Force receive boost as Lance returns

Thu, Jun 30, 2016, 6:14 AM
Matt Lewis
by Matt Lewis
Jono Lance has missed 14 weeks of Super Rugby. Photo: Getty Images
Jono Lance has missed 14 weeks of Super Rugby. Photo: Getty Images

Jono Lance will make his long awaited return to Super Rugby after missing the last 14 weeks with a pectoral tear.

Lance was a key figure for the Force in the early rounds of the season before injury struck and will be a welcomed addition to the side for their clash against the Cheetahs.

Interim coach Dave Wessels praised Jono Lance for his work ethic during his recovery from injury. 

“Jono deserves a lot of credit for all the hard work he’s put in to get himself in such good physical shape after a long layoff,” he said.

“Both he and Peter (Grant) have trained extremely well over the last few weeks.”

In other changes, Tetera Faulkner will start at tighthead, Angus Cottrell replaces injured Wallaby Ben McCalman at number eight, Ian Prior returns to his preferred position of halfback and Junior Rasolea will start at outside centre.

Interim coach Dave Wessels is looking for his side to finish strongly after a disappointing season to date.

“We’ve got 240 minutes left in the season. We know that we’ve been really close to an outcome in our last few games and we’ve trained hard in this Test window to get the reward we want for all the months of hard work we’ve put in.”

The Western Force play the Cheetahs at 11pm AEST Saturday, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

1. Pek Cowan (C)

2. Harry Scoble

3. Tetera Faulkner

4. Ross Haylett-Petty

5.   Adam Coleman

6.   Brynard Stander

7.   Chris Alcock

8.   Angus Cottrell

9.   Ian Prior

10. Jono Lance

11. Marcel Brache

12. Kyle Godwin

13. Solomoni (Junior) Rasolea

14. Luke Morahan

15. Dane Haylett – Petty

RESERVES

16. Anaru Rangi

17. Francois van Wyk

18. Guy Millar

19. Rory Walton

20. Richard Hardwick

21. Ryan Louwrens

22. Peter Grant

23. Semisi Masirewa

 

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