Western Force trial dates released ahead of 2017 Super Rugby season

https://thewest.com.au/sport/western...-ng-b88333943z

Nick Taylor
Monday, December 19, 2016 1:43PM

Western Force will take a pre-season trial to Busselton and play a second against the Melbourne Rebels in Queensland next year.
They will play a Perth Spirit side on Saturday January 28 at Barnard Park in Busselton and the Rebels on Monday February 6 at Bond University on the Gold Coast.
The Spirit side will include players from this year’s NRC premiership side and Future Force Foundation academy products.
They will take on the Rebels in the lead up to the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens competition.
Force coach Dave Wessels said the trial matches would be crucial in the build up to next season.
"They provide us with an opportunity to test some of the things we’ve been doing and particularly put ourselves into some live contact situations," Wessels said.
​“It’s a good yardstick for us, but as we know it means very little in the context of the season, so we’ve got to keep it in perspective and use it as part of our preparation.”
Wessels is eager to take his side to Busselton.
“The big thing for us is to get out there and engage with the community," he said.
"Being able to take the team down there and actually play some rugby and mix with the community is a very important part of what we’re trying to do.”

Very clever for the pre season game at the Gold Coast. As the 10s are the 10th & 11th,
there might be a few pre season matches in SEQ that week. Ballymore could even earn the QRU some money

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jono

Very clever for the pre season game at the Gold Coast. As the 10s are the 10th & 11th,
there might be a few pre season matches in SEQ that week. Ballymore could even earn the QRU some money

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The Reds only have one pre-season match and it's against the Rebels in QLD.

Go the Spirit!!! :yeah:

Meanwhile the Tahs warm up against the Brumbies and Highlanders.......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jono

Very clever for the pre season game at the Gold Coast. As the 10s are the 10th & 11th,
there might be a few pre season matches in SEQ that week. Ballymore could even earn the QRU some money

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it was always mooted, when the Brisbane 10s was announced, that there would be a number of pre-season trials in SEQ at the time. Although these two are the only announced at this stage.

Road trip to Busso!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alison

Meanwhile the Tahs warm up against the Brumbies and Highlanders.......

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I know what you're getting at but I don't think many teams would want to add to the already bloated travel schedule if they don't have to.

Hopefully the Force can line up another trial in Queensland before the 10's competition.

I'm not fussed about the 'trial' games.
In the years where we have done well in the trials we've been terrible in the regular competition and vice versa.
It's good that they are taking one south and in my opinion this is the best reason for a trial game. To expand the footprint of WA rugby.
Everything else is just window dressing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shasta

Road trip to Busso!

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Sounds good!

A decent hit out trying their systems at match intensity is an essential part of an effective pre-season. Unfortunately it seems that every time we've tried it they've either resulted in key injuries or injected a false sense of adequacy.

It is good to have a couple of hitouts excluding the Brisbane 10s which I am not too sure which players will be picked to represent us.
The games will give them an indication of how well hey have prepared physically for the season ahead. Hopefully they would have all worked hard enough to stay fit and be able to play 80 minutes at Super rugby's intensity level and not 60.

890 minutes?? Wow, that's SUPER fit 😜😋

Good old fat fingers!