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The competition for places is certainly tough, but surely there wouldn't be any question of leaving out Hodgo altogether would there? He is the mainstay of the team and his love for and loyalty both to the Force and to developing rugby in WA is unrivalled (tho Pek is right up there too).
Also, Hodgo is the face of the #Belong campaign, is on all the principal advertising material (inc a couple of buildings!) and is the voice of the Force.
He is also an exemplary person on and off the field and someone that every junior team's coach would surely want his/her charges to look up to and aspire to emulate.
With Hodgo as captain and Pek as VC, the side is in great hands imo. Better than if Pocock had remained as captain, in my view.
Hodgo and Ben Mc should be the first loosies picked. Closely followed by Chris Alcock IMO. The rest have great potential but need to prove they should start before those blokes.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
You were saying!
Battle of back row lifts Force
The West Australian
Nick Taylor
It must be pretty onerous going to work each day knowing you have to challenge the boss for his job.
But that is what faces Western Force flanker Chris Alcock again this season if he wants to play in the prized No.7 jumper.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...w-lifts-force/
Personally I don't think Wykesy is up to the required level. Love him to bits but have never rated him that highly. I think he's destined for the bench this season, especially given the new guys they've recruited.
When Wykes hits form he's a bloody marvellous player, almost unplayable, excellent ball carrier and demon tackler. The trouble is he hit that form for 2-3 weeks, about three years ago (playing a mixture of lock and blind-side) but then got injured and has always seemed a step or two too slow since then. From what I heard of training last year, Wykes was a shoo-in as starting lock, but seems to have trouble converting from training ground to match.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
I think it was thought he would be the automatic replacement for Sharpie and would go from strength to strength but, for me, he just hasn't got there. We missed Sharpie desperately last year. Hence the recruitment of Steenkamp?
Opening the Locking Debate is a can of worms.
Wykes, Steenkamp, Battye, Coleman, MMM, Walton.
Although I see Walton developing into an 8th man more than lock, and this season to back up McCalman. But that's 4 definites, and flank/lock. Hope I haven't missed anyone.
Even then, what combinations and 4 or 5?
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Great problem to have
I'm not bagging Hodgo out, I think he's a great captain, I'm just happy that the bloke who has won force man more times than anybody can count and has been an unquestioned starter for seven seasons has a fight on his hand to make the squad.
Personally, i think he's tough and proud enough to do what it takes, that pushes one VERY BLOODY GOOD flanker onto the bench, who will be doing everything he can to unseat one of the three starters.
If we can keep them all fit it's going to be an enticing battle!
C'mon the![]()
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Ps if Hodgeo doesn't make it, Pek....all day long
And I think Hodgo is a better 6 than 7. He should be fighting for his best spot IMHO.
Maybe Stander and Alcock will fight for 7? Or maybe Stamder won't be up to scratch, there are a lot of possibilities, but I reckon there's a fag paper between the best five or six back rowers in our squad.
Locks similarly.
C'mon the![]()
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When all is said and done the one thing we can be sure of is that we will have depth on the bench. Impact players coming on with 20 mins to go and wanting a starting position next week! I love it! Can't wait.
May the FORCE be with you!
All this talk about our forwards what I wouldn't give for the force to be blessed with the same depth and talent in the back line
Agree Peter! Has been our Achilles heel for a while now!
Ditto for a dependable place kicker really. Hopefully having had some input from Braam Van Straaten over the off-season, we will be better prepared on the kicking front this season though....