Western Force coach Michael Foley questions fixturing schedule

WESTERN Force coach Michael Foley believes his team have been dudded on the fixture front as the club braces itself for a gruelling trek back to New Zealand.

The redevelopment of nib Stadium meant the Force's early-season fixtures were always going to be a nightmare, with the Perth-based franchise unable to play at home until round 6.

That resulted in the Force travelling to Melbourne, South Africa and Brisbane in the first five weeks, before returning to Perth to take on the Cheetahs for their first home game.

Foley understands exceptional circumstances were behind that hectic travel schedule.

But the Force feel aggrieved they've only been given a six-day break to make the trek from Perth to New Zealand for Friday night's clash with the Chiefs in Pukekohe.

And instead of staying on in NZ for another game, or playing an east-coast team on the way back home, the Force will return all the way back to Perth for a home match against the Sharks.

"This team has been significantly disadvantaged by the scheduling this year," Foley said.

"A six-day turnaround into the Chiefs ... we can't necessarily do a significant amount of training in the time that we have.

"If the tournament organisers can give us a schedule that's a little bit more even-handed, that would be good.

"I just have a lot of admiration for Hodgo (Matt Hodgson) and the boys having to cope with some of that scheduling."

The Force's confidence was given a timely boost in the weekend's 11-11 draw with the Reds in Perth.

But they will need to call on every ounce of their skill and determination in Friday's showdown with the second-placed Chiefs, who won the title last year.

"You just know how dangerous they are," Foley said. "They can score tries in an instant from anywhere. It's going to be another big test for our defence."

The Force announced on Sunday they had parted ways with winger Alfie Mafi, whose mounting list of misdemeanours finally caught up with him.

But the successful return of winger Nick Cummins against the Reds has at least helped to offset the loss of Mafi.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/rug...-1226636268374

Adding the 22,400km trip for 4 games in 4 weeks would have added even more weight to this article. Just ridiculous.

Step forward Dave Joyce time to earn your money and show us what you learnt working for the Chinese Olympic team among other things

I understand that Foles needs to come out in the media and express his concerns over this, but it really is a bed of our own making (at least a bed of the WA Government's making) through not having a venue for a significant portion of the start of the season.

Let's face it, the request to avoid playing at home until round 6 has caused us to do all our touring in one 5 week block at the start of the season. As a result, 5 of our 8 away games fall in the first half of the season, of the remaining 3, 2 are scheduled back to back, with the Canes followed by the Brumbies in Canberra.

I think, given the circumstance, we just have to suck it up and get on with the coping process.

I'm sure the WA Government would have come through for the Eagles.

chibi your stadium has a permanently enclosed roof and artificial turf - you really want to play rugby on that ?

Focus on the positive stuff. One more week against the Chiefs and it's all home games. :D
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Originally Posted by GIGS20

I understand that Foles needs to come out in the media and express his concerns over this, but it really is a bed of our own making (at least a bed of the WA Government's making) through not having a venue for a significant portion of the start of the season.

Let's face it, the request to avoid playing at home until round 6 has caused us to do all our touring in one 5 week block at the start of the season. As a result, 5 of our 8 away games fall in the first half of the season, of the remaining 3, 2 are scheduled back to back, with the Canes followed by the Brumbies in Canberra.

I think, given the circumstance, we just have to suck it up and get on with the coping process.

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Indeed...we knew about it months ago and there is no point complaining about it now. It is a one-off situation to do with the stadium, not one we'll have to worry about again.

if we complained about it months ago though eveyone would have said we were maing excuses. can win but its still a shit situation for the guys

It just highlights why Super 15 is the hardest club tournament in the world to win.
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True re the stadium development, but we could have had one less West/East trip if the Wellington, Auckland (Pukekohe) and Canberra trips were coordinated without a home game between - 11,000 kilometers less to travel which IMO is significant. I'm with Foles - it could have been handled better and it's not a whinge to say so.

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Originally Posted by Happy

chibi your stadium has a permanently enclosed roof and artificial turf - you really want to play rugby on that ?

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Wha?! Are you talking about my signature? I forgot that was even there.

he should rest half the side and concentrate on the finals

Didn't he know about the schedule before he stated the Force would win the Aus Conference?

If so, sounds like an excuse to try and save face. if not, then probably a genuine concern that should have probably been raised to SANZAR earlier. But then if we requested the no home games until Round 6, what else really can SANZAR do? It's not their making.