Western Force 2010

[formeropenside]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Former Australia winger Clyde Rathbone considers Western Force
By Bret Harris
July 13, 2009 Former Australia winger Clyde Rathbone may resurrect his Super 14 career with Western Force.

Rathbone, who will turn 28 in late July, is talking to the Force and several overseas clubs following the Brumbies' decision not to renew his contract.

He must first decide whether he wants to continue to play professional rugby or concentrate on his corporate fitness business, which is based in Canberra.

"I haven't made a decision yet," Rathbone said.

"I've had a couple of offers from overseas and in Australia. I'm talking to the Force, but it is still early days. I've got to decide whether I want to play. I don't want to retire from the game and then turn on the TV and wish I was still out there.

"People say you just wake up one morning and you know you want to retire. I'm still waiting to wake up with that feeling."

A fully fit Rathbone would be a valuable acquisition for the Force, which has lost Test wingers Drew Mitchell (New South Wales Waratahs) and Scott Staniforth (Japan).

If Wallabies outside back Cameron Shepherd plays fullback next year, the Force's senior winger would be Nick Cummins, who will be entering only his third year of Super rugby.

The South Africa-born Rathbone exploded onto the Test scene in 2004, making his international debut against Scotland.

He would have earnt a lot more than 26 Tests caps if his career had not been interrupted by injury.

Rathbone was ruled out of the Brumbies Super 14 campaign midway through the 2007 season with a knee injury and he missed the 2008 series.

After making a comeback this year, Rathbone broke down again with a quad muscle strain during the Brumbies' tour of South Africa midway through the season.

He did not play again until the Brumbies' loss to the Chiefs in the last round match in Hamilton.

 

[farva]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

I really hope not.
And if it does happen, it needs to be a contract where his injury liability is built in to it. Much like with Caleb Brown, or one that is centred around match payments.
But honestly, the Force dont really need him. They have Nic Cummins, who is becoming quite a good player, Dane Haylett-Petty who is fast improving, and could be a good player to have after a full S14 season, Haig Sare who is a reasonable replacement on the wing. Cam Shepherd will be at fullback where he is one of the best in the country. I would prefer to see the final wing spot go to a young local (there are a few stepping up now from what I hear) and develop them.

 

[AussieDominance]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Tahs should sign Rathbone to replace Tuqiri....

 

[waratahjesus]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

if its on match payments, its a good deal, Rathbone, when fit is awesome. he would ad plenty to that side.
i thinkk Shepherd is past it, one to many injuries, he is going to become alot like Mark Gerrard, good at super level but not wallaby worthy. i think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) playing fullback full time at the brumbies next year will see shephards stock drop.

 

[Cutter]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Shepherd past it but Rathbone a good signing? You have to stop smoking the funny stuff mate.

 

[waratahjesus]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

i said shephard was good at super level as im saying rathbone is when fit!

shephard ranks in the top 4 fullbacks in the country cos we only have four fulltime super rugby fullbacks, but he isnt in the top two by a long way.

the funny stuff is when people from perth hail him the masiah after he scored a hatrick against one of the worst brumbie defensive efforts in there history.

 

[AussieDominance]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

As Jesus said match payments & if he wants to keep his business going the Tahs may be his only option. Worth a shot for a year in my opinion.

 

[waratahjesus]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

the tahs are a pretty logical choice, he can keep his bussiness going in canberra and still play in sydney.
if your going to perth you may as well go to japan, better money and less of a retirement factory!

 

[RugbyReg]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

There are other wing options.

Take Brando Va'aulu.

Please?

 

[Cutter]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

i said shephard was good at super level as im saying rathbone is when fit!

Sorry, I shouldnt skim read. You are right about the funny stuff too.

 

[Spook]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Rathbone will never be the player he was.

 

[hatchie]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Shepherd is past it? He is 25 and had a bad run with injury, give him a break. The best is to come.

But we do need outside back cover. And an experienced winger, if fit, would be ideal. I think that Rhino would be great, and he'd probably be only moderately priced given his past injuries.

Sheehan Pretorius Cummins O'Connor Cross Rathbone Shepherd

is a pretty decent starting lineup with Tatapu & Sare on the bench...

 

[waratahjesus]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

i dont think shephard ever became the player people saw in him, he went to school in the area i live, he was always more talk than action. as i said, good super level player but i just dont think he will ever be a consistant aus fullback, i think AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) offer more speed and skill than he does.

he is good for the force, but i dont think he would cause a bidding war if he decided to leave.

