Western Force 2009

[brokendown gunfighter]

The Force have signed Ben Castle from the Chiefs,via France

 

[naza]

What a disgrace.

Where is JON and his 'we've enough talent for 5 teams' big mouth now ?

 

[formeropenside]

The Force have signed Ben Castle from the Chiefs,via France

BREAKING NEWS: THE Western Force has snared the signature of New Zealand prop Ben Castle just two weeks out from the 2009 Super 14 season.

Castle will join the club after departing French Top 14 rugby club Toulon.

The 29-year-old played for the Waikato Chiefs for five seasons until 2007, winning 30 caps, and also played for the New Zealand university team.

Castle, a 114kg and 1.85m tighthead who can also play on the loose, had been tipped to leave the big spending French club after being left out of the side in recent weeks.

The Force had been hunting for another big prop since the end of last season.

 

[RugbyReg]

Could he be Oz eligible by 11?

 

[Lindommer]

Could he be Oz eligible by 11?

Can't find any reference to him being tied to NZ. Or France.

 

[Spook]

Any word on Fairbrother? He is already eligible for the Wallabies.

EDIT: Just found this:

The NZ Rugby Union would not release main target, Tim Fairbrother from the Hurricanes nor could the side snare South Africa brothers Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis

So the Force will make a play for Fairbrother in 2010.

 

[RugbyReg]

WESTERN Force chairman Geoff Stooke says coach John Mitchell will keep his job after the club received the results of an independent inquiry into Mitchell's behaviour.

However, the Force will keep the findings of the inquiry confidential, although Mitchell has been told to tone down his authoritarian stance on the team.

Last December, the Force went to the extraordinary length of hiring retired Supreme Court Judge Robert Anderson QC (Quade Cooper) to investigate complaints made by both players and coaching staff against Mitchell.

Mitchell was temporarily stood down from his duties while Justice Anderson completed his interviews.

"A number of issues have been identified and consistent with the recommendations from Mr Anderson, action has, or will be taken to address these issues,'' Stooke said in a statement.

"The issues will remain confidential and are matters for the board and management.

"However, it is acknowledged that one of the major outcomes from the report is to ensure greater 'buy in' from support staff and players and to have maximum utilisation of the personnel resources within the organisation.

"The situation will be monitored on an ongoing basis, John Mitchell is the head coach of ... Western Force and has a contract through to 2011 and this has not changed.

"The coaches, support staff and players are firmly committed to the season ahead and they wish to focus on the opening game against the Blues at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.''

 

[rugbywhisperer]

ppffffft
And so the end result is - what exactly?
Should never have had it in the first place. Mitchell has shown incredible stature in maintaining his dignity in the face of this ridiculous facade.

 

[Scarfman]

Just had a look over at The Whole Force to see if anyone had any insights. None so far.

It's a bit frustrating not knowing the detail. Cueball does strike me as an oddball, though.

 

[brokendown gunfighter]

no leaked copies of the report have surfaced-------------YET

 

[RugbyReg]

Interesting team named. I wonder if Gits or JOC (James O'Connor) is the back up half?

 

[fatprop]

Western Force struck down with injuries for Super 14 opener

By Justin Chadwick
February 11, 2009

WESTERN Force will limp into their Super 14 season opener against the Blues at Subiaco Oval on Friday night after several players were cut down by injury.
Josh Valentine (hamstring) has been ruled out of the match along with fellow halfback Justin Turner (back), marquee front row recruit Ben Castle (neck) and centre Junior Pelesasa (hamstring).

Scott Staniforth (knee) and Sam Wykes (shoulder) are others unavailable after picking up injuries during the off-season.

Chris O'Young, who has only just recovered from his own hamstring injury, will shoulder the halfback job with star flyhalf Matt Giteau likely to switch to the role should O'Young not make it through the match.

Turner would have been O'Young's back-up but the 18-year-old hurt his back in the Force's trial match against the Reds last week.

Subsequent scans revealed pre-existing stress fractures.

The Blues enter the match missing a quartet of the All Blacks stars, with winger Rudi Wulf (wrist) and lock Ali Williams (back) out injured, and Jerome Kaino and Joe Rokocoko staying home as their partners give birth.

New Blues coach Pat Lam has given former Melbourne Storm NRL player Tasesa Lavea the nod at five-eighth ahead of former Hurricane Jimmy Gopperth.

Western Force: Cameron Shepherd, Haig Sare, Ryan Cross, Josh Tatupu, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Chris O'Young, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Tamaiti Horua, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Pat O'Connor, AJ Whalley, Tai McIsaac, Pek Cowan

Reserves: Luke Holmes, Troy Takiari, Tom Hockings, Matt Hodgson, James O'Connor, Nick Cummins, Dane Haylett-Petty

Is Pat O'Conner really better than Tom Hockings?

 

[RugbyReg]

no, but I get the impression that Hockings is just working his way back from injury. Still finding his feet so to speak.

 

[PhucNgo]

New Blues coach Pat Lam has given former Melbourne Storm NRL player Tasesa Lavea the nod at five-eighth ahead of former Hurricane Jimmy Gopperth.

Now that's gotta be the best news Force fans have had so far this year. :thumb

 

[Lee Grant]

Interesting team named. I wonder if Gits or JOC (James O'Connor) is the back up half?

The article indicates that Gits will go to 9 if COY can't last the match, but then, who will go to 10?

It will have to be the Rabbit. I've seen him play there for Queensland Schools in a non-competition match, and by all accounts he played there for Nudgee, but the S14 is a far cry from schools rugby. I've never seen JOC (James O'Connor) play scrummie nor any report that he has. Does anybody know if he had time there during the trials?

Is Daruda injured? If not, he should have been in the squad given the injury problems that the Force have at scrummie and the probability that Gits would have to have a stint there.

I've seen Hare at flyhalf for the Rats but only for minutes as others had blood bins etc.

 

[brokendown gunfighter]

saw JOC (James O'Connor) play a club game at 10 last season,& frankly looked ordinary
Daruda is fit & I am suprised he is not in the 22

I suspect Mitchell named a team on Wednesday because he had to.There may be some late changes