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The Western Force are intent on shutting down Rebels scrum-half Nick Phipps in Friday night's season-opening clash in Melbourne.
If the Force can tie down the dangerous Wallabies No.9, it will restrict the supply to the Rebels' two main strike weapons - fly-half Kurtley Beale and full-back James O'Connor.
New Force signing Hugh McMeniman pinpointed the trio as serious threats to the Force, while also remaining wary of their forwards.
"Those guys (Beale and O'Connor) are very elusive and O'Connor just comes into the game whenever he wants from the back," McMeniman said.
"Those guys and Nick Phipps are going to be dangerous.
"He's a key to their game and if we can shut him down, we'll go a long way to shutting the rest of the team down.
"They've got a lot of experience in the forwards, a lot of the guys have been involved in the Wallabies program, but we've got the experienced guys, current and former Wallabies.
"We're confident, especially in the set piece, that we can match them up front and we're confident we'll come away with a win."
McMeniman said the Force had designs on a rapid climb up the ladder.
"We've got a real goal. We want to go out there and top the Australian conference. It starts on Friday night," he said.
"It's non-negotiable. That's what we want to do.
"If we get a win early, it goes a long way to putting us on a roll.
"We've had two good trial games, we are ready to go, excited and confident."
Force coach Michael Foley will name his side tomorrow.
His biggest puzzle is still likely to be his back three where the form of Alfie Mafi, Patrick Dellit and Will Tupou could see him bring Wallabies winger Nick Cummins, who didn't play in the two trials, into outside centre.
Wallabies flanker Scott Higginbotham has recovered from a shoulder injury and will make his Rebels debut.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ndcuff-phipps/
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
hes excited? try being me!
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CUMMO TO CENTRE!!! That could be a master stroke as he would be our best suited outside back to handle the size of Inman, but will have the speed and agility to beat him......put rash lea on the wing outside him and look for the run fest.
Shutting Phipps down is a great strategy, because he is susceptible to horror games and the less ball Kurtley sees at 10 the better for us.
We also want Sias (or whoever plays 10) to be in his face off the ball, we don't want him to get a single step before contact.
Handle all that and we'll win it in a cake walk.
If either Phipps, Beale or Judas get a decent run on, we will be in for a long night.
C'mon the![]()
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this is going to be an awesome game!! still time for you to jump on a flight gunny![]()
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I think the fact that the Rebels will know who's going to get targeted and probably implement a plan for that exact situation. The Force have been caught before by concentrating too much on obvious players and not covering ALL of the bases. They'll know those 3 are going to get picked on so there's bound to be covering decoy players to they'd use in that event.
I had no idea Phipps was that quick until this try. He looks like he's got a lot of gas for a halfback
http://youtu.be/i-wn7yd3jlE
But real slow and that pass really can go anywhere.
I wish Sheeno was playing cause he would put the pressure on.
May the FORCE be with you!
Originally Posted by zed
I had no idea Phipps was that quick until this try. He looks like he's got a lot of gas for a halfback
http://youtu.be/i-wn7yd3jlE
The best thing about that video is seeing just how quick the Honey Badger is and how great it was for him to get some 'meat' against England
Phipps tackling ability is his biggest flaw behind questionable passing
when's Foley naming our team ?!