Force to regain rugby journeyman

[The InnFORCEr]

Nick Taylor
The West Australian
July 20, 2016, 10:13 am



Second-rower Ben Matwijow is set to return to the Western Force after a three-year road trip that has taken him to NSW, New Zealand and Queensland.

Matwijow, 26, was at the Force in 2013 on a short term contract and played against the touring British and Irish Lions.

He had a training stint with Melbourne Rebels the previous year.

Since then he has played Shute Shield for North Sydney and for NSW Country Eagles in the National Rugby Championship.

He was in the Canterbury side that lifted the New Zealand national provincial championship last year before signing for the Reds as injury cover for Kane Douglas.

Matwijow will play in the New Zealand competition again this year for Taranaki before heading back to Perth.

The Force need to boost their second row stocks with the loss of Steve Mafi and Rory Walton both to French clubs.

Meanwhile it is understood back-rower Gus Cottrell is close to re-signing with the Force.

Cottrell made his Super Rugby debut in 2012 and has been a consistent starter since although he suffered a horrific ankle injury with two rounds left of the 2014 season and missed the last two games of this year with an ankle injury.

The Force are expected to confirm within days that centre Kyle Godwin has signed with the Brumbies.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...rneyman/#page1

[Tazzmania]

Welcome on board Ben, as I mentioned in a previous post each replacement needs to better than who has left I think Ben > Rory so a positive in the Ledger.

Godwin's replacement is going to be hard to get a positive in the ledger though.

[Buddha Handy]

Welcome on board Ben, as I mentioned in a previous post each replacement needs to better than who has left I think Ben > Rory so a positive in the Ledger.

Godwin's replacement is going to be hard to get a positive in the ledger though.

Meakes might be > Godwin. Godwin has done nothing for 3 years.

[GIGS20]

Meakes might be > Godwin. Godwin has done nothing for 3 years.

OK, no disrespect to Billy Meakes, but at least Godwin has shown potential in his past. I would contend that if Meakes had shown what Godwin has shown he'd have started for the Wallatahs by now and be locked away from any other country (a la Naiyaravoro)

Certainly, Kyle isn't setting the world on fire at the moment for the Force, so I don't think we should be shedding any tears. Meakes might end up like DHP who really wasn't ready for Super Rugby a few years ago, but the stint in France turned him into a genuine Wallaby contender. If that's the case, I'd take Meakes over keeping Kyle in a heartbeat.

I'm just a little concerned about the rhetoric before the alliance announcement being that we'll have more power to draw talented players and the evidence so far has been that nothing is really changing. We still sign the washed up (Daley), the gamble (Meakes) and the Fringe (Matwijow)

Hopefully Rona will reverse the trend!

[choice]

Really, Godwin has done nothing for 3 years. Class is permanent form is temporary. Good players respond to good coaches and systems, Kyle has had nothing to work with for 3 years.
He will succeed at the Brumbies and will represent Australia.

[Alison]

Really, Godwin has done nothing for 3 years. Class is permanent form is temporary. Good players respond to good coaches and systems, Kyle has had nothing to work with for 3 years.
He will succeed at the Brumbies and will represent Australia.

Agree. He will flourish at the Brumbs.

[westies man]

When you think about it there isn't too many who has improved their game under the Foley regime, in fact the vast majority have gone backwards.His whole tenure was one massive stuff up.
I wish Kyle Godwin all the best and hope he can fufil his massive potential under coaching staff that embrace and can implement the modern game.

[sandgroperrugby]

Really, Godwin has done nothing for 3 years. Class is permanent form is temporary. Good players respond to good coaches and systems, Kyle has had nothing to work with for 3 years.
He will succeed at the Brumbies and will represent Australia.

I agree that if he goes he will shine at the nags playing outside and inside test level wallabies.

[James]

I wish Kyle the best, but the Brumbies backline has been dire this season despite plenty of talent. Larkham was a great player but has shown nothing as a coach. Hopefully with Godwin gone, Jooste will come back for 2018.