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Stronger Force to face struggling Cheetahs
Wayne Smith | February 16, 2009
Article from: The Australian
HAVING put its now customary poor start to the season behind it, the Western Force will be virtually at full strength for its clash with the lowly Cheetahs in Perth on Friday night.
In its four seasons in Super rugby, the Force has never won its opening fixture but only had itself to blame for not breaking its duck at the expense of the Blues on Friday at Subiaco Oval where lack of ball control allowed Auckland to run away with the match in the second half.
Certainly coach John Mitchell was in no mood yesterday to indulge suggestions that the off-season dramas surrounding his coaching style somehow had fed into the defeat. "That's childish and negative behaviour that doesn't allow anyone to move forward," Mitchell said. "The football match was there to be won but in the end we didn't deserve to win it."
The Cheetahs, who opened their campaign with a narrow 34-28 loss to last year's wooden spooners, the Lions, loom as the weakest side the Force will face this season but Mitchell denied this was a match he had targeted as a "must-win".
Although scans have cleared Test centre Ryan Cross of a serious shoulder injury, he is a doubtful starter against the Cheetahs, as is prop AJ Whalley. But reinforcements are arriving with Junior Pelesasa and Scott Staniforth both available, and former Waikato player Ben Castle coming into front-row contention.
As well, halfback Josh Valentine appears to have recovered from his hamstring injury.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
if the force cant be the cheats in perth, then you may as well boycot the rest of the season and start preseason for next year!
such a shame to admit to that fact! but we must! the pressure is definitely on now!
I vote - GIVE US A RECTANGLE STADIUM!!!!!!
Oh ye of little faith. Force by 25. No problems. Get yer money on!
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
A must win for the Force... JOC for flyhalf and put Giteau on the bench...shouldn't be a problem according to some here in La-la-land…
By the way Someone needs to remind Shep that he is playing w a team sport…
in Fantasy rugby Shep scored to 3rd lowest in points 4 points for outside backs out of the whole league...thats how poor he was....
You get 2 points for playing the whole game... thats how low his involment in the game was friday night... He went for a bit of individualism with the chip kick late in the game but really only gave the ball up when the force needed to score to win the match.... poor vision, he went for glory and he didn't get involved during the match when he was needed...