How would you fix the situation? What would you change

[Punkpapa]

Applause to all contributors so far. I have already harped on in other threads about our horror draw. In a comp like S14, the draw makes a massive difference.
Aside from that however, I do think that we need depth in the key positions:
Props - both sides
Halfback
Locks
One more loosie.
Sorry if that looks forward bias, but it is in the forwards that we have been shown up. And I don't always mean our scrums. Good locks, smart loosies and some mean, mofo props please!
Second - get Halligan to teach our boys how to kick the ball out!!! Enough is enough. How many wasted attacking ops and get out of jail cards have we blown by not kicking the ball out on a full penalty. It is a fundamental flaw and one we have carried since inception.
Finally, a rectangle to play on.

[prop53]

New bulky scrum half, maybe Yaks. The two we have are 2nd and 3rd graders. A healthy gain in kilos (strength) in all areas. A top rate scrum coach

[pieter blackie]

And thanks again prop53

To support that I have done some maths and came up with this

The average for the 22 players the past weekend was 96kg ( 2115kg in total)
The average for the 22 Hurricanes players the weekend was 103kg ( 2269kg in total )

[fulvio sammut]

And thanks again prop53

To support that I have done some maths and came up with this

The average for the 22 players the past weekend was 96kg ( 2115kg in total)
The average for the 22 Hurricanes players the weekend was 103kg ( 2269kg in total )

Don't have much of a life, do we Pieter?

[James]

I have read somewhere that we have a better draw for 2009 can someone maybe post the draw as I can't seem to find it

Pete we've got: Blues (Home), Cheetahs (Home), Brumbies (Away), Chiefs (Away), Crusaders (Away), Sharks (Home), BYE, Reds (Home), Hurricanes (Home), Waratahs (Away), Lions (Home), Bulls (Away), Stormers (Away), Highlanders (Home).

Its good because the bye breaks up the season and the SA/NZ tours. Plus we don't play anyone the week after a bye. The closest is the Reds who have a bye then the Chiefs then us. Another good thing is for some teams like the Canes, Highlanders, Lions and Sharks we are the last game on a big tour.

On the topic of of what is wrong and what to do with the Force: I sometimes wonder if John O'Neill will ever make up anything like, or nearly as good as, the MARC again. He will probably stall and stall and stall. That is killing us because in the East if they don't play for their Super 14 teams they play tougher club matches than the Force can provide so fringe players get frustrated and leave. Hopefully the pre-season competition that Peter O'Meara was working out in Dubai will go ahead and we could keep hosting touring sides and go on tour. For our props and some of our younger players I think if the ARU won't provide good quality games for them during Test windows we should allow our players (or even pay them a little) to play in comps like the Currie Cup or ANZC. That'd allow a bit more individual experience and team experience and sharpen our skills and importantly our attack.

This year hasn't quite lived up to many people's expectations but by no means has it been a bad year. I think we'll do a lot better next year. Surely we can't have as many off-field dramas or shock departures as we had this year.

[pieter blackie]

Don't have much of a life, do we Pieter?

Mostly rugby Mate I spend 4hrs Tuesdays and 4-5hrs Thursdays at Baysies club, 1hrs Saturday morning watching the U/11's and from 1:00 in the arvo until anything between 5pm and 10pm watching the Reserve grade and the Prems play. I am also busy with my Level 1 Coaching assessment

By the way here is the full battle of the weights


[1]Neemia Tialata____127kg______112kg____Gareth Hardy
[2]Andrew Hore______110kg______112kg____Tai McIssac
[3]Tim Fairbrother____119kg______118kg____Troy Takiari
[4]Jeremy Thrush_____111kg______110kg____David Pusey
[5]Jason Eaton_______111kg______115kg____Nathan Sharpe
[6]Chris Masoe_______106kg______100kg____Matt Hodgson
[7]Scott Waldrom_____95kg_______101kg____David Pocock
[8]Rodney So'oialo____107kg______101kg_____Richard Brown

____________________886kg______869kg

[9]Piri Weepu_________94kg_______82kg______James Stannard
[10]Willie Ripia________91kg_______85kg______Matt Giteau
[11]Zac Guildford______93kg_______92kg______Drew Mitchell
[12]Ma'a Nonu________102kg______80kg______James O’Connor
[13]Conrad Smith______95kg______102kg______Josh Tatupu
[14]Hosea Gear_______102kg______93kg_______Dane Haylett-Petty
[15]Cory Jane_________85kg______97kg_______Cameron Shepherd


Reserves:
[16]Hikawera Elliott____116kg______106kg______Luke Holmes
[17]John Schwalger____122kg______110kg______Kieran Longbottom
[18]Craig Clarke_______103kg______119kg______Sitaleki Timani
[19]Thomas Waldrom___111kg______102kg______Sam Wykes
[20]Alby Mathewson____86kg_______84kg______Chris O’Young
[21]Jimmy Gopperth_____88kg______95kg_______Scott Daruda
[22]Tamati Ellison_______95kg______90kg_______Haig Sare

total of 22 players______2269kg_____2115kg
average per player_______103kg______96kg

[James]

There is a former Australian U21 tight-head who I think also plays at hooker called Alex Walker who plays for Saracens. He'd be about 24 this year- I wonder if Mitch has checked him out to fill out his shopping list. Does anyone know if he's any good?

[Flamethrower]

I've always felt it would take three years to build a competitive team. Mitch possibly feels the same because he has extended his contract. I doubt he would stay in Perth unless he could see a future. We have a solid starting lineup and now are starting to get a pretty good set of reserves. It isn't possible to build depth overnight, it takes time. With what the guys have learnt over these three years, we will see them climb the ladder in 09.

[KenyaQuin]

Personally would like to see us get a quality fly-half. Nothing against Giteau (I agree he's been the top performer at No. 10 in Australia thus far) however I believe he's better utilised at 1st Centre when you have a quality fly-half on his inside.

Regarding the scrummies, pretty content with Chucky and CO'Y, if we get Josh, I think that will cover it. Chucky will mature with a few more games under his belt and will find his strengths and minimise on his weaknesses.

All other posts regarding the forwards I generally agree with.

[BLR]

There is a former Australian U21 tight-head who I think also plays at hooker called Alex Walker who plays for Saracens. He'd be about 24 this year- I wonder if Mitch has checked him out to fill out his shopping list. Does anyone know if he's any good?

I sent a PM to a Saracen fan on another forum about him...we'll see what he says I suppose, he seems knowledgable so it should be fairly reliable...

[pruc]

well
what the force need is the local comp to become a lot stronger.
with a stronger localcomp there will be more competition in positions.
getting imports isnt the answer
we have to have homegrown players like we are now seeing in haylett-petty and longbottem

but seriously whats to complain about the force have shown they are capable of taking up with the best super sides and consistency will come when they keep the core group of players. And a few less injuries and less off field issues and a better draw will make for a more successful super 14 season in 2009

[prop53]

See No 9s 10 kilo to light

[Shaun]

With #10 issue Kenya maybe if O' Connor has a big off season and puts on a bit of weight he can move to #10 and Gits to #12.

[fulvio sammut]

My compliments to your English teacher PRUC.

[pruc]

My compliments to your English teacher PRUC.

well it jsut so happens i did write it during lit.
shows how far i have come in 1 and a bit terms