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Thread: Big Super finale but Force changes loom

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    Big Super finale but Force changes loom

    http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-changes-loom/

    Western Force will continue their post-season player cleanout as they rebuild for the 2014 Super Rugby competition.

    Eleven players have been told they are not wanted or have decided to move on, and coach Michael Foley says there will be more changes.

    Foley has signed a number of new players, including ACT Brumbies halves Zack Holmes and Ian Prior, and Queensland Reds flyer Luke Morahan, and this week will have talks with wayward Wallaby James O'Connor.

    The club is waiting for another Wallaby, winger Nick Cummins, to make a decision on his future.

    Cummins, one of the Force's stars in Saturday night's 21-15 upset of the Brumbies at nib Stadium, is out of contract.

    It is understood he asked for a considerable pay rise which the Force said they could not afford. He might look at moving to Japan.

    Foley said he was negotiating with a number of current players, including Cummins, and hoped to have results within a month.

    "We are still a little way off finalising our squad," Foley said. "We have five spots (still open). There is still some time to have discussion."

    Super clubs have 35 players, five of whom are extended squad players.

    The Australian Rugby Union is expected to announce a third-tier "reserve" competition next season that would allow clubs to recruit a whole new raft of players.

    The Force's win over the Brumbies meant that three of their four victories this season were over competition finalists.

    They also beat the Reds and Crusaders, but still finished 13th.

    Foley said the victory was not flukey.

    "We dominated most of the game. It probably says if everybody's on the same page ... what we are actually capable of and we will get better," he said.

    "I had belief that we would fight to the last minute but we were so hoping that they could walk away with a win in the last game.

    "It was a real credit to the players. It was the least they deserved.

    "Coming out of last season, there was such a bleak feel but the players pulled together strongly from the start and learnt to play for each other above all else.

    "This was not a season when we were going to win a lot of a games. There were times we were going to go close and not get the result.

    "To get this result means the players have gone through some difficult times and learnt a lot about each other and what they are capable of.

    "I'm happy with the progress but even happier that the players know how much they can achieve."

    ·Wallaby forward Hugh McMeniman was cleared of serious injury after being taken to hospital with a neck injury in the 65th minute of Saturday's game.

    Fellow second-rower Sam Wykes injured an ankle in the second half and will have scans today.

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    Who are the 11 cast offs?

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    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
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    Sam Christie
    James Hilterbrand
    Ben Jacobs
    Sam Norton-Knight
    Toby Lynn
    Salesi Ma'afu
    Lachlan McCaffrey
    Will Tupou
    Brett Sheehan
    Ben Whittaker
    Richard Brown

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    Quote Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr View Post
    Sam Christie
    James Hilterbrand
    Ben Jacobs
    Sam Norton-Knight
    Toby Lynn
    Salesi Ma'afu
    Lachlan McCaffrey
    Will Tupou
    Brett Sheehan
    Ben Whittaker
    Richard Brown
    How long is Eberson contracted for?

    Not sure if both parties are particularly happy with the year he had. With Holmes signing and if JOC is coming we might have enough cover to release him.
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    Immortal Contributor shasta's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Piston View Post
    How long is Eberson contracted for?
    Keep him and offer O'Connor a base contract with performance KPI's to meet

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    Champion SinBin's Avatar
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    Where are Lachie and Whittaker off to?

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    Player Flying 14's Avatar
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    Not sure we should be getting rid of Lachie Mac, particularly with Browny going.

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    Senior Player Herbasimplex's Avatar
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    Shame about Whittaker. Was a consistent performer until his long-term injury and then Tessman came on leaps and bounds. Those are the breaks. My money would be on him to go across to the Rebels with Robinson back in NZ they are a bit light on in the hooking department.

    Agree re McCaffrey. 8 looks weak for us now. In the little time McCaffrey has spent on the paddock he has been a reliable performer. Has there been any talk of signing another 8? We have heard nothing. Maybe Foley would be thinking a backrow of 6 Cottrell 7 Alcock 8 Hodgson if McCalman went down, though the captain is hardly a quintessential 8.

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    I wonder what the future holds for a few other players at the force that didn't really feature this season and I don't think will get a look in.

    Why Michael Foley don't we get shot of these blokes from over east and promote WA boys if the blokes from NZ or NSW, QLD ect aren't good enough for the first XV why not get local lads in?

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    Legend Contributor Alison's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Man View Post
    Why shocked TM? He's worked hard and deserves a spot in the squad imo.

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    Bit surprised about McCaffery, more disappointed about Lynn and Tupou in that they didn't make themselves undroppable.

    My worry would be that that is a lot of players to flush. They might not all be stars, but taking SNK as a prime example I can only hope that the guys replacing them are at least as solid and reliable. If not, that is a big chunk of a 35 man squad to turn over in the hope of finding a hidden gem. I would have expected maybe half a dozen - it does tend to suggest we're going to be rebuilding yet again and for several years to come.

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    Super Coach Wayne Bennett said you needed to churn 30% of a squad each year to maintain improvement.

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    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
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    I don't know Andy. Dick Graham had collected a lot of dross in his time and another year of cleanup won't be all bad. expect another couple next year when the two year contracts are up.

    Sias will be in that lot.

    Lachie IS a surprise with Brown leaving, but the 4 we have are pretty bloody good, and nobody has mentioned Maddness into 6 as cover for injuries. I still think our backrow is strong.
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    Legend Contributor Alison's Avatar
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    Maybe Lachie wasn't happy in Perth and wanted to go back to NSW?

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