Western Force 2017

[The_Brown_Hornet]

He'll be missed by his beloved Mighty 2 Blues at Merrylands RSL Park.

What Perth club has 2 blues in their playing strip?

They will score one of the most humble and proud grass roots club supporters there is.

The M2B loss will be Perth's gain.

Cottesloe would be his team in that case. Given Taf's background playing for a salt of the Earth unfashionable club then he'd be best off going with Kalamunda, Perth Bayswater or Joondalup. Cott have won heaps of flags over the years.

 

[Hawko]

Having TPN playing for anyone but the Tahs is going to feel totally weird. He and Kurtley are my favourite two players and neither will be in sky blue next year.

Sometimes life just gets to hit you in the face.

He is going to make a massive difference to the Force. He is the best scrummaging hooker in Australia, maybe even the world! His work around the park is sensational. This year the Force will be no push-over for anyone, even the NZ teams, with DHP, Morahan, Coleman, RHP, Louwrens, Meekes, Lance. That one signing is going to kickstart the Force membership and give them real hope at last!

 

[Micheal]

Fuck me this TPN signing has changed how I feel about this squad again entirely. I'm a fickle bastard.

Pretty fucking handy for a starting XV with some nice depth (any more signings to come?). Reds have got a fucking handy squad, Tahs too, Force and Rebels looking very promising pending coaching / injuries and Brumbies - well perhaps it's best if we don't talk about the Brumbies.

Itll be a tight run between you and the Rebels for my second Aussie team. Just wrap Lance in bubble wrap - I think he's the most crucial player for your campaign.

1 Faulkner
2 TPN
3 Cowan
4 Coleman
5 Matwijow
6 RHP
7 Hodgson
8 McCalman
9 Louwrens
10 Lance
11 Rona
12 Foley
13 Meakes
14 Morahan
15 DHP

16 Daley
17 Tessman / Scoble
18 ?
19 Matt Phillip / Richie Arnold / RHP
20 Naisarani / Hardwick / Sam Figg / Cottrell (2017 onwards)
21 Prior
22 As below.
23 Grant / Coleman / Burton / Peni / Brache / Masiwera / Newsome

 

[Micheal]

Or DHP to 5, McCalman to 6 and Naisarani to 8 for a more dynamic back row.

Alternatively you could keep Matwijow at 5 with the above, shifting DHP to 19 (covering 4,5,6,8) and using a more mobile backrower off the bench (Hardwick or Figg).

 

[Tomikin]

Or DHP to 5, McCalman to 6 and Naisarani to 8 for a more dynamic back row.

Alternatively you could keep Matwijow at 5 with the above, shifting DHP to 19 (covering 4,5,6,8) and using a more mobile backrower off the bench (Hardwick or Figg).

DHP will be 15 i would think

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[TOCC]

Yeah I think RHP will be one of the starting locks

 

[amirite]

Obviously, an excellent signing on the face of it. Devil's advocate - why would nobody else sign him? Time will tell, I suppose.

Still, the Force best XV is looking sharp, but you're probably not deep enough in the centres or in the tight 5 (barring hooker).

Could go as high as second in the Aus conference, could go as low as last. Once again, time will tell.

 

[Braveheart81]

Obviously, an excellent signing on the face of it. Devil's advocate - why would nobody else sign him? Time will tell, I suppose.

It's all in the timing.

The plan was to go to Bristol (part way through the season due to Wallaby commitments) but his arm injury scuppered that.

The Force are short of hookers so it makes sense for them to sign him for one year. TPN has expressed interest in trying to help rugby in WA.

 

[upthereds#!]

This was like George Smith to the reds

Different circumstances though. Smiths wife wanted to settle in brisbane and george to follow thorn into mentoring then coaching in QLD. TPN had to go where they had space and money for him considering his overseas options dont suit the timing on his injury until after the 2017 super rugby season.

Moore to Reds would be closer then Smith to reds but even that is different again.

 

[TOCC]

Great signing for the Force though..

It's funny that the 2017 starting hookers at the Reds, Brumbies, Rebels and Force were all playing at different clubs 12 months ago

 

[Wazza2013]

He'll be missed by his beloved Mighty 2 Blues at Merrylands RSL Park.

What Perth club has 2 blues in their playing strip?

They will score one of the most humble and proud grass roots club supporters there is.

The M2B loss will be Perth's gain.

