A Stronger Force Edged Out by Bulls

[NTT]

For a debut performance i thought the referee did a great job. He could have been overawed by refereeing the "mighty" bulls and tried to make a name for himself but he stuck to his task which is to referee what's in front of him. He was certainly much better than the referee we had vs the Kings who couldn't wait to jump all over us.
We played well for 65 mins, we still need to learn how to finish off an opponent when we have the lead late in games and also need to keep expanding some aspects of our game to become a better team.
I'm with Jono though, we can't keep saying the referee cost us this or that, the good teams rise above every outcome, it's time we did too.

[Nic]

Main article directed at Sias. Picture is of Alcock and Lynn instead. Toby decides to change his name to 'Tom'?

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...pe-for-future/

[Rex Messup]

The referee was reasonable. I've seen much worse performances from much more experienced refs. The Force got some of the rub of the green for the first time I can remember...the Bulls being called back for a forward pass try. That helped keep us in the match.

The reality is taht if your team is dominant, the referee watches the defending team closer who are trying to spoil/cheat/defuse a situation. The ref only has one set of eyes.

I get frustrated when teams that are attacking get pinged for "sealing off". Alcock got penalised for a legitimate steal for "not releasing" which was bullsh1t. That happens in every game though, to both teams.

If the ref is a gimp, there can be a penalty at every ruck. The laws are complex. This ref let the game flow pretty well.

We should have taken a penalty when we were 7 in front with 15 minutes to go. That was a mistake

[bunter]

Watched the game live and appreciated the much improved performance.
I was quick to heap shit on the players last week and I think they deserved it.
Therefore it is only fair that I credit the team with a far better attitude and far greater commitment against the Bulls.
The Bulls were terrible, but a lot of that can be attributed to the staunch defence of the much improved Force.
Well done guys, a fantastic turn around, and wins are certainly on the way if you maintain the rage.

[zimeric]

Sias' kicking out of hand was fine, those kicks directed at kirchner were part of the game plan, if you didnt notice this tactic kept the bulls in their own half for much of the game. not every kick needs to go into touch to be effective. Note the bulls coach also creditted this tactic for keeping the bulls off thier game in the first half

[Alison]

Main article directed at Sias. Picture is of Alcock and Lynn instead. Toby decides to change his name to 'Tom'?

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...pe-for-future/

Crap research/editing. Mind you, the Force's own website has a photo of Sias above its match report for Sat but unfortunately it's of him in his Cheetahs strip!! Surely they have one of him in a Force strip by now???

[Darren]

The neutral ref system were used up till about 3 years ago. The teams then said that they would rather prefer having the best available ref for their game (according to ranking) than having the best neutral ref available.
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IU thought it was a cost cutting measure - only local flights instead of international

[DinkyDi]

Sias' kicking out of hand was fine, those kicks directed at kirchner were part of the game plan, if you didnt notice this tactic kept the bulls in their own half for much of the game. not every kick needs to go into touch to be effective. Note the bulls coach also creditted this tactic for keeping the bulls off thier game in the first half

Zim - fair call. We covered the counter attack quite well from these kicks but without a confident full back we tended to loose ground when Tupou tried to return. I am just not sure if the tactic was that effective.

[jt12]

Much better - tackling, Contact, tactically, points gathering - significantly selections played a major part in revitalised form, particularly at #3, #8 and #10
if Sias was playing in the 1st two games, the Force would have 8,9 or 10 points out of 15
Goal-kickers are a must select in S15 rugby
major blunder by Pek not taking kick when 7+ in 2nd half

The force playing like this will win a few this year