Ideal team for this years Super 14

[O'Regan]

He must have just forgot Mitchell.

[pruc]

He must have just forgot Mitchell.

yes

[O'Regan]

We all make mistakes even you Prucsy.

[Burgs]

We all make mistakes....

Some of us even "hate" the Bookie...

My Team:

1. Angus Scott
2. Tai McIsaac
3. Troy Takiari
4. David Pusey
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Luke Doherty
7. Richard Brown
8. Scott Fava
9. Matt Henjak
10. James Hilgendorf
11. Digby Ioane
12. Matt Giteau
13. Ryan Cross
14. Drew Mitchell
15. Cameron Shepherd
16. Gareth Hardy
17. Brendan Cannon
18. Rudi Vedelago
19. David Pocock
20. Haig Sare
21. Scott Staniforth
22. Junior Pelesasa

Giteau to Half, Staniforth to 12, Sare to cover 10-15, Pelesasa to cover 11-14

How I expect them to line up Round 1:

1. Angus Scott
2. Brendan Cannon
3. Troy Takiari
4. Rudi Vedelago
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Luke Doherty
7. Matt Hodgson
8. Scott Fava
9. Matt Henjak
10. James Hilgendorf
11. Scott Staniforth
12. Matt Giteau
13. Ryan Cross
14. Drew Mitchell
15. Cameron Shepherd
16. Gareth Hardy
17. Tai McIsaac
18. David Pusey
19. Richard Brown
20. Chris O'Young
21. Scott Daruda
22. Junior Pelesasa

[Rodent]

Interesting that no one thinks that Pocock is going to crack the starting 15

[inactive]

Other than being Bias i just dont see stanners being dropped to bench at all or in the centres but hope to see him in the centres but if not at least we have good speed, reliable hands again on the wing

[SPaRTAN]

Once again he seems to be getting shafted.
Typical, wasted Talent at all levels.
Poor guy.

[Burgs]

Interesting that no one thinks that Pocock is going to crack the starting 15

I reckon he is a year away from starting Rodent and in the process we will probably unfortunately lose either Brown or Hodgson (most likely to the Reds with Roe and Croft not getting any younger).

Re Staniforth, as I've said before, my view on him is that we are better served with thirty odd minutes of second half bash and crash at Inside Centre than leaving him loitering on the Wing for 70-80 minutes waiting for scraps.
That's just me and as someone else said with Cross "too slow" for the Wing and Staniforth himself saying Cross will be #13 I think we will unfortunately be seeing him totally wasted on the Wing.
I'd have been just as happy to name him at #12 and golden boy at #9 but thought the Gits fans might have another melt down.
For mine, Giteau's amongst the most gifted attacking players going around but Staniforth is definitely the better Centre as a whole package.
His partnership with Hilgendorf during the '06 season was amongst the top couple of highlights for all the Australian teams.
It is rare but there is no rule that says that a Vice Captain starts the match, for me it comes down to whatever is the best combination to ensure a winning outcome.

[Rodent]

I think Stanners will involve himself in play by coming off the wing. Tuqiri finally started to do this in the last 2 games on the northern hemisphere tour and I thought they were the best 2 games of union he has played.
Backs coaches are now looking for ways to get their strike players more involved more of the time, and I think the days of camping on the wing and waiting for the glory run are gone.
I could be wrong but I wouldn't be surprised if the Force utilised Stanners coming in off the wing as an extra centre or to help straighten the attack when swinging the ball wide (something that was lacking in last years play).

[frontrow]

I agree with that view rodent, but still think he is being underutilised by the force, as many players can play on the wing, only most don`t seem to think that they can make runs into the field rather than along the fringes, and i agree that tuquiri was finally getting the idea... Wingers need to create an extra man in offence more and more in the modern game, which involves running angles or punching it up if necessary....The position has definately evolved from the old days
I also think burgs idea regarding stanners as an impact bench player is sound, otherwise start him inside from the kick off...he is not a winger for christ sake...

[SPaRTAN]

Buying Cross in my oppinion was a bad move.
He has not even proved himself at Super 14 level, yet he seems to have an automated spot in the centres.
We would have been better off with a decent number 6 or 7 (the loose being our weakest area IMO). Staniforth is not quick enough these days to be a wing, he was when he was younger playing for NSW, but these days, with his size and strength, he is ideal to play a Mortlock/Tana role at number 13.

[Burgs]

I disagree with you spine re #7 and there wasn't really any options available at #6. Re #7, if you take away George Smith and Phil Waugh, who aren't going to be coming to WA, then I think we have the next best three Opensides in Australia.
And for that matter we have two fine #6's in Pusey and Doherty.
It's one thing to want to improve an area by recruiting but it's entirely another to find someone available for that position.
Re Cross, virtually everyone all support the views of John Mitchell as being a great Coach and having a great plan for WA & Force Rugby, do you really think he would have drafted Cross if he didn't think he was up to playing Super 14? I certainly agree that his arrival has put great pressure on selections but it is hardly his fault and it is a good thing for competition for selection.
We have a far better Squad in '07 than we did in '06 that is for sure.

[SPaRTAN]

I just think Staniforth deserved his shot in the centres, and cross should have to earn his spot.

I would put the Reds loose trio ahead of ours in terms of strength.
We have the weakest of the 4 Aus teams.

[Rodent]

Adding to Burgs point. The whole problem we had last year wasn't lack of talent it was lack of depth. We got hit hard by injuries in the backs and struggled because of it. Adding a guy who may or may not turn out to be the next stirlo isn't a bad plan. Stanners isn't getting any younger either, and while he may be hitting top form of his career now there can't be too many years left in him. Look at Horan he was the best player in the world the year he retired.
On top of that I still think Stanners has the pace to play wing, if Tunrstile (Hewat) is considered quick enough then Stanners certainly is.

Spine, I do agree though that our looseys where a bit of a weakness last year. We didn't seem to create enough pressure at the breakdown, but like Burgs I don't think that problem could have been solved through recruitment. I happen to think that we have the brightest prospect sitting on our bench at the moment in Bam Bam.

[Burgs]

Spine, who do you propose drafting in to make this all star back row?
You miss the point that there was no one available.
Re the back row, I was answering your points on #6 & more so #7, not the back row unit. You can't just lump the Back Row into one sweeping statement as they are three specialist positions that very few on the International stage have the skill or physique to multi position on, especially #7.
At Openside in Australia you have Smith and Waugh at the top and then below them:
Force- Brown, Hodgson, Pocock
Reds- Croft, Gilbert, McVerry
Brumbies- Basically rely on Smith, the rest are Blindsides out of position
Waratahs- Pretty much the same here except for new kid Beau Robinson.

So, apart from having a great deal of respect for what Croft has been able to generate out of an aging body with little reward, as far as specialist Openside Flankers go, I'll take our three over any others in Australia after Smith and Waugh.

With the Backrow in general, Fava leaves Roe for dead at #8 and there were NO Blindsides available but Pusey was amongst the best Australian performers in the lineout last year and Doherty is developing rapidly.

Any team who don't rate the Force's Back Row this year will do so at their peril.