Force v Brumbies

Duluth

Force

Tom Robertson, Feleti Kaitu'u, Santiago Medrano, Jeremy Thrush, Fergus Lee Warner, Tomas Lezana, Kane Koteka, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Jono Lance, Marcel Brache, Kyle Godwin, Tevita Kuridrani, Byron Ralston, Rob Kearney
Reserves: Andrew Ready, Angus Warner, Greg Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Tim Anstee, Tomas Cubelli, Jake McIntyre, Richard Kahui

Brumbies

James Slipper, Folau Fainga'a, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Jahrome Brown, Pete Samu, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Mack Hansen, Irae Simone, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Banks
Reserves: Connal McInerney, Harry Lloyd, Tom Ross, Nick Frost, Tom Cusack, Ryan Lonergan, Reesjan Pasitoa, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa

Duluth

AAP / Feb 16, 2021

Thor benched, Perese to start while Force name Test stars

Test stars Tom Robertson, Santiago Medrano, Tomas Lezana, Tevita Kuridrani and Rob Kearney will all make their Western Force debut against the defending champions while Tomas Cubelli will be waiting in the wings after being named on the bench.

Former Aussie Sevens star Tim Anstee is also set for his Super Rugby AU debut while it's a welcome return for former Queensland Reds flyhalf Jake McIntyre, after being named amongst Tim Sampson's reserves. 

Full of confidence after taking home last year's title, the Brumbies have thrown rising star Len Ikitau straight into the cauldron at HBF Park. Ikitau was selected in the Wallabies wider training squad last year and Dan McKellar obviously likes what he sees too - with the 22-year old to start at outside centre against former teammate Kuridrani. 

Andy Muirhead and Tom Banks are joined by Mack Hansen in the back three, who has earned a start on the wing following a sensational display in the Brumbies only trial ahead of the 2021 season. 

Jahrome Brown will make his return to the Super Rugby fold after missing most of last season, and joins a formidable backrow with Rob Valetini and Pete Samu.

Bovidae

Don't tell me James Tucker is injured already?

Yeetyaah

There's something that kinda pisses me off seeing Kahui on the Force, but it at least he's still playing.

Yeetyaah

"5 second rule for the box kicks." Hasn't that always been a rule, just never enforced?

Tim

@yeetyaah Who is the commentator who seems to be joining in from a dimension that operates at half speed?

Tim

@tim said in Force v Brumbies:

@yeetyaah Who is the commentator who seems to be joining in from a dimension that operates at half speed?

LOL this guy is on Crime Watch and using a voice disguising modulator.

antipodean

Force with a huge amount of experience which should enable them to close out competitive games. Only problem is the half of the team with the experience are too old to be there at the end.

Tim

Forward pass?

Yeetyaah

Jono Lance is a bit mediocre

Tim

@yeetyaah That's the Force all over. Can compete at the collision, but low skill level and low probability of scoring tries.

antipodean

Impressed with the referee in the first half. Not so much Jeremy "Chopper Read" Thrush.

Tim

Ah, Justin Harrison is the psycho killer voice who is calling from inside the house.

delicatessen

This game is a great advert for New Zealand rugby

Tim

This is the same Force team of the last decade - completely incapable of constructing an attacking move, barely able to compete, destined to lose every game, only existing to keep the score close.

It's fucking pathetic that Super Rugby still has to suffer their pathetic existence.

Just anti rugby to lose by less points than they might suffer.