Western Force coach Tim Sampson is assured his “rock-solid” 10-12 pairing will be capable of deal with the Highlanders’ choice curve ball in Friday night time’s crunch conflict in Dunedin.
The Highlanders produced a shock on the choice desk by naming winger Sam Gilbert at flyhalf for the Tremendous Rugby Pacific fixture.
Gilbert, who hasn’t performed correctly at five-eighth since his schoolboy days, was named within the No.10 jersey regardless of the supply of normal 5 eighth Mitch Hunt plus Marty Banks and Vilimoni Koroi.
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The 189cm, 98kg Gilbert will give the Highlanders further muscle at playmaker, and he might probably expose the Force if the guests aren’t switched on defensively.
The Highlanders have additionally moved the highly effective Thomas Umaga-Jensen from exterior centre to inside centre, giving the Highlanders a 10-12 combo that packs a punch.
The Force have once more named 20-year-old rising star Reesjan Pasitoa at No.10 and 23-year-old Bayley Kuenzle at 12.
Sampson is assured they’ll deal with the warmth from the Highlanders.
“He (Gilbert) is a big body. They’ve also shifted their 13 into 12, who is also a big body,” Sampson mentioned.
“What you can read into that is they might look to play nice and direct and take us through the middle of the field.
“However Pasitoa and Kuenzle are very robust defensively they usually’ve confirmed that this 12 months. They’re rock strong.
“They’re a good combination and they don’t mind the physical stuff themselves.”
Friday night time’s match looms as considerably of a must-win encounter for the Tenth-placed Force as they try and snare a top-eight berth.
The Force are three factors behind the eighth-placed Highlanders, which means a loss on Friday night time might go away them as a lot as eight factors adrift of eighth spot with three video games to go.
Sampson has recalled star winger Manasa Mataele, however scrumhalf Issak Fines-Leleiwasa has been left in Perth as a consequence of a foot damage.
The Highlanders enter the match filled with confidence following their 27-19 win over the Queensland Reds final week.
