AU play-offs, and the Chiefs having narrowly missed out on the Super Rugby Aotearoa title last Saturday in the Grand Final, it’s set to be an epic clash between the two sides.
Coach Tim Sampson welcomes crucial creativity and experience into the starting 15, with backs duo Rob Kearney and Jake McIntyre making their return from injury at fullback and flyhalf respectively.
Henry Taefu makes his second start of the year at inside centre, with captain Kyle Godwin alongside him at outside centre.
Homegrown talent Ollie Callan is poised to make his first appearance of the Super Rugby season, with the 20-year-old flank named in the matchday 23.
Sampson is expecting a fast-paced and high-octane encounter in front of the Sea of Blue.
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“We are really excited, especially given the fact it’s the first time we’ll be playing a New Zealand Super Rugby team since 2017. It’s a wonderful opportunity to face clubs of this calibre again,” Sampson explained.
“Rob [Kearney] and Jake [McIntyre] bring invaluable experience. Jake has played Super Rugby against New Zealand’s sides earlier in his career for the Queensland Reds and performed really well. Rob has a spring in his step this week and will provide a level head that will serve us well, especially given his experience against the All Blacks in his career.
“The entertainment value will certainly be there in this competition, which is great. I think our supporters will really enjoy the style of play and we like to play a similar brand of rugby, so it’s sure to be a great spectacle on Saturday.”
Western Force: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Richard Kahui, 13 Kyle Godwin (captain), 12 Henry Taefu, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Brynard Stander, 7 Kane Koteka, 6 Tim Anstee, 5 Fergus Lee-Warner, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Feleti Kaitu’u, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Angus Wagner, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Ollie Callan, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Jake Strachan.
Date: Saturday, May 15
Venue: Perth Oval, Perth
Kick-off: 19.55 (23.55 NZST; 11.55 GMT)
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper, Jordan Way
TMO: Brett Cronan
