With my old Western Force cap on, I sat down on Friday night and watched the Queensland Reds struggle to beat an ordinary Stormers side.
Afterwards the thought crossed my mind that the current Force team would would have beaten the Reds on the day.
I think the Force would beat the Reds in the tight forwards. With Western Australia-born and bred scrumming machine Kieran Longbottom at tighthead and All Black Jeremy Thrush leading the lineouts, I am convinced that the current Force would have been more than matched for the Smith brother-led Reds in the set pieces on Friday night.
The Reds were hopeless in those rolling mauls close to the try line, which is a real strength of the Force.
The Reds loose forwards of Scott Higginbotham, Liam Wright and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto would be well matched by the Force trio of Tevin Ferris, Chirs Alcock and Brynard Stander
At scrum half, I have to admit I was very impressed with young Tate McDermott, who had a great game as a nippy running scrumhalf. Skipper Ian Prior for the Force is a dead-eyed Dick at shots at the goal, but I did like Tate McDermott on Friday night.
But at flyhalf, I would prefer Andrew Deegan for the Force over Bryce Hegarty. Deegan is almost the complete flyhalf for me at running, kicking and tackling. Only question for me is can Deegan kick the points like Bryce Hegarty, because Prior or Jack McGregor always take the set shots for the Force.
Talking about Jack McGregor, what a wonderful runner of the ball from fullback. With Deegan entrenched at flyhalf for the Force, Jack is now reminding me of Damian McKenzie – an unpredictable running fullback who cannot get a game at flyhalf for the Blacks because of Beauden Barrett.
At centre for Queensland, skipper Samu Kerevi is hard to stop, but his offloading of the ball let his side down on Friday night. I don’t rate the rest of the Reds backs, but it was nice to hear the commentators saying that Jack Hardy for the Reds on the wing came via the Western Australia development path
In the coaching box, I think the Brad Thorn-coached team team lacked ideas about how to score tries. On Friday they scored two converted tries while the Stormers’ best tackling player and captain was yellow carded for ten minutes. Remembering that that the Stormers had three tries turned down on review by inches, so I think the Reds were lucky.
It is ironic that probably the best team in Australia at moment is the Rebels, with former Reds stars Quade Cooper and Will Genia making all the plays. They are well supported by a bunch of former Force players and Force coaches.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Considering that his dad played for QLD and he grew in QLD himself I'd say WA wasn't a huge influence on him, other than his parents being there for a brief period when he was born.
Ex force fan
Guest
Maybe the point is to remind Eastern Australia that rugby is still played in Perth and that the Western Force have some useful players. When was the last time you read anything in the East Australia press about the Force players and which of them could be considered for higher honours? There is still a lot of pain in WA for tye betrayal of the WA rugby community by Rugby Australia. As long as Cameron Clyne is on the RA Board a lot of us cannot move on. Everytime he stuffs up, we are reminded of the clumpsy way the axing of the Force was handled and that no-one took accountability for it.
JSJ
Roar Rookie
After watching the first 15 minutes of the Tahs vs Blues, I thought I could title my next cheeky “”fairy tale”” something like “”The current Force team could beat the Tahs””! However the Tahs came back and nearly stole the game. Hats off to the Tahs and yes, they would spank the “”new Force”” playing like the did in the last 65 minutes. Then I watched the Rebels or “”old Force plus Genia ,Cooper and Hodge”” play the Sunwolves. One fan from WA who calls himself Wholetruth, pointed out that the entire starting Rebels pack, were former Force players. No fairy tale for the Sunwolves here, the Rebels who were too good, as yes, the Rebels would spank the new Force right now. I have never been a real Quade Cooper fan, but he is playing great rugby at the moment. Playing like that for the Wallabies, could be the the difference they need.
Jim the Geo
Roar Rookie
Rugger - leeching? What on earth are you referring to? If this is all about the justification for the axing of the Force, i.e. the drain on the ARU coffers, that justification has been ridiculed and rejected.... largely due to the fact that the Rebels were and are a far greater drain on resources than the Force ever were.
And for the next “Fairy Tale”. The Western Farce. The Trilogy!!
Do mean the Circus V the Boring Buggers?
Like a Hole in the Head????
Sorry mate. QLD’s BEST back is Munster. And he is actually World class, unlike potential under 20 protege.
Why waste your time watching SR? Do yourself a favour. Get beer in hand and Flick it onto fox 502 or GEM and watch some real athletes playing.
Rugger
Guest
Father Christmas knows when every child on earth is sleeping or awake or has been bad or good (not to mention every one of their list of favourite toys). He’s a more powerful psychic than Charles Xavier. On his home ground near unbackable
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for the post JSJ! Welcome to the roar Dont agree, but keep on posting!
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Of course WA leeched their entire playing stocks from Queensland, but the phrase "Perth-born, ex-Reds captain Scott Higginbotham" springs to mind. ;)
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Wrong thread..
Paul D
Roar Rookie
They did at that. Comprehensively by the look of the score.
Ryan
Guest
But what rules would it be played under? That’s the problem if you’re taking 2 teams who both follow different rules for a majority of the season and pretty much play two different ball games, you’d have to change your whole game style if you switch to the other rules.
KCR
Guest
I think that it was QLD country that knocked the force out of the semi finals.
AndyS
Guest
It is like the ultimate forwards v backs argument! Generously upholstered bloke with a long history of delivering, versus some bloke with big hair and an ability to cut you up but lacking soft hands.
AndyS
Guest
Agree Tim, with no objective measure I'd also lean towards the Reds giving the Force a pretty solid thumping. Can't imagine it will get tested anytime soon though. I would assume all the focus of GRR will be outward over the next few years as they engage with Asia. Looking backwards would only call their commitment to the new competition into question, so will be avoided. NRC will probably be it, for as long as it lasts.
AndyS
Guest
On seeing the headline, am surprised that took so long. If 2006 still affects the Reds today, it can only have led even more directly to the win in 2011. You should probably send them a nice thank you card... ;)
HookerHarry
Roar Rookie
It would be great if the Force played the Aussie Super Rugby teams more often in general. I don't know when the Rapid Rugby season is planned to play in terms of months but have assumed it would be a similar calendar to super rugby. Pending the above assumption, here are a couple of options off the top of my head: Preseason clashes - probably in Perth or Regional Australia. All teams need 2 or 3 warmups. If QLD, NSW, ACT and MEL played the force every 2nd year, this could work. Perth would be the cheapest financially as there would only be 1 'away' team. The viability of this would depend on the saturation the Perth Rugby market can take. The Best Aussie Super team (furthest in super rugby finals or by points) vs winner of Rapid Rugby. You could genuinely play this in the capital cities as it would attract members of the super team. Their season would have been a success so there would be supporters. A financial agreement would have to be reached as it would likely be loss making. As for the reds losing to the force, take out Samu Kerevi and I would agree with you. But that bloke is just an absolute handful to defend. He is the sole reason that the reds are able to score points. He pends and breaks the defensive line so often creating overlaps & mismatches in the phases thereafter. If Kerevi was rules out for the season, my bets would be the Reds don't win another game.