Western Force 2010

[Spook]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

I think one of Beale or Halangahu should go West >

 

[formeropenside]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Daruda is off to France - Agen.

Reds should have tried to get him on board.

Reds aren't really short on inside backs.

 

[Blue]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Pretorius would be a good buy for the Force, but I think he'd suit the Tahs game better (and he'd sort out the kicking issues there too).

Though who knows what style the Force will be playing anyway?

Petoors will be a lucky man to land a contract of any form at this stage of his career.

 

[Pfitzy]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

In The Sun-Herald today

Dunning's departure from NSW replenishes Force's depleted stocks

WALLABIES and Waratahs prop Matt Dunning has quit the NSW Super 14 franchise and will announce his signing with the Western Force tomorrow.

Dunning sat stranded on 99 Super 14 matches this season

A very sensible move, Tucky.

Yes, but its 99 NSW caps - only 90 Super Rugby appearances

http://www.waratahs.com.au/HSBCWaratahs/PlayerProfiles/MattDunning.aspx

 

[RugbyReg]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

So... The 4s recruit Wallaby Dunning, the Tahs recruit Wallaby Mitchell, the Brums recruit Wallabies Elsom, Valentine and Gits.

And the Reds, meanwhile, are driving wallabies away.

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

It's a Catch 22 situation isn't it Nod? The Reds can't keep people because they want to play for a winning team that will increase their chances for Oz selection and/or a more favourable CV for the gravy train later on - but the Reds can't become a winning team without them.

Just make sure you hold onto Kingi.

Geez, the Force had better get Pretorius and somebody else as well with Daruda going offshore and Giteau going home. We had the year of the flyhalves in school rugby in 2004 but only To'omua has emerged since then as somebody who looked like Super material; so there's no promising 'unknown' juniors around. There were a couple of maybes in the schools tournament last year, such as Harry Bennett, but they will have to go through the Academy process and get into first grade before we start pencilling them in for the S14.


The Force had no luck with Mackay but they let Brock James and Jimmie Hilgendorf go and they probably were biting their knuckles in frustration watching Luke McLean play with assurance for Italy on Saturday night as fullback - but he's a flyhalf too. He was in the Perth ARC team but the Force offered him just a training contract so he pissed off to Calvisano which was the only club to offer him a contract.

Hindsight is a beautiful thing.

I think one of Beale or Halangahu should go West >

A good idea but both are contracted by the Tahs for next year and they both be starting for the Tahs if their form together as 10 and 12 in the RSA will be any guide to Hickey's preferences.

 

[RugbyReg]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

The Force should look at their usual Development chanels and sign either Jono Lance or Dallan Murphy.

 

[Cutter]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

The Force should look at their usual Development chanels and sign either Jono Lance or Dallan Murphy.

Said without a trace of bitterness and looking to benefit Australian rugby as a whole. Very selfless.

 

[Utility Back]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Shame daruda bailed, can probably see the point in leaving though, stuck behind giteau is probabaly fair enough, but when he leaves and the club decided to put someone in front of daruda and not promote him, well its probably time to leave.

Quote --'they let Brock James and Jimmie Hilgendorf go and they probably were biting their knuckles in frustration watching Luke McLean play with assurance for Italy on Saturday night as fullback - but he's a flyhalf too.'

Actually in reference to the players mentioned, may the force have a bit of a talent id/appreciation problem?

 

[formeropenside]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Shame daruda bailed, can probably see the point in leaving though, stuck behind giteau is probabaly fair enough, but when he leaves and the club decided to put someone in front of daruda and not promote him, well its probably time to leave.

Quote --'they let Brock James and Jimmie Hilgendorf go and they probably were biting their knuckles in frustration watching Luke McLean play with assurance for Italy on Saturday night as fullback - but he's a flyhalf too.'

Actually in reference to the players mentioned, may the force have a bit of a talent id/appreciation problem?

The Force have been pretty good at driving players offshore, only for those players to really shine OS. That tends to undercut the whole benefit to Oz rugby thing they supposedly offer.

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

The Force should look at their usual Development chanels and sign either Jono Lance or Dallan Murphy.

Said without a trace of bitterness and looking to benefit Australian rugby as a whole. Very selfless.

Lighten up Cutter, Nod was making a joke.

 

[fatprop]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Shame daruda bailed, can probably see the point in leaving though, stuck behind giteau is probabaly fair enough, but when he leaves and the club decided to put someone in front of daruda and not promote him, well its probably time to leave.

Quote --'they let Brock James and Jimmie Hilgendorf go and they probably were biting their knuckles in frustration watching Luke McLean play with assurance for Italy on Saturday night as fullback - but he's a flyhalf too.'

Actually in reference to the players mentioned, may the force have a bit of a talent id/appreciation problem?

You can't blame Daruda, all the Force have done is say we need a decent 10 and ignored him. If they were smart they would have given him some game time at 10 off the bench this season once Gits confirmed he was leaving, but instead they sent him back to Eastwood to play club.

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Shame daruda bailed, can probably see the point in leaving though, stuck behind giteau is probabaly fair enough, but when he leaves and the club decided to put someone in front of daruda and not promote him, well its probably time to leave.

