Western Force 2012

[tranquility]

Yeah, I saw him play when he burst onto the scene. He is electric, I wonder how much history he has in ruggers?

 

[Lee Grant]

I cant blame him, he is behind two good young hookers.

Half his luck.

Yes, fair enough I was a little blunt with that comment.

Heads up - how many of us admit we made a boo-boo?

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Is he a tall white guy? I remember watching some 18 year old debut for the Titans a few years ago, he looked very promising.

 

[Lee Grant]

He's played for the NZ Maori but he's not very dark - but then, neither is Paul Tito.

 

[Joe Mac]

Is he eligible for the Wallabies?

 

[Lee Grant]

Dunno when he came to Oz but he lives in the Gold Coast and the article said he was playing league in Oz in 2008. How his mission time affects his residency if he arrived in 2008 is anybody's guess. The first question to ask is really is : what year did he come to Oz?

 

[Lee Grant]

Due to my goggling skills I have found out that he came to Oz with his family when he was 11; so OK.

 

[ChargerWA]

Well that sounds exciting, good to see Graham looking outside the box for recruiting.

 

[redsfanatic]

Which star will the Western Force get for 2012?

The Western Force recruitment has been good over the past couple of years.

2010 - Andre Pretorius
2011 - Willie Ripia and David Smith
2012 - Willie Ripia and ?

After Pretorius was injured all of 2010, and Ripia injured for most of 2011, the talk has always been what could have been. They have an overseas spot and should have enough money for a big star after Davd Smith's and James O'Connor's departures. Talk is that thay are chasing Corey Jane, and with Corey Jane omitted from the All Blacks will they get him? Will talk with him fall through? Will they get a surprise Aussie star? Will they get someone else?

What do you think?

 

[TOCC]

Cory Jane said no

 

[barbarian]

Cory Jane said no

Where did you here that?

 

[todd4]

Where did you here that?

Article in the West Australian

Force go shopping as Jane opts out

NICK TAYLOR, The West AustralianJuly 6, 2011, 6:50 am



Western Force coach Richard Graham is scouring the international market for a new back-line player after All Black Cory Jane decided not to move to the Super Rugby club.

Graham had been confident of snaring the 22-Test winger and full-back from the Hurricanes and had been in discussions for several weeks since the player's management contacted him before the club toured New Zealand in May.

Jane would have been the club's 2012 marquee signing but decided against moving to Perth because of family reasons.

Graham is searching for a replacement for this year's marquee signing and Force Player of the Year David Smith, who has left for Toulon. He is also looking for an inside centre to replace James O'Connor.

A third hooker to replace Siliva Siliva, who has headed to the Brumbies is also on Graham's shopping list.

Graham is still in discussions with flanker Tevita Metuisela, who is thought to be a target of the NSW Waratahs, and is casting an eye over available talent in South Africa where he is carrying out a series of coaching clinics.

He is now expected to wait until after Rugby World Cup squads are announced before finalising any overseas signing.

"I think there's going to be a huge fall-out after the squads are announced," Graham said.
"Already, anywhere between 35 and 45 New Zealand players are expected to go to Europe and Japan."

 

[Lee Grant]

Jane would have been handy. I didn't think he was so good this year but that still doesn't mean that he's not very bloody good.

From a Tahs point of view I think it's good that the Tahs are looking at Metuisela. I saw him at Rat Park the Saturday before last and he was a commanding player, albeit at the club level.

At the Force he will see McCalman and Brown in front of him but at the Tahs, Mowen, the replacement for Palu, has not been re-signed and Cliffy doesn't play a full season these days. Dennis did well at the end of the season when both Palu and Mowen were injured but they may prefer a specialist instead.

 

[Crow]

Jane would have been handy. I didn't think he was so good this year but that still doesn't mean that he's not very bloody good.

Jane's one of my favourite backs and despite his lack-luster year, would have been a good pick up for the force. Both Smith and JOC (James O'Connor) are losses that they seem unable to replace. It's probably getting a little late to hope for a player capable of filling either of those shoes.

 

[ChargerWA]

Our biggest problem is replacing O'Connor.

Aussie clubs need a genuine Aussie superstar in each of the positional groups to be really competitive, who are essentially the equal of a marquee player without taking up a spot on the marquee player roster.

We have Sharpe in the tight 5, Pocock in the backrow, now we just need and X factor back. Unfortunately, unless we snare Quade Cooper or Kurtley Beale, whoever replaces O'Connor is essentially a net loss.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Or we could do what QLD were forced to do and build the backline with some youth and coach them up. I want to see a local kid like Kyle Godwin get a crack next year. A bloke I know has had a bit to do with him at Soaks and reckons he's a good kid and could go reasonably far.

 

[TOCC]

I would have thought that most Force fans would have realized that buying 'star' players is not the solution by now..
If half the money had been spent on developing a 5/8 rather the foreign marquee players and Giteau over the years,'the Force could have a capable fly-half by now..

 

[tranquility]

I would have thought that most Force fans would have realized that buying 'star' players is not the solution by now..
If half the money had been spent on developing a 5/8 rather the foreign marquee players and Giteau over the years,'the Force could have a capable fly-half by now..

Maybe.. But I don't think they have been reluctant to play locals, just the talent hasn't been there. Kyle Godwin is probably the first genuine flyhalf talent to come out of WA since the Force started, it will be good to see him get an opportunity and begin his development.

 

[hurge]

Force should invest Time and money into training and retaining swanepoel and stannard.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I would be surprised if they are not already.