Wayne Smith | March 21, 2009


Article from: The Australian

BOYHOOD mates they might be, but rival Western Force and Sharks coaches John Mitchell and John Plumtree will be intent on compounding the other's problems when their two sides meet in a season-defining match at Subiaco Oval tonight.

Fond memories of growing up together in the south Taranaki district will be put to one side as the ninth-placed Force attempts to stay in contact with the competition leaders before heading into its bye, while the Sharks, unbeaten till bedazzled by the Reds last weekend, try to squeeze one last win out of their already successful tour of New Zealand and Australia.

"Whatever happens, you don't forget your mates but it's important we win this one," Mitchell said. "Clearly, you've got to stay in the pack. Lose, and then you're into the second half of your season playing catch-up."

Over the past fortnight, the Force has had more practice than it wants at playing catch-up. It scrambled back from 6-20 down to grab a 23-all draw with the Crusaders last weekend, but was not able to make up the three-try head-start its soft tackling gave the Chiefs the previous weekend.

Playmaker Matt Giteau is at a loss to explain why the Force has been starting so poorly. "The biggest thing is starting well but maybe we're trying too hard," Giteau said. "Maybe instead we should focus on a good finish. But it's becoming more and more important to start well because teams are becoming so much more efficient at closing down matches once they get in front."

Mitchell wants to simplify the equation further. "Most teams enjoy controlling the ball early and working their way into the game, so we just have to get hold of the nut and keep it," he said.

Certainly, the Reds did their fellow Australians no favours by riling the Sharks last Saturday. The 25-13 win triggered a solid week of vitriol by Natal fans directed at their own team, the end result of which has been a concerted plea by fans for their side to play far more physically and direct -- a plea Mitchell believes Plumtree will heed.

"I think they'll be trying to suffocate us," he said. "They'll believe they have the best forward pack in the competition and they'll try to hurt us with it."

Springbok World Cup hero Francois Steyn will start his first Super 14 match of the season at five-eighth. And with the Force having teenager James O'Connor starting at fullback, Steyn and his fellow tactical kickers Rory Kockott and Stefan Terblanche will be tempted to play for field position.

That could be a mistake. O'Connor might only weigh 84kg, but all of it is heart and he won't be intimidated. And if the Sharks' kick-chase is not enthusiastic, he has the capacity to punish the South Africans with his dazzling broken field running.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html