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WA lads played two games over the weekend against the Rebels U18 (we won 45-0) and Brumbies U18 (we won 17-14). Top effort from those lads.
I gather we did better against the Rebels U18s than the Reds 18s did. Think it was just the two games, so we don't play QLD or NSW.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
I can not say with any certainty. But give this a try.
Cluch.tv
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Wow, that Ryan McGloin the WA skipper at 13 looked fast and elusive in both games. (I assume it was him?)
Nice to see the WA forwards get a classic Brumbie type lineout-rolling-maul try against the Brumbies. Then push them off the ball a few minutes later to win a scrum penalty a few minutes later. Well some real believe in the WA side to get a late try to win the game.
Well deserved victories.
Yes, we definitely had it over the Brumbies physically. Ball control wasn't great on our end or else we'd have scored a few more.
As well as our centres, I liked our 5.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Good to see positive moves by the Force on the recruiting front, but with the U18s doing so well, have to hope the pursuit of success doesn't impinge on ability to develop the local players. In particular that they have somewhere to develop their skills on the field, because they'll go somewhere they can if not. I wonder how many have multiple eligibility?
I think the Force and RugbyWA have got to do both for the next 3-4 years. Ie Recruiting mature good players to make the Force competitive, while at the same time developing young local players through the age groups and Force academy.
Last year I watched some of the WA age groups playing trials and doing squad training and I was very impressed with the RugbyWA coaching, effort and processes. Unfortunately because of Covid most of the interstate comps and tours were cancelled in 2021.
However, one of the coaches commented that because WA was Covid free, we still had those trial games and coaching, whereas rugby in other states was pretty much shut down. So he thought we gained a year over the other states in the development process. Maybe the U18 team has just proved him right.
If you think back to 2017, the Force had quite a few good local produced players in their team, but the all got shipped over Melbourne or elsewhere, when the RA axed the Force. So big set back for a few years.
With Twiggy and others behind the Force and RugbyWA, we will be a rugby power one day.