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Force guns promise to go full steam ahead
7th February 2008, 8:15 WST
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ontentID=57541
Western Force forwards have taken a vow not to go backwards this year.
After almost every training session during the pre-season, the tight forwards have put in an extra 30 minutes of shove in that complex compendium of physics that is the scrum in a bid to gain parity with the best in Super 14.
Tonight, at Members Equity Stadium, the Force front-rowers will take on the super-sized Queensland Reds’ big men to gain an indication of how they will go when they open their Super 14 campaign with a three-game swing through South Africa, spiritual home of the brotherhood of the beef.
“We’re expecting a physical contest which is what we want before we go to South Africa,” Force coach John Mitchell said yesterday.
Force hooker Tai McIsaac noted the Reds front row of Rodney “Rodzilla” Blake, Stephen Moore and Greg Holmes, plus the size of those behind them, provided Queensland with a sufficiently big and heavy pack to most resemble those the WA team will confront when it takes on the Sharks in Durban tomorrow week, plus the Cheetahs and Lions on the following two Fridays.
“You could see what they were up to last year before they were hit with injuries,” McIsaac said. “They kept things tight with lots of pick and drives, and they mauled a lot.
“With the size they’ve got in the front row and back row, that’s how we expect them to play this year.”
McIsaac acknowledged the Force needed to improve up front if they were to be contenders this year.
“We’ll play a more open game to accommodate the rule changes but the main focus of the front-rowers has been on the set piece,” he said.
“The props might be fitter but they’re also a lot stronger and we’ve done a lot of scrimmaging work to improve on last year. Our aim is not to go backwards at all.”
Another enticing confrontation which elevates the 7.05pm game beyond just another experimental trial will be that at fly-half between Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes, who are fighting it out for the Wallabies’ No. 10 jersey.
Giteau has by far the more international experience, but Mitchell revealed he was sufficiently impressed with Barnes to have tried to lure him to Perth in 2005.
“He’s got a good toughness about him,” he said. “We had a meeting to try to recruit him for our inaugural year.”
Mitchell revealed the team’s improved depth had created more competition for places, most notably for right wing, inside centre, blindside flanker, one lock and both props.
Recruit Tamaiti Horua might be in Perth but will not go to South Africa. His club, Toyota, reached the finals of the Japanese league and his contract requires him to return to play.
The Force will also enter the season without a chief executive. Interviews are expected to start soon.
DAVE HUGHES
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