Force must fluctuate just one more time

Force must fluctuate just one more time

Wayne Smith | March 13, 2009


Article from: The Australian

THERE'S only one small problem with Western Force coach John Mitchell's plan to bring an end to his side's wild fluctuations from match to match -- there needs to be one last wild fluctuation tomorrow if the Perth side is to return to its old winning ways.

After starting the season with a deflating loss to the Auckland Blues, the Force laboured to an unconvincing win over the bottom-placed Cheetahs before blitzing the Brumbies to become only the second visiting Australian team to win in Canberra since the start of Super rugby in 1996.

That stirring performance should have been the springboard to a glittering season but at their next outing, last Friday against the Chiefs in Hamilton, the Force went to sleep in defence.

"We have to get rid of this characteristic of being an on-and-off side and start bringing some consistency to our performances," said Mitchell yesterday from Christchurch where the Force plays a depleted and desperate Crusaders outfit tomorrow.

Certainly Mitchell doesn't want the Chiefs game to become his baseline for consistency, but ultimately where the Force sets the bar will not be up to him. "It's not really the coach who can make it happen," he said. "It's up to the player group. They are the masters of their destiny."

The Crusaders side named for this match bears little resemblance to the dynastic Canterbury teams of seasons past. Take out Brad Thorn, Leon MacDonald and Richie McCaw's replacement as captain Kieran Read and the red-and-blacks are virtual unknowns outside of Christchurch.

The Force has muscled up for the occasion by bringing in 51-match veteran David Pusey for Tom Hocking in the second-row. In similar vein, 198cm Brumbies recruit Richard Stanford has displaced 184cm Matt Hodgson at blindside flanker to help shore up an increasingly scatty lineout.

Meanwhile, Hugh McMeniman wasn't lacking in support from Reds team-mates yesterday with most of the Queensland squad at the funeral of his father, Geoff, who died last Friday.

The Wallaby has trained all week with the side for tomorrow's must-win home match against the Sharks at Suncorp Stadium, and certainly his experience will be needed against the South African side now rated 5-2 favourites to win the Super 14 title.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

"We have to get rid of this characteristic of being an on-and-off side and start bringing some consistency to our performances," said Mitchell yesterday

Or at least some consistency to their inconsistency!
Can win in SA but not at home, can be highly competitive with the Crusaders but then lose to bottom sides...

The problem stems from a vastly over rated senior player pool smattered with some very inexperienced up and comers.

The backline is basically dysfunctional as an attacking unit despite some big names and looking at how it is organised and how it responds to turnover ball you'd have to point the finger at the one in charge. One wallaby in particular.

Great 10's are very good at organising and coordinating the backline.

I am baffled by the willingness to put boot to ball. It is a mindset. It seems to be the first thought when a Force backline player gets hold of it. I am of the opinion that a team that's first thought is to kick the ball usually indicates a reluctance to meet the opposition in the physical contest.

It just turns over the ball to the opposition without a whimper. You can't score points if the other teams has the pill.

The great sides are almost impossible to remove the ball from.

Except the Crusaders of years past who were more than happy for you to have ball in hand and then counter attack from the error.
A combination of the Crusaders success with this tactic and the interpretation of the ELV's are generally accepted as the driver of that kind of play becoming more common, as unappealing (and inefectual for the Force) as it is.
When his in play kicking is on song there is no doubt that Giteau can gain a huge meterage throughout a match, see Brumbies for instance, however, unfortunately it/he isn't consistent enough match to match and, at the end of the day, he is a #12 in a #10 jersey.