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The next team on our SARugby.com Super 14 radar is the newest formed Australian team – the Western Force. Grant Shub takes a closer look at their title credentials.
They only joined super rugby in 2006 and although they ended stone last in their first season out, there were signs of real promise.
Coached by former All Black mentor John Mitchell, the Force recruited a number of Australian international stars such as Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau and Nathan Sharpe to name but a few.
Since their inception the Force have progressively improved and they have created a loyal fan base, with their stadium in Perth, Western Australia always packed to the rafters and adorned in the blue Western Force playing attire.
They ended 8th in the 2008 season and 2009 is sure to be the true Litmus Test for the men from Perth.
Nathan Sharpe’s men can no longer claim to be the new boys, and need to find more consistency this year in their results if they are earnest about earning a play-off place.
Team name: Western Force
City: Perth
Country: Australia
Home Ground: Subiaco Oval
Coach: John Mitchell. Mitchell has been at the helm since the Force franchise was born but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the former Kiwi coach. There were more than a few rumblings from Perth during the past off-season with claims that there was an in-house conflict between the players and the coach, for his abrasive management style. Mitchell was since placed on pre-season probation pending an investigation into his conduct.
Captain: Nathan Sharpe. The former Reds skipper is a born leader and brings a wealth of experience to the side. He will have to lead by example this year and really inspire his men to greater heights. The 30-year-old lock is a Wallaby veteran with 64 caps to his name and his experience and confidence needs to rub off onto his team-mates this season.
Players in: Justin Turner (Academy), Josh Valentine (Waratahs) Ben Castle (Toulon, France), Filipe Manu (Academy), Richard Stanford (Brumbies), Ben Whittaker (Academy).
Players out: Scott Fardy (Sydney), Scott Fava (Waratahs), Matt Henjak (Toulon, France), James Hilgendorf (Japan), Lachlan MacKay (Brive, France), Angus Scott (retired), James Stannard (Brumbies).
Pre-season: Lost to the Crusaders 19-24 in their first warm-up match after having led the encounter 19-5. The defending-champion Crusaders, with a second-string side mounted a remarkable comeback scoring 19 unanswered points. Putting things into perspective regular skipper Nathan Sharpe played no part in the match and neither did kingpin Matt Giteau. That meant that young-gun David Pocock was handed the skipper’s armband. Coach John Mitchell will however pick close to his strongest side for the final trial-match against the Reds this Thursday.
Key player: Matt Giteau. The million dollar man is pivotal to the success of the Force and he will pull the backline strings. Rumour has it that Giteau’s first and only love was playing for the Brumbies, but he will have to put sentiment aside as the toughest rugby competition in the world kicks off. So much expectation sits on the Wallaby centre’s shoulders, but he is a renowned match winner and could prove the catalyst to a memorable Force season.
One to watch: James O’Connor. He became the second youngster ever Wallaby when he came on in Australia’s 30-20 win over Italy last year. The 18-year-old star, who was told that he wouldn’t cut it in rugby league because of his diminutive stature, is living his rugby union dream and has only impressed thus far. He is a regular centre/flyhalf but with his array of skills can play anywhere in the backline. He played fullback against the Barbarians in Australia’s 2008 end-of-year tour and shone brightly. Watch out for this talented kid during the 2009 Super 14.
Best signing: Josh Valentine. Valentine joins the Force after two seasons with the Waratahs. He is a fine scrumhalf with a neat passing game and ability to spot the gap. He will add depth to the Force side and will compensate for the loss of hot-head Matt Henjak.
Biggest loss: Scott Fava’s defection to the Waratahs would have come as a blow. Fava offered a strong, barnstorming presence in the pack, but decided for family reasons to move to Sydney. Fava will now have the distinction of having played for every Australian Super 14 side.
2008 Finish: 8th
2009 Prediction: 6th
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