 

[fatprop]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

There is no way I would want Rathbone at the Tahs. We already have one crock in Fava

 

[fatprop]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Force sign trio for life after Giteau
July 15, 2009 - 12:44PM

The Western Force are preparing for life without Matt Giteau by securing the services of three promising junior Australian representatives for the 2010 Super 14 season.

Centre Mitchell Inman and No.8 Ben McCalman have both signed two-year deals with the Force while South African-born halfback Mark Swanepoel has signed a one-year rookie contract.

RugbyWA general manager Mitch Hardy said the three recruits would compliment the senior squad which, despite the loss of Giteau to the Brumbies, will boast Wallabies Richard Brown, James O'Connor and Josh Valentine.

"We see Ben as a similar type to Browny and Tamaiti Horua. He's an aggressive, abrasive type of back-rower which suits our game," Hardy said.

"Mark and Mitch both have plenty of potential and we expect to see them press their claims for selection during the 2010 season.

"We will have competition for places in the squad across the board next season, which is exactly what we want."

Swanepoel could have represented the Springboks or All Blacks before committing his future to Australia.

The 18-year-old left South Africa to become a New Zealand citizen as a child before moving to the Gold Coast at age 11.

He joined the Force in February on a short-term contract after injury scares to Valentine and Justin Turner.

Swanepoel is a current member of the Australian schoolboys side which 21-year-old McCalman played for in 2005 and 2006 before moving on to under-20s in 2008.

Inman, 20, represented Australia at under-19s level in 2007 and has recently been plying his trade with the Sydney University club after two years in the Australian sevens program.

 

[cheezel]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Force sign trio for life after Giteau
RugbyWA general manager Mitch Hardy said the three recruits would compliment the senior squad which, despite the loss of Giteau to the Brumbies, will boast Wallabies Richard Brown, James O'Connor and Josh Valentine.

I thought Valentine was going elswhere

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

So did the Brumbies.

I'm not sure if O'Young is still at the Force - and if he is then he and Sheehan will at least provide some experience. But if he isn't and Swanepoel and Turner, who are still cutting themselves shaving in rugby terms, have to start in S14 games if the angry ant is crocked, then it's going to be a problem and yet another learning on the job scenario.

Assuming O'Young is not available: I don't know why S14 franchises don't give 1 year bridging/assessment contracts to players who have proved themselves in the Sydney or Brisbane comps even though they are not world beaters.

During the S14 season the Tahs Academy played a few games and one of them was against a side of experienced Sydney players (Scott Stumbles was the 9 IIRR), and some of them were in the 'grizzled' category. They got smacked. The Tahs Academy lost every game, because their "all the skills" young academy guys didn't know the ropes. They are going to be good enough in 2-3 years time when they have played some senior rugby and played with and against old stagers, but right now they aren't footie players.

I've seen Turner and Swanepoel play and they are babes in the wood.

Inman and McCalman are decent enough players. They weren't big school stars but they are tough nuts. They are on par with young players of their generation who are floating around the traps here - and even abroad - Lachlan Mitchell, Pat McCabe, Rory Sidey, Rowan Kellam, Pete Betham yarda, yarda. One or two of them may become solid professional players but you can't pick which ones.

Inman is just like bother Luke: a tough natural 12 who can play through pain, McCalman was a no. 8 at school but is playing in the 2nd row now for Sydney Uni and has played for Oz Sevens - neither of which would have done him any harm.

I wish the lads well but a few more senior players would not have gone astray at the Force, though they be journeymen.

 

[AussieDominance]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

McCalman's younger brother/relation is coming through TKS Lee remember your notes on Ben so you can compare in 3 years time(U14 now & best player in 14A's).

 

[RugbyReg]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Sam Harris signed by the Force.

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: Comings and goings at the Force

Yet another poach of the Rats by the Force.

Well, I did say the Force needed journeymen - and they certainly have one with Sam. He was hurt for quite a while in the Shute Shield this year but I've seen him play 4 times at flyhalf in 2009, and I'd rather have him on the park in a Super14 match than a young shaver from an Academy.

Sam is not going to set the world on fire as a Super14 10 or 12 but whatever game he has, he will be able to take it into a Super14 game better than an inexperienced player will be able to take his game there.

Harris is signed for 2010 only and will be valuable backup for a year until the Force find a long term player. The risk is that because Pretorius is notorious - for getting hurt - Sam may have to play more than the Force are planning for.

I am too lazy to look up when Lealiifano and To'omua come off contract with the Brumbies but ideally one of them will move west come 2011.


PS - I picked Kyle Godwin from Perth to be in my Oz Schools 1st XV this year. Give him 3 years in the Academy and send him to Sydney to play Colts and then Grade footie and the Force is going to have a fine young flyhalf betimes, methinks.