Western Force 2013

[Forcefield]

Godwin!? Did you watch the u20s?

I did, and it wasn't bloody easy at times. I missed the second game against the French though.

I don't think you can blame Godwin for the U20s. Nucifora should have selected a different goal kicker. Nucifora should have selected UJS in the Argentina game as he has a far better all round kicking game and that would have suited the shithouse weather conditions. Those are coaching problems. The first French game was a disaster but that was our defence out wide. I consider that a selection/coaching/individual player issue. I don't recall Godwin being bad in that game but if he made bad decisions it was probably under the pressure of trying to turn around a 20 odd points - 0 deficit.

Godwin has the potential to be a very good fly-half. Very Larkhamesque- not at all a good kicker but he has a very good passing/running game. He won't get any better if we don't play him. Did you watch the end of the Blues game. In the 15 minutes he was on he had some good touches.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Well with stanly being ruled out with a shoulder injury im guessing we will see godwin starting in the last round

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[Ghibli]

There is one thing all you no good, stinking, talent poaching bums forget,

Quite a statement coming from a Force supporter, I guess the various Sharpe, Giteau, and lately Genia don't count. But then it's true, we poached Holmes from Norths.

The ones the Force should poach are top of the class rugby administrators and a world class coach, who are more important than the "stars". Until this lesson is learned, grim times for the franchise.

 

[Forcefield]

Well with stanly being ruled out with a shoulder injury im guessing we will see godwin starting in the last round

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Probably the Force will make a straight swap for Sidey.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Force to name coach this week

The Western Force will name their new coach this week.
The Force have been in limbo for three months since dumping Richard Graham, but the board will sanction the choice made by the selection panel at a meeting.
It is a crucial appointment given how poor the Force have been this season and their standing in the Super Rugby competition.
Michael Cheika and John Mulvihill are believed to be at the head of the queue.
Cheika won the Heineken Cup with Irish club Leinster but was recently released from French club Stade Francais amid reports of player unrest.
He is a no-nonsense boss who has made a fortune through his fashion-distribution company.
The Force board would need to be convinced he would make a long-term commitment.
Mulvihill was a Force foundation assistant coach who took charge when John Mitchell was sidelined during a player revolt. He left in 2009 and is in charge of Japan's Mitsubishi Dynabors club.
He met senior players, including Nathan Sharpe and David Pocock, when in Perth for his interview.
The off-and-on saga of Michael Foley at the Waratahs, with Foley not publicly committing to next year, has left that avenue open because Cheika was also touted to take over in Sydney.
The new coach will be working overtime on a side that is bereft of talent and confidence. If they lose to the Crusaders and the Lions beat the Bulls in Pretoria, the Force face the ignominy of finishing last, as they did in their debut season.
The 32-9 loss to the Blues on Saturday was hardly a performance likely to have convinced captain and Wallabies flanker Pocock that he should stay - unless he wants to help rebuild the side.
The game exposed the visitors' lack of depth and any player with the X-factor needed to spark their midfield.
They were not helped by the late withdrawal of veteran Sharpe with a back problem, nor the loss of centre Winston Stanley with a dislocated shoulder.
The only area where they really stood up was again in the forwards, in particular the front row, where young Salesi Manu matched one of the best in Tony Woodcock.
Sharpe will not know whether he has pulled on the Force jumper for the last time until later in the week after treatment on his back.

 

[wamberal]

Very impressed with what I have seen of Salesi Manu.

By the way, where is Longbottom? And Sykes?

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Very impressed with what I have seen of Salesi Manu.

By the way, where is Longbottom? And Sykes?

Wykes has has a Knee recon and longbottom has surgary on his neck. Wykes has been out since about round 4-5 and Longbottom before the forces first bye. Should be all good come next year. The injury toll has been crazy all year we have used something like 36-37 players i think everyone on the roster plus the EPS and more from outside the squad.

 

[ChargerWA]

Quite a statement coming from a Force supporter, I guess the various Sharpe, Giteau, and lately Genia don't count. But then it's true, we poached Holmes from Norths.

The ones the Force should poach are top of the class rugby administrators and a world class coach, who are more important than the "stars". Until this lesson is learned, grim times for the franchise.

