Western Force v Moana Pasifika Sat 11 March 2023

[bootsetal06]

IMHO it seems in modern day rugby … particularly in this new time limit era the reserves are as important if not more so than the starting 15 so coming off the bench is not such a bad thing ….. you can influence a game from there .
Of course as long as you get a fair crack ..,,

[GIGS20]

I would have to agree with Tazz that you can't rate a solid NPC season with the same yardstick as a Super Rugby season.

That being said, Michael Wells hasn't exactly shone as a beacon of hope this season, so maybe Jackson does deserve a start.

RWV provides something the Force don't have yet, a big ballrunning backrower, and that lack was shown starkly against the Reds

[WFDom]

So has Cron done himself a disservice by making Wells captain? Looks like he may have painted himself in to a corner.

Borthwick did the same when he made Owen Farrell captain for England. After 3 poor performances, Farrell has now been benched and the captaincy given to Genge. Very ballsy call after only 3 games in charge.

[GIGS20]

So has Cron done himself a disservice by making Wells captain? Looks like he may have painted himself in to a corner.

Borthwick did the same when he made Owen Farrell captain for England. After 3 poor performances, Farrell has now been benched and the captaincy given to Genge. Very ballsy call after only 3 games in charge.

Honestly, I don't know.

Maybe Wells is exactly the right guy to have as captain and he's capable of doing the work to overcome some, honestly, pretty average outings. Maybe he's a dud and Cron needs to have the stones to make the right call once he's fit.

if RWV plays the absolute house down this weekend, you'd have to think tough conversations are being had, but that situation wouldn't be isolated to one player.

I've also been disappointed with Ian Prior, a player who I've publicly supported for a few years now. You'd have to think that he's on a last chance warning, if he doesn't have a stormer of a game tomorrow, I'd be looking at blooding a young guy even if it's just to send a message.

The backrow has looked too light in the first two games

There seems to be a disconnect in the 10-12-13 spaces

We don't seem to know when to play expansive and when to play for territory


I think a lot of players would be rightly approaching ultimatum zone.

[GIGS20]

and it's whether Simon Cron has the huevos to make a bold call when it's needed and not 8 weeks too late that will determine whether he's the coach to have.

[SNOB]

and it's whether Simon Cron has the huevos to make a bold call when it's needed and not 8 weeks too late that will determine whether he's the coach to have.

I’m not sure on that already. After his quote last week that the game was a car crash but the boys played well as far as I can see nothing has changed!

[boof1050]

and it's whether Simon Cron has the huevos to make a bold call when it's needed and not 8 weeks too late that will determine whether he's the coach to have.

I'm starting to question whether he's going to be allowed to.

[boof1050]

After watching the rebels win tonight its quite obvious that all Australian teams are playing young lads in key positions and mostly playing good attractive rugby. why do we keep persisting with Journeyman in key positions?

[boof1050]

I think this game could possibly be a banana skin game. Both teams with injuries and Moana still a relatively unknown quantity.

[todd4]

I think the boys will have huge motivation after last weeks embarrassment. I'm expecting a good win tonight.

[wholetruth]

I think the boys will have huge motivation after last weeks embarrassment. I'm expecting a good win tonight.

I wish I could feel as confident. I have a horrible feeling of doom. I hope I am wrong.

[Sheikh]

I wish I could feel as confident. I have a horrible feeling of doom. I hope I am wrong.

You're only saying that because of historical precedence

[todd4]

I wish I could feel as confident. I have a horrible feeling of doom. I hope I am wrong.

I like to have some optimism at the start of a season. It tends to fade as the season progresses.

[shasta]

The Force beat the Rabble. The Rabble almost beat the Canes, then beat the Tahs. Moana are 0-2. Ergo the Force beats Moana - on paper.

[SNOB]

Any surprise substitutions coming out of retirement to help out? Hodgo, Pocock, Sharpie.