He definatley will be missed. He has a genuine love for the M2B.

I have yet to tell my kids .. I think this conversation is going to be harder to have with then than the Santa one.

 

[Braveheart81]

Ita funny that the 2017 starting hookers at the Reds, Brumbies, Rebels and Force were all playing at different clubs 12 months ago

Whilst Latu is now in the box seat, it wouldn't be crazy to see Damien Fiztpatrick there for the Tahs which would make it all five Aussie teams.

 

[amirite]

It's all in the timing.

The plan was to go to Bristol (part way through the season due to Wallaby commitments) but his arm injury scuppered that.

The Force are short of hookers so it makes sense for them to sign him for one year. TPN has expressed interest in trying to help rugby in WA.

Absolutely, but an ageing and often injured hooker coming in short of a preseason is a risk. A calculated risk, but a risk.

You're always hedging when you pick up a talented but often injured (or currently injured) player.

Euro teams are often happy to sign guys mid season, but with Bristol looking likely for the drop, and top players usually having a clause saying their contract is voided post drop, then the contract wouldn't be worth much or last long. They'd basically be funding rehab for 5-10 games.

 

[Braveheart81]

Absolutely, but an ageing and often injured hooker coming in short of a preseason is a risk. A calculated risk, but a risk.

You're always hedging when you pick up a talented but often injured (or currently injured) player.

Euro teams are often happy to sign guys mid season, but with Bristol looking likely for the drop, and top players usually having a clause saying their contract is voided post drop, then the contract wouldn't be worth much or last long. They'd basically be funding rehab for 5-10 games.

It was directly in response to you asking why no one else signed him.

The reason he is at the Force to begin with is that he failed a medical with Bristol so couldn't sign the contract.

Other teams not chasing him and him being a risky signing due to injury history are both true but not related in this situation.

In terms of mitigating that risk, the Force are in a pretty good place because he should be healthy soon and will have a whole preseason with them before the 2017 season starts.

 

[Lindommer]

Absolutely, but an ageing and often injured hooker coming in short of a preseason is a risk.

At Taf's age I'd suggest a few months rest would do him the world of good. He needed to get over his arm injury for starters, don't worry about his physical preparation, he's always been well-prepared on that front.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Taf, tell us it isn't true. Please Taf.

Ah good to see force getting one of tahs better players - we are ok at hooker with latu etc so probably good for all concerned


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[Rugbynutter39]

Fuck me this TPN signing has changed how I feel about this squad again entirely. I'm a fickle bastard.

Pretty fucking handy for a starting XV with some nice depth (any more signings to come?). Reds have got a fucking handy squad, Tahs too, Force and Rebels looking very promising pending coaching / injuries and Brumbies - well perhaps it's best if we don't talk about the Brumbies.

Itll be a tight run between you and the Rebels for my second Aussie team. Just wrap Lance in bubble wrap - I think he's the most crucial player for your campaign.

1 Faulkner
2 TPN
3 Cowan
4 Coleman
5 Matwijow
6 RHP
7 Hodgson
8 McCalman
9 Louwrens
10 Lance
11 Rona
12 Foley
13 Meakes
14 Morahan
15 DHP

16 Daley
17 Tessman / Scoble
18 ?
19 Matt Phillip / Richie Arnold / RHP
20 Naisarani / Hardwick / Sam Figg / Cottrell (2017 onwards)
21 Prior
22 As below.
23 Grant / Coleman / Burton / Peni / Brache / Masiwera / Newsome

Yes with tpn not a bad forward pack. Hopefully some one steps up for vacant centre position left by taps departure to bath. I would like to see the force kick arse this year and bring back the crowds.

My question mark is who to partner meakes that can be quality is one question mark for me. Hopefully a new star is born who owns the position and is better than taps.


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[chiraag]

Hopefully Luke Burton has an injury free run for a change, as he will slot into 12 nicely, surrounded by strong defenders in Lance & Meakes

 

[todd4]

Chance Peni looks like a hard running centre/wing on his League highlights reel. He might be a smokey to start at 12. Have to wait and see how he fits in during pre-season.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Great signing for the Force though..

It's funny that the 2017 starting hookers at the Reds, Brumbies, Rebels and Force were all playing at different clubs 12 months ago

and I'd have preferred to keep them where they were, especially QLD

Great signing for the Force

Taf is one of the nicest blokes in Australian rugby.