Western Force 2011

[Brumby Jack]

Not yet.

Should this be moved to Brumbies 2011?

 

[RugbyReg]

oops, how did that happen? Will move now.

 

[RugbyReg]

Jono's back, meaning Chris Alcock likely to remain un-signed?

After arguably the unluckiest debut in Super rugby last season, tough loose forward Jono Jenkins will have another crack at establishing himself at the elite level, accepting a one year rookie deal with the Emirates Western Force.

Jenkins trained with the club in 2010 and earned a short term contract to cover for injured backrowers David Pocock and Richard Brown but his big break was short lived after sustaining a broken leg just a minute into his first match.

Despite that disappointment the 24 year old has diligently gone about his rehabilitation which included eight sessions a week of pool running, weights and on the rower. Jenkins recently returned to the field for Sydney Uni in the NSW club competition and has continued to impress with his strong work ethic.

“Jono was terribly unlucky to suffer an injury in his first match and we’re delighted that he has been able to get back onto the rugby field and again show the attributes that attracted us to him in the first instance,” RugbyWA CEO Vern Reid said.

“We are fortunate at the Emirates Western Force to have a strong core of backrow players however the longer season in 2011 will require added depth in all areas and Jono will be an important member of our squad and no doubt be pushing for opportunities in the match day 22.”

An Australian Schoolboys, U19 and Sevens player, Jenkins admits he thought his chance at Super rugby might have slipped through his fingers and is determined to make the most of this new opportunity.

“I was really disappointed about getting injured but I’ve been given another opportunity and I can’t wait to get over there,” Jenkins said.

“You only get one chance at some things and I would have been really disappointed if my contribution to the Force was just that minute against the Reds. I’m really happy to get another shot at Super rugby and it is something I know I’ll have to grab with both hands and run with it.”

Jenkins believes joining an Emirates Western Force backrow littered with quality, including Wallabies Pocock, Brown, Matt Hodgson and Ben McCalman, will be key to taking his performances to the next level.

“There are some world class players playing in the backrow at the club, training alongside them and learning from them is definitely only going to improve my rugby,” said Jenkins.

“It’ll be great getting over to Perth, the Force has quite a few Sydney Uni boys in their side so it’ll be a lot of fun but I know it’ll also be plenty of hard work as well. I really want to have another crack at Super rugby and want to make the most of it.”

Player profile
Name: Jono Jenkins
Position: Flanker
Height: 186cm
Weight: 100kg
DOB: 26/5/1986
Super 14 games: 1 (Emirates Western Force)
Super 14 debut: 2010 Rd 5 v Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium
Honours: NSW Schoolboys, Australian Schoolboys, Australian U19’s, Australian Sevens

 

[Lee Grant]

Looks like it Noddy. Maybe his game against the Cheetahs was a one-off performance but he looked the S14 goods, didn't he?

There are a few Gordon tragics who make posts. You there AussieDominance - how is Alcock playing for Gordon?

Meantime, well done Jono; better luck in 2011 son.

 

[jauzy19]

Dane Haylett-Petty signs for Biarritz.

http://www.bo-pb.com/index.php/equipe/equipe-10-11/renfort-au-centre/7938

 

[fatprop]

Shame I think he has a lot of potential.

 

[Lee Grant]

Its a shame he didn't make it. He had a poor year in the 2010 Super14 unfortunately which was disappointing because he played well in the 2009 Shute Shield and looked like he was on the improve.

Saw him in the Schools tournament in 2007 and he looked like he had Super potential. Others in that year like Horne, JOC (James O'Connor) and To'omua nailed their chance but they were better players to start with to be fair.

I wish him well but doubt if he will get a lot of time at Biarritz except when the fixture calendar is congested and/or Biarritz get a lot of players in the autumn tests or 6N and they are absent for training or on match day.

 

[Boomer]

Shame he's heading overseas.

He never really cracked it at S14 level despite plenty of opportunity but I suspect - and this is nothing more than guesswork - that the coaching staff was ready to hang onto him in the hope of a breakout year.

It spells bad news for the already questionable depth/resilience of the Force backline and for the development of local talent to the top level.

 

[AussieDominance]

Looks like it Noddy. Maybe his game against the Cheetahs was a one-off performance but he looked the S14 goods, didn't he?

There are a few Gordon tragics who make posts. You there AussieDominance - how is Alcock playing for Gordon?

Meantime, well done Jono; better luck in 2011 son.

