All Western Force want for Christmas is ... a working backline

Force coach Richard Graham has been talking up his side’s pre-season in Perth, with players certain to be told to take it easy on the turkey and pudding over the festive break.

While things might be progressing well on the training paddock, the big question as to who’ll fill James O’Connor’s orange boots is yet to be answered.

James Stannard impressed in the No.10 jersey late last season, so it won’t be a surprise to see him get first crack at fly half in 2012. However, Graham still needs to mould his bunch of misfit backs into some resemblance of a backline.

With this in mind, the Force coach will go the extra mile this Christmas, buying the man in the red suit a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue – he’d love a game plan and half a dozen new backline moves in return.

Stocking fillers: Advanced Hair coupon for Nathan Sharpe; a pet honey badger for Nick Cummins.

Other teams here...

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...-1226227854971

same press release as last year, talking themselves up .... time to deliver

Rumours over here (in The Rugby Paper) are that WF are interested in signing Nick Abendanon the current Bath fullback. Could simply be an agent trying to negotiate an improved deal at Bath for his client but certainly an interesting prospect for both Nick and The Force.

I think the Force has a full roster for the season

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Originally Posted by Flat-top

Rumours over here (in The Rugby Paper) are that WF are interested in signing Nick Abendanon the current Bath fullback. Could simply be an agent trying to negotiate an improved deal at Bath for his client but certainly an interesting prospect for both Nick and The Force.

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G'day flat-top - haven;t seen you round these parts for a while! Making a trip down under this year?

Surely we couldn't sign Abendanon, although I'd love to have him. He's been capped by England and aren't we only allowed one capped foreign player (Nalaga)?

Maybe they are thinking 2013. Nagala most likely won't hang around for more than 1 season- not when the amount offered up by the Europeans is considered.

Might be a bit premature to be thinking that far ahead of time though. About 1/2 to 1/3 of our roster will be off contract. We'll likely still need outside backs though.

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Originally Posted by Coach

G'day flat-top - haven;t seen you round these parts for a while! Making a trip down under this year?

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Yes mate, will be out for 3 weeks during March/April 2012 and hoping to make it to Force v Reds which I think is on the 31st.

Hope you are keeping well, the site seems to be thriving under your stewardship :icon_hand:

Hasn't Nalaga been playing in europe for a while? Perhaps he wants to move somewhere with a bigger Samoan population...

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Originally Posted by palitu

Hasn't Nalaga been playing in europe for a while? Perhaps he wants to move somewhere with a bigger Samoan population...

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Do you really think he'll get a contract in New Zealand? They have plenty of big, strong, fast wingers.

Anyway, I'd expect him to want to hang around Fijiians

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Originally Posted by palitu

Hasn't Nalaga been playing in europe for a while? Perhaps he wants to move somewhere with a bigger Samoan population...

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Fijian?

I think he has been a little bit AWOL recently. Played 2009/2010 with Clermont and then went off the radar a bit.

just keep up a supply of kava and everything will be fine

but not when they go to Darwin.......

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Originally Posted by Flat-top

Yes mate, will be out for 3 weeks during March/April 2012 and hoping to make it to Force v Reds which I think is on the 31st.

Hope you are keeping well, the site seems to be thriving under your stewardship :icon_hand:

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Did you make this one? Only just remembered you were going to be around, thought it was going to be tomorrows game before I checked here ... Still waiting for you to buy me that pint :cheers: