Underrate the Western Force at your peril, says Phil Blake

[theforceguy]

EMIRATES Western Force skills and defence coach Phil Blake believes the ladder-leading Stormers will underestimate the Perth side at their peril at nib Stadium on Saturday.

Reeling from revelations that former coach Richard Graham, axed by the Force players this week, had been secretly negotiating with the Queensland Reds for the past three months, the Western Force will have to regroup and hit the ground running to face the form side of the competition which easily beat the defending champion Reds in Brisbane on Friday.

The Force will be coached by a team comprising Blake, forwards coach Nick Stiles and A Team coach Andrew Scotney, assisted by captain David Pocock and senior statesman Nathan Sharpe.

"If they come here and their mental frame is that they are playing a side who might be at the bottom end of the table well, this could be one of their toughest games on the road. It is their last one on tour and they shouldn't underestimate us," Blake said of the Stormers, who were beaten Super 15 finalists two years ago, semi-finalists last season and are among the favourites to lift the trophy this year.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/ru...-1226335266764

[PerthChicka]

He had been negotiating with them for the past three months?? Seriously?? So for the whole of this season he's known he was going. Wow! No wonder the players told him to sling his hook!

[GIGS20]

Back to Blake's comments, unwise....the only way we have ANY chance of unlocking that defense is if they're asleep

[jono]

Cheers blake. We didn't want a chance in this match anyway...
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[Burgs]

He is a Mungo...

[MI5_Dog]

The Force have a habit of knocking off the top placed teams. We've certainly given the Crusaders something to think about. However I don't think any of the other teams, unlike the journos, think the Force is a soft touch.

[GIGS20]

I dunno so much there Dog, I don't think the Saders have ever come to Perth firing. I get the feeling that they see it as a bit of a holiday road trip and never prepare really well. Don't get me wrong, with the teams we've fielded against them, to win at all is a huge achievement, but I think we have an ability to knock off teams who underestimate us, rather than genuinely beating teams who are prepared and on their game.

I'd love to be proven wrong, but I think we'll be the ones off our game this week and the Stormers will destroy us.

[jt12]

The Crusaders never take the force lightly - they don't take anyone lightly - and they also showed every team in the comp how to beat the Stormers - kick long and often, chase hard and keep them corralled, frustrate them and mark up big time physically. As was seen when the pressure went on them in their own half, the stormers transgressed and the crusaders kicked the points. Easy game plan isn't it, just need the Force to tackle properly...

[jono]

And kick properly, commit chasers, tackle properly, keep ball in hand when we run with it. String together phases to apply pressure without coughing up the ball. And convince the red we have a decent scrum.

We're toast
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[shasta]

He is a Mungo...

Nice try.

[todd4]

There seems to be a regular pattern in all sports...... when the coach is sacked the team comes out and wins the following weekend.

Put your vhouse on the Force this weekend and take the vbookies to the cleaners!

[PerthChicka]

There seems to be a regular pattern in all sports...... when the coach is sacked the team comes out and wins the following weekend.

Put your vhouse on the Force this weekend and take the vbookies to the cleaners!

My Saffer mates are tipping the Stormers by 50!! Cheeky buggers !!!

[Man In Black]

I'll wait until I see the run on team before I have an opinion on our chances

With RG out of the picture, I am full of optimism for better performances

RG had the brainpower of a worm with cerebral palsy

[PerthChicka]

I'll wait until I see the run on team before I have an opinion on our chances

With RG out of the picture, I am full of optimism for better performances

RG had the brainpower of a worm with cerebral palsy

Love your work mister

[Burgs]

Nice try.

That's it?