He's got that energy in him to be a real good player. But against Uni, Warringah to name a few he has been outplayed. Maybe the Cheetahs game suited his style of play where he is all energy...?

 

[todd4]

Willie Ripia signs with Force

An article in todays West Australian reports that Ripia has agreed to a 2 year deal with the Force. The article itself does not appear on the papers web site so cannot cut and paste it (not at the moment anyway).

 

[Lance Free]

I would have thought Ripia a solid buy but I'm not sure whether he's going to be the answer? Maybe in tandem with some other quality five eighth?

 

[todd4]

Playmaker Ripia signs with ForceNICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
July 31, 2010 1:06 pm






A crucial piece of the Western Force's Super season jigsaw has fallen into place with New Zealand Maori and Hurricanes playmaker Willie Ripia agreeing to join the club for two years.

The Force were in desperate need of a proven on-field back- line leader after leaving themselves without a recognised No.10 for next season.

But, despite snaring 24-year-old Ripia as their emerging foreign import, the Force still need a back-up playmaker to negotiate the upcoming campaign.

A utility player such as Mark Bartholomeusz can step into the role but that is not a long-term answer.

Force academy and 2009 Australian schoolboys fly-half Kyle Godwin, 17, is still at least a couple of seasons away from breaking into Super rugby.

The Force's marquee foreign player spot is still open and they have not ruled out the return of former Springbok Andre Pretorius, who missed the entire 2010 season after tearing his left hamstring from the bone.

However, that option must be in serious doubt as Pretorius has not made an appearance since moving to Durban in a bid to break into the Sharks' Currie Cup side.

His replacement last season, David Hill, only signed a short-term deal and returned to Japanese club Toshiba at the end of the season.

Western Force coach John Mitchell, who coached Ripia at Waikato when he joined the New Zealand provincial side as a teenager, described him as an exceptional young man.

"He has grown from the national provincial competition to Super rugby," Mitchell said.

"He is a strong distributor of the ball while also having the attributes to be able to get to the line.

"He would be a welcome inclusion in the Western Force program."

Ripia, 177cm and 91kg, has been behind Aaron Cruden since joining the Hurricanes in 2008.

When he was in Perth for discussions with the Force earlier this month, he told _The West Australian _that he wanted to join a team where he could have a presence.

"I'm looking at the future. It would be a great opportunity to get involved in something new, to play Super rugby in a different place," he said.

In his first Super 14 game in 2006, while he was with the Highlanders, Ripia came off the bench to face the Force - and threw an intercept scoring pass to the delight of Scott Staniforth.

"We were close to their line and I thought we had the opportunity to score," Ripia said. "Staniforth was on the left wing. I threw the pass and 'hello' he was off under the posts

 

[Newb]

better than nothing but i'm not sure i'm convinced. was always getting displaced by cruden and before him even weepu with his experiment at flyhalf. perhaps says something about him, but i think the coaches in wellington are a little nuts also.

 

[RugbyReg]

is he an import? Or a development player? One that can play for us with residency? Is he tied to the kiwis?

 

[TOCC]

is he an import? Or a development player? One that can play for us with residency? Is he tied to the kiwis?

he has only played NZ Maori, his about 24 isnt he? Id say he is signed as a development player so the Force can use there foreign import next year if need be.

 

[MrTimms]

is he an import? Or a development player? One that can play for us with residency? Is he tied to the kiwis?

Ripia has notched 30 Super rugby appearances and at just 24 years of age will add to the club’s list of quality young stars. He joins the Emirates Western Force as a foreign development player after committing his international future to Australian Rugby.

From this article

 

[RugbyReg]

wow. Nice. Is he good?

 

[Gnostic]

So what's the team next year, full 22?

1. Cowan
2. Charles
3. Fairbrother
4. Wykes
5. Sharpe (C)
6. Hodgeson
7. Pocock
8. Brown
9. Sheehan
10. Ripia
12. Spanner
13. Inman
11. Cummins
14. Shepherd
15. JOC (James O'Connor)

16. Whittaker
17. Dunning
18. Hockings
19. McCalman
20. Turner
21. Bartholemuez ?
22. Stannard ?

Looking pretty good to me.

I really like Spanner at 12. Wish the Tahs had signed him instead of Cross.

 

[en_force_er]

I rate Ripia as the boring fly-half that many teams need. He'll get your job done but he certainly does not suit a Hurricanes playing style, not at all.

Think of him as a Barnes or a Hangers rather than a Cooper.

 

[TOCC]

9,10,12 aren't going to set the world on fire, should do the job though