High praise for the Force by Knuckles

Near future the key: Connolly

June 15, 2006 - 10:48am
Story by: Sportal

Wallabies coach John Connolly believes Australian rugby is facing several challenges in the upcoming years.

Speaking in Melbourne prior to the Wallabies clash with England at Telstra Dome on Saturday night, Connolly said it was important for coaches of Australian-based teams in the Super 14 to work closely with the national coach.

"We have to keep moving on and developing," Connolly said.

"We have to work closely with the Super 14 coaches to go forward. We need to expose these players to a high level of competition regularly."

Despite the Western Force winning just one game in its maiden season in the Super 14, Connolly believed the new franchise had done exceedingly well.

"The Force has been the success story since the Brumbies. The Brumbies are a tremendous success but I think the Force have taken it to a new level," he said.

"They started with so many players in this era on and off the field that hadn't played at the highest level."

"People don't realise what a phenomenal achievement they have made."

Stressing the need to develop a national competition, Connolly said the next few years were very important for Australian rugby.

"Australian rugby is facing some challenges the next few years," he said.

"As the Super 12 becomes the Super 14, we play more Tests, the challenges with depth, the challenge to keep developing world class players to compete with the rest of the world."