Pretorius set for debut
25 Jan 2010
André Pretorius will make his Western Force debut against the Sharks at Newlands on Tuesday.
Head coach John Mitchell confirmed that the former Lions flyhalf will make his first appearance for the Perth-based franchise in their second and final Tri-Series fixture.
‘We want to get André started,’ Mitchell told keo.co.za. ‘The more game time he gets with the team will be beneficial for us in the season ahead. I’m pleased to get André out there and I know he’s excited too.’
Pretorius also told this site that he feels positive starting his new tenure with the Force.
‘I just want game time,’ Pretorius said. ‘I haven’t had a proper pre-season in the last couple of seasons. I can’t remember when last I played a warm-up game, so I’m looking forward to getting out there.
‘It feels quite strange being back in South Africa, but it has been good. The locals have given me a good amount of bantering, but as the competition draws near, the sentimental aspects are put aside and I have to get on with the job.
‘My main aim is to have a successful season with the Force. I want to be a key figure in the squad.’
Meanwhile, Mitchell said he will play a host of first team players against the Sharks. The likes of James O’Connor, Ryan Cross, Nathan Sharpe and David Pocock are likely to start.
‘We looking to field a new starting 15 on Tuesday,’ he said. ‘We have to establish our top 22 for the Super 14 ahead, so this match against the Sharks will be our second trial. We want all of our players to have at least 80 minutes under their belt before we head back to Perth. So far that’s going to plan.’
With a stronger side, the Force should produce a better performance than the one on Saturday against the Stormers (lost 54-12), but Mitchell said the result won’t matter on the day.
‘We’re not really focussed on our opposition in these warm-up games,’ he said. ‘We are more focussed on our progress as a team and seeing if we are able to reach our aims. We will only start looking at our opposition from next week as we head into the Super 14.’
By Gareth Duncan, in Cape Town
33 Comments
25 Jan 2010, 14:05 pm
ROAR
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not
4-1 odds that he picks up a sicknote in this match, sad but true.
25 Jan 2010, 14:07 pm
sour grapes?
25 Jan 2010, 14:10 pm
@Champ: ok the Force to leave the Sharks battered and bruised this Tuesday evening.
better?
25 Jan 2010, 14:13 pm
with Pretorius scoring a hattrick and kicking 12/12 … Force win 83 – 10 …
25 Jan 2010, 14:15 pm
Your best 22 was sorted on saterday when your 2nd team got a hiding…..any team is better than that sorry lot!!!
25 Jan 2010, 14:19 pm
Sharks look set to field a B-team, so the Force really should win this one.
If they don’t, they stuffed.
25 Jan 2010, 14:21 pm
come on natal . we are black we are white we are dynamite
i wish andre luck just wished he stayed in sa
25 Jan 2010, 14:22 pm
@robdylan: well if the Force thump the Sharks b team by 50 plus then it will really not look good for the Sharks.
25 Jan 2010, 14:22 pm
@klippies101: Andre Pretorius v Monty Dumond. Bring it on.
Let’s see how Mr Glass likes being hit by Willem Alberts
25 Jan 2010, 14:23 pm
@RedLion:
Headlines on KEO tomorrow before kick off:
PRETORIUS RULED OUT DUE TO TRAVEL INJURY!
Andre Pretorius was ruled out of the first pre season match due to sustaining a lammie when he got of the bus.
Coach of the Force John replied:”We new this could happen but you have to prepare for these in a long season like the S14. Andre has already made it through a few weeks practice and we are happy with the return so far!”
25 Jan 2010, 14:25 pm
@RedLion: I said the Force should win… where did you get the 50-point thing? It’s not like this is the Lions we’re talking about
I’d expect a Sharks B team to beat a Force B team by 20. I’d expect a Sharks A team to beat a Force B team by 50.
But surely any side’s A team should beat another side’s B team?
25 Jan 2010, 14:29 pm
@robdylan:
they got a fifty against them and that will make them dangerous – they will be looking for revenge with Wallabies, Boks and all.
25 Jan 2010, 14:37 pm
@RedLion: yeah, and what with Gandalf and Aslan the lion both playing for the Force, they’re sure to win… I heard Yoda was going to be backline consultant.
WTF? Can we have a serious discussion yet?
25 Jan 2010, 15:41 pm
I wonder if he still has the devil eyes, you know the way he scans the polls without moving his head before kicking
like something out of Max Payne !!!!!!!
25 Jan 2010, 15:41 pm
It is unfortunate, but I expect Pretoors to sustain an injury which will keep him out for at least 6 months. Story of his career…
25 Jan 2010, 15:42 pm
Would be a pity if his customary two games per season are both warm-up friendlies.
25 Jan 2010, 15:44 pm
Let’s just hope neither the Sharks nor the Force sustain any serious injuries in Friday’s match.
I can’t wait for the Sharks-Stormers match!
25 Jan 2010, 15:49 pm
@WP Till I Die: it will be bloody hard for any Force players to get hurt on Friday… at least not playing rugby
25 Jan 2010, 15:52 pm
@Gonzo Journalism:
Are you an exponent of Gonzo?
25 Jan 2010, 15:53 pm
will be in the stands…
Hoping sharks knock the stuffing out the aussies…
Fri nite …well thats another story
25 Jan 2010, 15:55 pm
I hope Andre does not pull a hammy as he runs out onto the park.
If he doesn’t it will be an achievement in itself.
25 Jan 2010, 15:55 pm
@robdylan:
Oops, you know what I mean!
25 Jan 2010, 15:58 pm
Good luck to Andre on his day-booh.
25 Jan 2010, 15:58 pm
@grant10: Get ready for ANOTHER cape Shark attack on friday!
25 Jan 2010, 16:11 pm
@Ratel Brussow (MSIUR): 24
Look forward to watching both games….i heard Steve Meyer will be in Shaks team Fri nite so thats cool, look forward to seeing him.
I see Lions threatening court action re willem alberts…wish that stuff would be sorted….
Give them the dummy spitting, toy throwing Bissy in return for ludick and albert…problems solved.
25 Jan 2010, 16:16 pm
@grant10: The A and B Sharks sides are pretty even, so i guess 1st choice throughout the season will rely on form or should do. That I suppose is quite a good thing depending on how individuals react. Wouldn’t work at the Bulls, where they need to have security.
25 Jan 2010, 16:17 pm
@Dawn: HST !!!! of course, was also one of the best sports (NFL) writers north of the Rio Grande
25 Jan 2010, 16:21 pm
How about this for a conspiracy theory…
Andre has a blinder of a season because for once in his life he has support staff that actually know what conditioning and rehab means? Maybe the medical staff are more interested in getting the injury fixed and actually preparing him for a super 14 season, than making his muscles look pretty for the ladies?
Just a thought, good luck to Andre! He can’t play for the Aussies so personally I don’t care much (unless he kicks 12/12 against any South African side obviously)!
25 Jan 2010, 16:33 pm
are u saying south african support staff dont know what they are doing ?
25 Jan 2010, 16:36 pm
Sharks team has been named. You can find it on Sharksworld.
25 Jan 2010, 16:44 pm
@klippies101: Some of ‘em sure are more than a little shaky
26 Jan 2010, 02:08 am
Sorry if this is a silly question but why are they playing at Newlands and not at King’s Park?
26 Jan 2010, 15:48 pm
I see we have 67 people in the league. Going very well. But sure we can do even better.
Come on guys! Go onto Supersport – Home page – Dream League – set up a team – go to league tab – and the join league – enter the league code: 154 729 776 923 68 (no spaces)
Lets see who the real rugby brains are
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