All posts tagged "john mitchell"

Sharks 27 Western Force 22 I’ve banged on a bit about Matt Hodgson being the backbone of the Force’s efforts this year but in the face of adversity you cannot fault the commitment, workrate and leadership of Captain Nathan Sharpe. Hodgo was consistently outstanding at openside when he took over from Bam...

Each week we here at G&GR select our Wallaby Team of the Week. Rather obviously, this is...

In what has been a prick of a season so far, the Western Force have an opportunity to post a rare brace of wins following last week’s victory over the Stormers. With their international backrow of Pocock, Brown and Hodgson back on deck for the first time since Round 1, combined with...

Bulls 28 Western Force 15 The ‘glass half full’ version says that the Western Force showed heart and courage last night in the face of adversity and gave the top of the table Bulls a real fright. However, reality bites in that it was the Force’s 6th loss in a row in...

Last week we launched the first look at the comings and goings of each of our Super...

By announcing his departure from coaching the Western Force ‘at the end of the 2011 season’ John Mitchell is effectively a dead man walking. I wonder where he’ll celebrate New Years’ Eve this year? You can bet your bottom dollar it won’t be at the Western Force. If you think otherwise you’re...

So were the inspirational words spoken by Russel Crowe as Maximus, one of cinema’s greatest ‘Rebels’, in...

It’s not only the Western Force who have been unlucky in love recently but the Chiefs are without a swag of quality players for this weekend’s clash in Swan Laager. In good news for the Force Mark Bartholomeusz, Ryan Cross and Nick Cummins return to the starting XV and recent four-game emergency...

You don’t have to be Einstein to work out that two into one won’t go. However, one into two is an entirely different matter. In a miracle of modern science as ground breaking as the Theory of Relativity James Rabbit O’Connor created a new position in the game of rugby at the...

In military parlance, a force multiplier is an asset that increases your ability to succeed in the violence of the battlefield. Transposed to rugby it is the people, strategies, innovation and organisation that you can bring to your franchise to enhance success. And one of the major force multipliers in any season...

The question on everyone’s lips is how much will Matt Giteau’s departure hurt the Western Force this season? Let’s face it, in the three seasons he was there it was essentially ‘all about Gits’. He was their million dollar man, possessed oodles of star quality and was worth every cent. Commanding the...

If ever there was a time for the Western Force to fulfill their real potential it’s now. They’ve essentially been a journeyman outfit since entering the Super 14 competition in 2006. I don’t mean that in a negative way because they’ve achieved more in the last four years than many of the...

SEE ALL OUR LATEST NEWS, GOSSIP AND RAMBLINGS ABOUT THE MELBOURNE REBELS HERE The good news for...

Robbie Deans: Hi lads, thanks so much for coming on such short notice. Chris Hickey: No problems Robbie. Andy Friend: The Brumbies are glad to have the opportunity. John Mitchell: Yes, Robbie, just like old times hey? But seriously, I just want to say what an honour it is for me, I...

My esteemed colleague/fellow Blogger/GAGR Rugby Correspondent, Juan Cote, has called for the ARU to lend a bit more a hand to the Reds in getting them back on top of their game in Please ARU – help the Reds help themselves!!. I’m going to be a little more dramatic. It is time...

The silence is deafening after the Force’s total capitulation last weekend against Waikato. What is going on? After an incredibly exhilarating win against the Brumbies, the meek effort produced against Waikato suggests perhaps that Gits and a raft of others may have more pressing things on their mind. Imagine if this sort...

A look at the key match ups for the first Australian derby of the 2009 Super 14 as the ACT Brumbies host the Western Force in Canberra. What does this mean for the match preview and prediction?

QLD Reds vs Western Force 2009 Super 14 trial match review with score

The Force have signed former junior All-Black Ben Castle to their ranks in an effort to bolster the franchise’s meagre propping stocks.  Considering the Force were chasing the likes of Tim Fairbrother and the du Plessis brothers, this can only be seen as a fairly desperate attempt to cobble together some sort...

An overview of the potential replacement coaches for John Mitchell at the Western Force