Roar Rookie
Joined September 2018
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With my old Western Force cap on, I sat down on Friday night and watched the Queensland Reds struggle to beat an ordinary Stormers…
Twiggy Forrest and his Global Rapid Rugby advisers are not trying to please the average Roar rugby poster, who would no doubt be a…
Late News, Sounds like you make yourself an outsider.
Super Rugby AU Week 1: Back on like Donkey Kong
“Over in the west, Ian Prior and Jono Lance kicked at a combined 67 per cent for the Force”
According the stats on School of Kicking, Prior was had an average of 83% and was the number 1 kicker in Super AU. But yes when Prior was off the field, then Lance certainly lost the Force a couple of games with relatively easy missed kicks and was ranked 10th out of 11.
According to the stats on Rugby Pass, Jake McIntyre did not do much place kicking in 2020 or 2019 over in Europe, but his 2018 stats look OK at 76% from 74 kicks.
So purely based on kicking, I hope the Force can keep one of Prior, Miotti or McIntyre on the field at all times. I notice that Lance and Prior are the the starters for the Force this afternoon in the trial game against the Brumbies. Not that place kicking is really important in trial games.
Australian rugby needs to kick goals in 2021
Hey Jacko, by your last sentence, I see you are still on the Force as your 2nd team. I was originally sad to see Wessels leave the Force when they were axed, but have been mighty impressed with Tim Sampson. Yes, I know he is from Queensland! Could be a crossroads year for Thorn, Sampson, Wessels and Penney. You would think a bad year, could be career threatening for one or two of those four coaches. McKellar can point to the trophy cabinet for a year or two.
Time for the Reds to shine in 2021
The AFL had a bubble in Perth last year with Collingwood, Geelong, Eagles and Dockers.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-01/afl-perth-hub-players-warned-over-coronavirus-quarantine-rules/12410658
Super Rugby is actually super close
Well said Mzilikazi. Force have recruited a strong exciting squad for 2021. Yes, if Covid does not mess things up with borders closures etc, then the Force will get to play 50% of their games in Perth, and not live in a bubble for 3months. And the Reds will have travel a bit more this year. Looking forward to the season.
Trophies on agenda after Wilson's big year
Yes, I agree the game is growing in WA. Some of the fields and parks in WA dont lend themselves to running around barefoot, were the little thistles and worse occasionally “doublegees” getting into little soft feet that are normally in shoes.
Anyway, when I watch kids playing rugby games, nobody is kicking the ball. The kicking only starts, when the defence of opposing teams improves at about the 15-17 ages, and coaches encourage backs to grubber or chip through or over the defensive line. At least the boring box kicks by the scrumhalf, dont seem to start until you watch professional teams playing in the wind or rain.
Barefoot rugby could save the code from dying
Well, the Rebels, and probably also the Tahs, Brumbies and Reds, would also be instantly dead, if their major backer, the RA pulled the plug on them. That is actually more of a possibility, as Twiggy is a lot more financially stable than the RA.
The Force played in front of 37, 000 against the Brumbies back 15 years ago and had 23,000 members. So there are rugby fans out there.
Even in recent years playing GRR, their crowds sides were bigger than the Tahs, Brumbies and Rebels playing Super rugby.
It is going to be interesting to see the Force crowd sizes in 2021, compared to the other four,
Has rugby’s Melbourne experiment failed?
Waxhead, You are not quite right in your statement: “The only thing that’s created a Force resurrection is Twiggy.
If he pulls the plug the Force are instantly dead.”
Twiggy has stated several times, that the reason he got seriously involved with the Force, was because his wife and children saw how much the Force fans, the Sea of Blue, were hurting and how much they cared about their team that the ARU were axing. His family told him that he had to do something. So it was the Force fan base who created the resurrection, by motivating him to do something.
He has stated a month ago in the Australian newspaper, that he is committed for many more years, and his goal is to build the Force into the the strongest rugby team in the world and help make WA a rugby power house.
Has rugby’s Melbourne experiment failed?
It still defies logic that the ARU/RA decided to axe the Western Force and pour millions of their limited dollars into the Melbourne Rebels instead.
Anyway, I think after all that investment in growing rugby in Melbourne, that they should stay in Australian Super rugby. No more “shrinking Australian rugby to greatness ideas” please.
We need 5 teams to build our player depth and for TV viewership, viewing numbers and TV contracts etc
We need to get better at marketing, as well as managing our money and player resources at franchises level. And fostering and growing grass roots rugby.
Hopefully the change from FOX to Nine/Stan will bring some new marketing ideas and TV audiences to Australian rugby.
And some changes in the structure of the RA to release the stranglehold that NSW and Qld have on it. After all it is called Rugby Australia for a reason and not Rugby NSW/Qld
Has rugby’s Melbourne experiment failed?
Stay safe Nicholas. We are so lucky in WA where we have been COVID free in the community for many months now.
Can Super Rugby AU bring the wild geese home?
Nicholas, I cannot agree with the mind set, that “Australia has too many SR teams for its own good.”
