The good news for the Force pretty much stopped after the final whistle of their game with the hapless Tahs last weekend. Since then, their CEO has resigned, the drums are beating very loudly that Drew Mitchell is packing his bags, they have lost Dick Brown with a dodgy fetlock and line-out Supremo, Nathan Sharpe, may miss this week’s game as well.
Not what you would call the ideal preparation for a must win game, but, the Force have played the season thus far in state of upheaval, so maybe this sort of week is just de rigueur?
The Force are the equivalent of an old, two-stroke whipper snipper, one week they work fine and then the next, for no apparent reason, they are totally useless. They have been unable to string any sort of form together so it might be with a touch of foreboding they approach this game.
The Lions showed last week that if a team is not completely on its game, they can produce winning rugby. They play a limited style of rugby that suits their personnel and has proved effective with them being able to stick closer to more fancied opponents than expected.
When you factor in the Force’s shithouse home record, this game has boil-over written all over it.
The challenge for the Force will be to play the game as though a loss would end their season, as, in reality, this is very scenario they face.
The Force beat the Tahs last week through enthusiasm; they were first to everything and created chances from nothing. It was the kind of win that good teams are able to produce, to win when refereeing decisions don’t favour you. There is no legitimate reason why the Force won’t smash the Lions and earn themselves the 5 points they need to continue their conquest toward the finals, but when have the Force ever needed a reason to have a shocker?
The Force must control the game and not get into a turn-over fest, as the Lions thrive in this sort of game. Giteau and Shephard will be the key to the success of the Force by playing field position through their excellent kicking games and strangling the Lions out of the contest.
The Force back-row is the most effective of all the Australian teams and it will fall to them again to provide the ball the Force need to allow Gits to run at retreating fatties and make inroads.
The Westerners have looked their best this year against the other three Australian teams, apart from maybe the last 30 mins against the ‘Saders, by essentially playing test match style rugby. Limit mistakes, truck the ball up, put kicks into touch, dominate the break-down, and only use the ball when it comes quickly from a ruck in the opposition half.
Why they fail to reproduce this type of stuff week after week is a bigger mystery than the vagaries of an old, two-stroke whipper snipper.
Cote says – Force by 9, but with a four try bonus point also.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2573 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=2573">5 Comments
I reckon this is the hardest tip of the week, for all the reasons you give. Logic says the Force to lose, at home and coming off a win, but logic also says the lions to lose, so …?
It’s official, the Force are a shit to tip
Now that the Force has beat all their provincial rivals for the first time ever, some would argue that the Force has had their best season to date and everything from here on is a bonus. I hope all their big name player rise to the occasion and continue to create more firsts, that their fans can be proud of.
Go The Force!
Ironically, if we had a conference system, the Force could be looking at a home quarter-final!
I don’t think people suggesting conferences have realised how much of a difference it might make.
Its simple for the force from now on and that makes it easy for them. As you say, win every game. The Force can smash the Lions if the forwards can out-enthuse them at the breakdown and in the contact with Giteau directing the show from behind.