Quote --'they let Brock James and Jimmie Hilgendorf go and they probably were biting their knuckles in frustration watching Luke McLean play with assurance for Italy on Saturday night as fullback - but he's a flyhalf too.'

Actually in reference to the players mentioned, may the force have a bit of a talent id/appreciation problem?

Re Brock James - did he really show decent form when playing for the Force? He was solid but never showed the form he (from all accounts) he had been since O/S.

Hilgendorf started to show some good signs (esp in combo with Stanny) that season that was interrupted by Tipoki's forearm.

 

[Cutter]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

The Force should look at their usual Development chanels and sign either Jono Lance or Dallan Murphy.

Said without a trace of bitterness and looking to benefit Australian rugby as a whole. Very selfless.

Lighten up Cutter, Nod was making a joke.

I wasnt having a go at Noddy at all. I particularly enjoyed his joke and my comment is noting his resignation about the whole thing. Contrast with fos where you can imagine the steam coming out his ears as he typed something like that.

 

[hatchie]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Ohhhhh yeah! Great news!

And anyone have some background on Ben McCalman?

From http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25648969-5002381,00.html

Australia speedster James O'Connor staying at the Western Force

By Bret Harris
June 17, 2009

When the players at Western Force revolted against coach John Mitchell towards the end of last year, there were fears of an exodus from the Perth-based Super 14 club.
Those fears were heightened when Australia five-eighth Matt Giteau announced this year he would return to the Brumbies next season and fullback/winger Drew Mitchell left to join New South Wales Waratahs.

Several other players also departed, including Scott Staniforth, Tai McIsaac, Junior Pelesasa, Gareth Hardy, AJ Whalley and Tamati Horua. It reached the point where people were wondering if the Force would be competitive next year.

But that perception will start to change with the news that Wallabies teenage sensation James O'Connor has decided to stay in Perth for a further two years.

Force officials said they had not received anything official from O'Connor or his management, but a source told The Australian newspaper that the deal was about to be done.

O'Connor had considered following Giteau to the Brumbies, but the ACT side could not match the big third-party money on offer in the west.

Last weekend it looked as if the Force had shot itself in the foot by trying to pressure O'Connor into meeting a deadline, giving the Brumbies hope of securing him at the last minute the way they did Rocky Elsom. But O'Connor has shown loyalty to the Force, which will build its team around him.

The anticipated signing of former South Africa five-eighth Andre Pretorius also influenced O'Connor's decision to stay in the west.

If the Force can bring Wallabies winger Digby Ioane back from Queensland Reds, the backline will start to look threatening again, even without Giteau and Mitchell.

The Force already has a solid platform in the forwards with Wallabies Nathan Sharpe, David Pocock, Richard Brown, Matt Hodgson and Pek Cowan.

They have also muscled up further in the forwards with the acquisition of Wallabies prop Matt Dunning and Hurricanes prop Tim Fairbrother to add experience in the frontrow to complement Cowan's tremendous potential.

The signing of Dunning will give the Force hope that his Waratahs and Eastwood teammate Damian Fitzpatrick will follow him across the Nullarbor.

Fitzpatrick, who is the captain and starting hooker for the Australian under-20s team, will not make a decision on his future until he returns from the World Cup in Japan in the next 10 days.

It is understood Fitzpatrick's preference is to stay with the Waratahs, but they would have to match the Force's offer.

The Force has also recruited Sydney University second-rower Ben McCalman as a lock/blindside flanker. So after all the gloom, things are not looking too bad after all.

 

[Biffo]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

If the Force can bring Wallabies winger Digby Ioane back from Queensland Reds, the backline will start to look threatening again, even without Giteau and Mitchell.

Great news indeed about O'Connor.

I wasn't aware of any possibility of Ioane returning but, on thinking a little, it makes sense. The Force could satisfy his need for $$$s and keep him in Australia. Nice.

Force will be strong.

 

[formeropenside]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

bugger

 

[Newb]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

interesting that SOMEONE finally took the cash over the chance for impending super rugby glory with the Ponies (basing that statement on the bit about the Brumbs not matching the 3rd party pay)

perhaps a bit of loyalty and/or preference for living in Perth???

i like this in hopes of keeping the force at a high playing level since there are other future/current Wallabies there that it would be good to keep playing good rugby and rabbit will certainly help that. i'd still prefer to not see him at flyhalf for now though so hopefully they can secure someone else for the 10 spot. if not, King Robbie might have to lay down the law!!

 

[farva]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Force wont confirm that OConnor is staying, but this is great news.

They still have only an experienced hooker so they need someone there. And they really need Pretorius to sign to give some experience at flyhalf. With Daruda leaving, OConnor will be the only playmaker left.

 

[Ash]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Great news indeed about O'Connor.

I wasn't aware of any possibility of Ioane returning but, on thinking a little, it makes sense. The Force could satisfy his need for $$$s and keep him in Australia. Nice.

Force will be strong.

Ioane is very much about his family. I'd say the Force would have to put up big $$$ (that is, near to matching OS clubs) to join the Force rather than stay at the Reds. Don't know if the Force could do that now, but no doubt he'd be worth a lot to them to join Cummins and Shepherd out wide.