We need to get more professional in our money management, player resources, marketing and growing the game at the RA level firstly.
Twiggy has offered to help out, but only when the RA have make some changes to their structure and NSW & Qld release their stranglehold control of the RA. There is supposedly a sub-committee looking the RA structure, but I have heard nothing about proposed changes.
Can Super Rugby AU bring the wild geese home?
Ok Jacko, You can have the Chiefs game, if the rest of your wish list for the Force comes true. There are always a lot of cow bells ringing in the stadium in Perth, when the Chief come to town. Great atmosphere.
I am also a great fan of Force coach Tim Sampson. Seems to be very thorough and professional, but nice guy at the same time. Future Wallaby coach?
I hope COVID does pop not again in Australia and ruin the travel schedules and restrict crowd sizes.
Can Super Rugby AU bring the wild geese home?
Hey Jacko, Great to hear that you are hoping we have some success next year. I am also thinking and hoping so.
Can Super Rugby AU bring the wild geese home?
Well said Piru. By contrast the Reds hardly left Queensland, except for the odd quick day trip down to Sydney or Canberra.
Can Super Rugby AU bring the wild geese home?
Yes Nicholas, the Force is looking great for 2021. Two recruits you did not mention, was John McKee as the forwards coach and the retaining of local boy Kyle Godwin, who the Waratahs were trying to sign.
I agree the you, the squad may be only lacking maybe one more big 2nd rower. Currently they have former All Black Jeremy Thrush and Fergus Lee-Warner, which is a quality pair of locks to start, but they are only backed up with Ryan McCauly formally from Tahs and Aus U20 on the bench .
Twiggy Forrest recently responded to rumours that he was losing interest by stating “We have only just begun on this journey and I am committed to seeing it through for many years to come.
Our commitment to grassroots rugby cannot be questioned. As recently as July, Nicola (his wife) and I announced another $5 million to create an elite pathways program in Western Australia. goal is to build the Western Force into the strongest rugby team in the world. “
There also a big membership resigning and recruitment drive going on in Perth at the moment.
The first game is against the Brumbies, the current Australian champions, at home in Perth on the 19th of February, so that will be the big test of the squad and the crowd size. I cannot wait!
Can Super Rugby AU bring the wild geese home?
The Force have probably got enough backs signed already. The only spot to fill is one more big tough 2nd rower.
Pumas beat All Blacks for the first time
“Meanwhile four of the five Argentinian players heading to the Force next season will line-up against the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations Test.
Hooker Julián Montoya and scrum-half Tomás Cubelli, who have already been confirmed, and prop Santiago Medrano and flanker Tomas Lezana, who are set to be announced are in the match-day squad.
Fly-half Santiago Iglesias, who is also expected to be announced shortly, is the only player to miss out.”
More here
https://thewest.com.au/sport/western…ng-b881720386z
Pumas beat All Blacks for the first time
The golden point odds are stacked in favour of the side kicking off. Kick it deep into their quarter and rush up trapping the defending side down their near their poles and try-line. Penalty, drop goal or try are all in play. Game over. No right of reply for the other team.
The Rebels played the golden point decider perfectly in the last game against the Force this year.
Golden point is no way to settle a Bledisloe game.
The Wrap: Eight and a half crazy minutes light up the Bledisloe Cup
When JOC was signalling with 3 fingers to White at the 16-16 stage, I thought drop goal was on the menu.
The Wrap: Eight and a half crazy minutes light up the Bledisloe Cup
Yes Brett, The Force squad is coming together nicely. Maybe just a good number 10 and another big 2nd rower, and then sign most the rest of the rest of the current young players. Unconfirmed press report is that Jake McIntyre has also been signed.
Only Johan Bardoull has been announced as leaving so far, and I suspect the solid and loyal but now 37 year old, Heath Tessman at hooker may not get another contract.
Force add Pumas duo for 2021 Super Rugby season
Nobes was not wrong. Julian Montoya and Thomas Cubelli signings announced today.
Western Force signing spree continues with Irish superstar
As a Force fan, I would rather have Fines than Powell. He was brilliant for the Force last year in the NRC.
Rebels sign Brumbies halfback Joe Powell
Bodger,
Twiggy owns both GRR and the Force., but Global Rapid Rugby is more than just the Force.
-firstly GRR is registered with World Rugby as a competition run out of Hong Kong.
– Hong Kong RU, Fiji and recently Bay of Plenty and Samoa put the hand of friendship and need out to Twiggy and the Force, at a time that the RA hand turned its back on us.
So I think Twiggy is trying to look after his GRR mates as well as the Force.
In 2021, I am sure the Force will end up playing in Australia, not NZ., and will be very competitive. Hopefully they dont end up playing every game away again.
In 2022, hopefully a Covid-19 vaccine allows us all to play a combined TT comp.
As South Africa head north, Australia and New Zealand must remember they're better together
Nor was I.
Super Rugby AU Week 1: Back on like Donkey Kong