Note to self: must include eyes rolling smiley when making sarcastic comments.

 

[up&under]

What sort of contract is Ollie Atkins on? Will he be with the force next season? Or is he simply making up the numbers at the back end of the season?

 

[GaffaCHinO]

What sort of contract is Ollie Atkins on? Will he be with the force next season? Or is he simply making up the numbers at the back end of the season?

He is on a short term contract at the moment. The force have Lynn Wykes and Batty for next year another lock needed. They have been developming a local lad Jake Ball but he to is injured and unable to take part in the last couple of games.

I thought Atkins did well on the weekend all things considered but i think they have alot invested in Jake Ball 1 might get a contract the other a EPS spot?

 

[Forcefield]

I think we will need an experienced lock to replace Sharpe. They should give Ball the EPS slot and take some time to look at options with the main squad.

 

[Lindommer]

Pocock and Cheika in Perth for 2013? If so, this is very good news indeed.

David Pocock to stay at Force with Michael Cheika new coach

• by: Bret Harris
• From:The Australian
• July 11, 201212:00AM

THE Western Force is expected to announce Michael Cheika as the Super Rugby team's new head coach by the end of the week.

And indications are the appointment of Cheika will influence Force captain and openside flanker David Pocock to recommit to the struggling franchise. Cheika, who guided Irish province Leinster to its maiden Heineken Cup victory in 2009, recently coached French club Stade Francais. It is understood the Force is trying to finalise contract negotiations with Cheika. Even if a deal is done this week, it is possible the Force may wait until the team plays its last game of the regular season against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday before making an official announcement.

The Force has been searching for a new coach since Richard Graham resigned in April after accepting an offer to take charge of the Queensland Reds from next season. A number of candidates are believed to have expressed interest in the job, including former Wallabies assistant coach Scott Johnson and ex-Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan. NSW Waratahs coach Michael Foley was also linked to the job, but the Sydney-based franchise is believed to be keen for him to continue. A former number eight with Sydney club Randwick, Cheika is highly regarded in Europe for what he achieved at Leinster, even though he was unable to duplicate that success at Stade Francais. One of Cheika's main tasks will be to convince Pocock that he can turn the Force into playoffs contenders. Pocock wants to play on a winning team and has seriously considered an offer from the Brumbies, but it is understood he would be happy to play under Cheika even though he initially supported former Force assistant John Mulvihill for the job.

 

[Slim 293]

I love a Bret Harris headline.......

It was only a couple of days ago he wrote that Pocock had practically gone to the Brumbies.......

 

[barbarian]

Although he was the one who first broke that Genia was staying in Brisbane.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

And more good news for the Force

One more import for Force


The Western Force have been given dispensation by the Australian Rugby Union to recruit an extra overseas player to strengthen their playing ranks from next season.
They will now be allowed three foreign players.
The ARU will relax the rules that allow Super Rugby clubs to recruit two foreign players.
Currently they can sign a marquee player who has previously represented his country on a 12-month contract and a developing player who will become eligible for the Wallabies after three years, or two development players.
The Force will now be able to recruit either a marquee and two development players or three development players for next season and maintain three in their squad in the future.
It is understood the other Australian franchises will not get the same dispensation but all supported the ARU move.
_The West Australian _revealed last month that Force pleas for help were likely to be accepted by the ARU board.
Chief executive Vern Reid welcomed the decision: "It is an issue we have been pushing for the best part of a year and will give us an extra arrow in the quiver."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/basketball/14191416/one-more-import-for-force/

And Sharpe has declared himself fit for the game on the weekend!

 

[todd4]

The story about Cheika and pocock may very well turn out to be true but at the moment it is only speculation.
I imagine he is required to churn out a certain amount of copy to keep the punters happy.
I doubt it has been written with any creditable inside information.

Just for the record I hope that this guesswork does turn out to be true.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I dare not hope that all three of those nice developments are true.

 

[chequebalance]

My guess is Pocock will go. Sorry Force supporters.

 

[todd4]

You don't need to apologise for having an opinion.

I truely believe he is going to stay.

 

[Ghibli]

Be good for the Pocock situation to end ASAP, one way or the other.
Starting to stink.