Force can win Super 14, says Deans
High praise indeed from the normally reserved Grand Poobah of Super 14 Coaches!
Here's hoping he is right!!!
Force can win Super 14, says Deans
Saturday, January 20, 2007,
c/o Rugby Heaven
Western Force lost its trial match against the Crusaders last night but won the respect of the most successful Super 14 coach, Robbie Deans, who said the Perth team was capable of winning the competition.
The defending champion Crusaders came home with a wet sail at Princes Park, scoring two unanswered tries in the second half to take a 28-12 victory.
The Christchurch side held a 14-12 lead after a hard-fought first half, but lifted a notch as the Force faded amidst a number of personnel and positional changes.
While his team went down, rugby league convert Ryan Cross enjoyed a successful transition to his new code as he opened the scoring for the Force in the ninth minute.
Deans was delighted with his own side's performance, particularly in the second half and in the absence of six All Blacks, who have been rested for the first half of the competition because of the upcoming World Cup.
But he was also impressed with the Force, who were missing rested million-dollar man Matt Giteau and fellow Wallaby and skipper Nathan Sharpe.
"There's no doubt they're a team that's more than capable of winning the comp," said Deans, who has steered his side to six Super 12/14 titles.
"They're going to be a handful and they showed that early, and they've got some real class to add to that mix.
"You can just tell they're a little bit more comfortable in their role play, in their environment they're a little bit more settled."
Cross, who defected to rugby from the Sydney Roosters after almost a decade in the NRL, touched down in the ninth minute when he smartly changed his angle to run on to a ball from inside centre Junior Pelesasa.
Wallaby Cameron Shepherd converted the try to give the Force an early 7-0 lead.
Other stand-outs for the Force included Pelesasa, tireless skipper Scott Fava, exciting 18-year-old flanker David Pocock, and hard-running winger Digby Ioane, who made a number of breaks.
Ioane, however, contributed to the Crusaders first try in the 29th minute.
He failed to ground a kick into the in-goal by winger Scott Hamilton, which was pounced on by No.8 Jake Paringatai, with promising five-eighth Stephen Brett adding the extras.
With the Crusaders forced to rest their leading All Blacks, Brett showed he has the ability to fill the breach left by star Dan Carter.
He and Hamilton combined to put the Crusaders ahead 14-7 before the Force closed the gap to two points just before the break.
Pelesasa again made a break, shrugging off some flimsy defence before he found Shepherd.
Force coach John Mitchell said he was happy with his side's early form and expected the fade-out.
"We had a number of young players playing their first 80 minutes," he said.
"But I was pleased with our first 45 minutes, when we had a good high tempo and controlled the attack."
After both sides made a number of changes, the Crusaders lifted to take control of the match, with tries to fullback Brent Ward and lock Isaac Ross.
AAP
