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As the 2013 Super Rugby season edges ever closer, Fox Sports rugby commentator Greg Clark takes a look at the team he believes will finish fifth in the Australian conference.
Clarkie's overview: There have been some big changes in the West and not before time. The Force has been in Super Rugby for seven seasons and under-achieved every year. This season they start another rebuilding phase with Michael Foley as coach. I trust he learned some valuable lessons from his unsuccessful stint with the 'Tahs and he has a new assistant Steve Meehan, as well as some fresh faces working behind the scenes.
But I’m worried that they don’t have enough fire power. They didn’t cope with the loss of James O’Connor last year and two Wallabies captains David Pocock and Nathan Sharpe won’t be there this season. Captain Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman, Salesi Ma’afu, Pek Cowan and Richard Brown are experienced and will need to stay healthy, and I hope Hugh McMeniman can slot back into Super Rugby without any problems after his stint in Japan.
I think Alby Mathewson is a good buy from the Blues and his battle with Brett Sheehan for the No.9 jersey will be interesting. Sam Norton-Knight is returning from a stint overseas, Sias Ebersohn has been signed from the Cheetahs, but no one apart from the honey badger, Nick Cummins, stands out as a genuine game breaker. Despite good support from their loyal fans, I think it might take another season for them to be in a position to challenge for a spot in the play-offs.
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