force +39

Western Force team to play the Lions (No of Super Rugby games):


Christie (4); Haylett-Petty (9), Stubbs (6), Tuatara-Morrison (Uncapped), Brown (Uncapped); Norton-Knight (66), Sheehan (92); Manu (8), Hilterbrand (1), Ma'afu (72), Lynn (61), Battye (11), Cottrell (15), Brown (88), Hodgson (captain, 95).
Replacements: Roach (Uncapped), Kolo (Uncapped), Metcher (Uncapped), Matwijow (Uncapped), McCaffrey (8), Mathewson (97), Haining (Uncapped), Rasolea (10).

The Force arent the strongest but no way do they role over, everything to play for in this match unlike there Super rugby campaign, would likely get on NSW to run up a score on them Saturday morelike...!

It does seem a weak bench (in terms of experience) for the Force.

Couldn't even call it a second string side. Disappointing. Things are rough when you have to put Lachlan McCcaffery on the bench.

A decent back-row from the Force but nothing else. Remember SNN from his Cardiff days? He is woefull. Very disappointing from the Convicts putting a second string out particularly after the ridiculous comments from Hodgson.

even more disappointing when the Force have nowt to play for in Super 15 as well.

thewest.com

Former England boss Clive Woodward has warned Australia may never host another British and Irish Lions tour if it continues to treat the tourists with "contempt".

The Lions are set to face an under-strength Western Force side later on Wednesday in their first match in Australia, something which Woodward feels devalues the tour.

Woodward, who coached the Lions to New Zealand in 2005, wrote in the Daily Mail: "It is unacceptable and disgraceful to cobble together a weakened, second-string club team to play against some of the best players in the world on one of the great rugby tours.

"Having lived and worked in Australia for five years, there is no bigger supporter of Australian sport but what on earth is going on?

"Can you imagine Leicester inviting the All Blacks to Welford Road and putting out a second-string side? It simply would not happen.

"Treating the Lions with such contempt threatens to undermine their status in the global game.

"The Lions come to Australia once every 12 years but if this is how they are going to be treated in this country then they should seriously consider whether to return."

It's an issue that is set to continue simmering throughout the tour as Wallabies squad members have been made unavailable to play for their Super Rugby teams in the tour matches against the Lions.

Western Force coach Michael Foley was placed in a tough position for his selection as his team also face a Super Rugby match against the NSW Waratahs on Sunday.

The Force team he selected to face the Lions will be missing a host of their best players including five-eighth Sias Ebersohn, fullback Jayden Hayward, prop Pek Cowan, in-form centre Kyle Godwin, hooker Heath Tessmann, lock Sam Wykes and winger Pat Dellit.

In addition, Nick Cummins and Ben McCalman couldn't be considered as they are in the Wallabies squad.

In their place are a host of uncapped players at Super Rugby level, with most of those drafted into the squad from club ranks.

Foley defended his team selections, saying he had to juggle his squad to make sure he still had enough players for Sunday's encounter with the Waratahs in Perth.

"When you suggest not putting every effort into the first game, I think that's pretty insulting to the guys taking the field," Foley said.

"We think this is the best team for this game in light of the fixture list we've been given.

"Realistically, we weren't going to be able to meet the challenge and do it justice by picking the same 22 guys twice.

"Player welfare is a significant factor that needs to be considered when you make these decisions.

"Is it worth putting a player at risk?
"Ideally you would like a week between games rather than four days."

Didn't Leicester beat SA at Welford rd a few years ago with a bunch of reserves playing, on a Tuesday night I think?

Yes RM, was a great night.

Lions may gel straight from the off, but in SA they took a while to get going and the first couple of games were not great at all.