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Nucifora full of praise for Force
By Tim Clarke Nucifora full of praise for Force - Rugby - Fox Sports
March 12, 2008 THEY may have blown their chance to unseat the undefeated Crusaders last weekend, but Auckland coach David Nucifora thinks the Western Force are still the best Australian team in Super 14.
John Mitchell and his Force side head to New Zealand tfor a fourth away game in five rounds against a Blues side licking wounds from a narrow loss to the Sharks.
And with Mitchell resisting the sweeping changes he had employed in the first portion of the his side's nightmare draw, Nucifora is preparing to host the team he believes is the best of the Australian outfits.
"I think they've showed so far that they are, both with the results and the style of football that they're playing, so they pose a significant threat for us," Nucifora said.
"They're a good team, they obviously played very well last weekend against the Crusaders and were unlucky really not to have beaten them.
"I think they'll be a confident team, they're a well-organised team, and they're a big threat for us come Saturday."
After last week's narrow home defeat to the Crusaders, Mitchell has resisted big changes for this weekend team to travel to New Zealand, with the ankle injury to Gareth Hardy his main headache.
Troy Takiari comes in at loosehead prop, while the only other change to the starting lineup sees James Stannard return at scrumhalf at the expense of Chris O'Young.
Additions to the bench from last weekend were 21-year-old prop Pek Cowan and rookie winger Nick Cummins, who has recovered from the shoulder injury which ruled him out last weekend. Flanker Matt Hodgson will complete a touring party of 23 players.
And Mitchell had his own compliments for this weekend's opponents, describing the Blues as ruthless and hungry.
"It is a side that is the most explosive team in the competition," Mitchell said.
"So the challenge for us is to back up with authority and improve on our performance last week."
With much talk surrounding the future of Matt Giteau - after he agreed to stay in Australia until 2011 but held out on a similar agreement with the Force - Nucifora said he would be clearly the player to watch this weekend.
"I've been fortunate to work with Matt for a few years and respect him highly as a footballer, he's outstanding," Nucifora said.
"He really is integral to the running of this team. A lot of things revolve around him.
"They've got a lot of other talented footballers out there too, but he's definitely the key."
Western Force: Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross, Lachlan MacKay, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, James Stannard, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Scott Fava, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Tom Hockings, AJ Whalley, Tai McIsaac, Troy Takiari. Reserves: Luke Holmes, Pek Cowan, Sam Wykes, Tamaiti Horua, Chris O'Young, Scott Daruda, Nick Cummins.
AAP
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as a challenging opponent and (either by implication or quote) the best Australian team
