Force put up screen over Mafi dumping
A secretive Western Force have refused to reveal the reason for the decision to drop star winger Alfie Mafi for tonight's Super Rugby clash with the table-topping Brumbies in Canberra.
The Force said Mafi breached team standards, but said his indiscretion was an "internal matter".
Mafi has been one of the Force's best players and is the competition's equal top try scorer. He has been replaced on the reserves bench by centre Winston Stanley.
Prop Salesi Ma'afu and back- rower Ben McCalman return from injury, while inside centre Kyle Godwin starts after being rested against the Hurricanes.
Second-rower Rory Walton, who became the face of the Force after the win over the Crusaders, is looking for another special moment on his return to Canberra.
Coming off the bench in his debut in Perth he made his presence known with a couple of huge hits and forced a crucial ruck penalty.
When the final whistle blew an emotional Walton was in tears.
"That was a release, everything coming to the surface," he said.
"I had a lot of obstacles getting there and I had finally reached one of my goals.
"It was a pretty special moment. My mum and grandmother had come over to watch and my partner had just arrived in Perth. It was something special and I won't forget it."
Born and bred in Canberra, Walton was a member of the Brumbies 2010 academy but his career was stalled by a shoulder reconstruction.
He went back to Sydney Shute Shield club Northern Suburbs where he was spotted by Force coach Michael Foley and offered a one-year contract as a member of the club's extended player squad.
"The Force have given me a second bite of the cherry and being back in Canberra is huge, but I'm not focused on the Brumbies. It is about repaying the faith the Force have put in me," he said.
"I just want to be out there and be able to contribute."
·A fatigued Queensland Reds hung on for a gutsy 12-11 win over the Blues at Suncorp Stadium last night to complete the first sweep of Kiwi opponents by an Australian side.
Fly-half Quade Cooper kicked four penalty goals, including a high-pressure effort in the 75th minute, to steal the four points from the impressive Aucklanders.
The Blues scored the only try of the match and ran the tired Reds, still feeling the effects of last week's energy-sapping 19-19 draw with the Brumbies after a six-day turnaround, around the park.
But Sir John Kirwan's side failed to deliver the killer blow.
In last night's other match, the Stormers edged the Hurricanes 18-16 in Wellington.
