FORCE NAME SQUAD FOR CLASH WITH HURRICANES

[shasta]

I'd love to be the optimist

It's easy. Just do it but don't expect miracles. Just a red hot go most weeks.

[kipper_mckinnon]

Point/s taken.

I guess it's just a little hard to be positive about anything this season after so many positive pre-seasons saw us getting kicked in the teeth in the first three weeks.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be the optimist I have been in "the good old days" but I think that might take a few really convincing wins early in the season....sorry, but the last few years has just beaten all the "glass is half full" out of me.

not me gigs - I'm now a glass 3/4 full !!!

[SNOB]

I'm just happy we got win and to be honest I thought we were the better team on the park, yes the 'Cains didn't back up and could have done this that and the other! They could also have put out their number 1 squad! They may well have humiliated our boys!
Should that have been good or beneficial ?
How many of you thought that we would go out there and not only win but hold them to fa$king ZERO?

[SNOB]

Peter continually tried to bring the commentary back onto the subject of rugby and the game.

Thanks AG. Had no problem with Peter if and when he had a chance to speak but the other guy!
I'll take his job for half what ever he's earning!😄

[MI5_Dog]

I'm just happy we got win

and so, apparently, are the Force if the 3 emails in one day telling me about it are anything to go by.

[palitu]

yeah, my glass is pretty empty at the moment

[hertryk]

A win is a win.. no one can tell me the 'Canes didn't go there to win.. a darned long way to go for a training session. I bet our boys are feeling a lot better than the Cane's... Lovely stuff.. but we won't get over confident..

[GIGS20]

OK, now that I've had a look at the video, I'd like to post some thoughts.

1 Yes the commentary was atrocious, but at least it was Force positive.
2 'Canes definitely looked out of sorts. Given that it was a pre-season trial, I guess that was to be expected, but we seemed a little sharper at this point.
3 The offload game was very effective and really exciting to watch. Let's hope they can build upon that and use it in the season.
4 I was heartened by the lie speed in defense, that was sorely lacking last year and it's nothing other than attitude. It was a good indicator.
5 How good was Marcel? I know I talked him up last year, that was because he and Burto were the only two who played with any passion....this game, he showed that he has great vision, more than a little speed, and doesn't mind smacking people in defense.
6 Dane Haylett Petty.....Wow!
7 Where was Morahan? the only time I heard his name called was when he was getting confused for DHP. He will have to step up if he wants to keep a spot once Taps gets fit. Marcel or Masiwera would be better fits on the wing based upon that one look.
8 We're going to need to name an 18 man run on side, because we have two complete sets of high quality backrowers in this team. Stander was probably the least noticeable of the five (I think) who showed their faces this game, and even he did a power of work.
9 I know why Heath is the perennial bench Hooker.....throwing!
10 They had about as many key players out as we did, so it was probably a fair matchup, but theirs are a class above ours (how do you compare Savea to Hogeo, one is an All Black superstar, the other isn't even a regular Wallaby starter)
11 Given the above, it's also fair to assume that their replacements are better than ours, so maybe the matchup was pretty fair after all.

THe short story is...it was a trial, we'll never know who had their foot on the accelerator and when, but there were some positive signs. As long as the boys keep their head screwed on right, we might win some this year.

[Emu]

How did the Props go especially with the early injuries?

[WARHORSE]

Trial form is hard to gage. I think we did really well last year then hardly won a game. Better to be winning though. Winning is a habit

[Sheikh]

Agreed Warhorse. In a trial match, how we play is more important than the result, and from what I've seen and read we played well. But winning is a habit as confidence breeds confidence, and that was something which seemed in short supply last year.

[DazloT]

Frankly if they keep up the defence combined with the willingness to run to the line and offload, I think we are in for a year to enjoy watching win, lose or draw.

I liked how there were a lot more support runners ready when a break was made, as well as the more dynamic play from the 10s, especially jono lance, they didn't mind getting tackled.

[SNOB]

No doubt our ex ten didn't like being tackled! If about to be tackled KICK seemed to be the mantra.