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Just saw this.
Interesting
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie keeps an eye on Force players as Tim Sampson admits travel is taking a toll
Nick Taylor
The West Australian
Sat, 22 August 2020 12:00PM
Four Western Force players are on Wallaby coach Dave Rennie’s radar for his extended squad ahead of the Bledisloe Cup series.
Two of those on the ‘players of interest’ list are Super Rugby newcomers, second-rower Fergus Lee-Warner and winger Byron Ralston.
No.8 Brynard Stander, who stayed loyal to the Force when it was controversially axed by Rugby Australia, and centre Kyle Godwin, who returned from Ireland but is expected to join the Waratahs next year, are also under consideration.
Force coach Tim Sampson has not been formally contacted by RA but enquiries have been made about players’ availability.
“Fergus and Brynard, they deserve it. They are playing very well,” Sampson said.
“Kyle provides spark in attack. He should well and truly be in the mix.
“Compare Byron to other names that are being floated around from other teams...he should not be ignored.”
Meanwhile Sampson admits the strain of travel and six weeks of hub life is taking its toll after the 57-5 thrashing by Queensland Reds on Friday night.
But he refused to offer it as an excuse for the poor performance.
The Force have already clocked up 5000km and set up home in four hubs.
They fly to Canberra this week from their current home in Kingscliff, northern NSW to play the Brumbies and then hit the road to Newcastle for the final game against the Rebels.
“It’s tough. It’s challenging. Being on the road so long, away from home for so long is starting to take its toll,” he said.
“We’re not in our home nest, we don’t get to play at home, we don’t train at our facility, we’re not around our loved ones.
“That’s not using it as an excuse but I think it’s human.”
Sampson said the side was hurt by the amount of first half defence it endured against the Reds.
“We defended too much. That sucked the gas out of us,” he said.
After going into the break 15 points down the Force looked like clawing their way back when hooker Andrew Ready scored.
But a yellow card to tighthead prop Kieran Longbottom and a succession of penalties ended any hope as the Reds scored three tries while the Force were reduced to 14 men.
“From there it went downhill, not much possession and when you’re a man down it takes its toll,” Sampson said.
“We just couldn’t get any flow, we were totally outclassed. That performance was not us. We can’t perform like that against the Brumbies.”