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Frosty Force feel more cold shoulders
- Tim Clarke
- March 11, 2009 - 3:38PM
The Force training at a chilly Queenstown this week.
After their turbulent off-season, you may have thought Western Force coach John Mitchell and the players would be used to the feeling of cold shoulders.
But the build-up to their clash with the Crusaders on Saturday has taken the frosty atmosphere of RugbyWA headquarters to a new level, with plummeting temperatures in Queenstown making the Force preparations very uncomfortable.
As Perth sweltered at 37 degree centigrade on Tuesday, the Force shivered in eight degree temperatures, which hooker Tai McIsaac said had taken everyone by surprise.
"It would be alright if were prepared for it, because we thought it was going to be summer over here," McIsaac said
Still smarting from their flop against the previously winless Chiefs last week, the Force take their own winless record against the Crusaders into Saturday's clash.
However, coming of three straight losses, the Crusaders will be without Richie McCaw, Leon MacDonald, Casey Laulala, Jared Payne, Sean Maitland and Kade Poki - prompting McIsaac to admit the Force may not get a better chance to beat the Canterbury powerhouse.
"It is a good opportunity because they are missing a few players," McIsaac said.
"It is unheard of, but the Crusaders always have slow starts to the season and build, and build and build - and then win it at the end of the year.
"You can't really take them easy at any stage of the year.
"He (McCaw) does make a big difference, but any sort of Crusaders team you come up against - you can't really take it easy or take a step back because you think it is going to be easy."
With McIsaac recovered from his mild concussion sufficiently to take his place in the side, Dave Pusey will be elevated to that starting XV replacing Tom Hockings, and James O'Connor will also be named in the run on side in place of Junior Pelesasa.
http://www.watoday.com.au:80/sport/f...0311-8v38.html
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Originally Posted by The Ethicist
