2025 Squad - Speculation Thread

[Burgs]

Some good Proctor highlights in the Force X post, linked on the bottom of the TWF front page.

Am hopeful of it being a great signing, but we get an over-30 Test-ineligible player in a year of "re-distribution" of Australia's talent.

[Tazzmania]

We possibly only need Proctor as a starting outside centre for 2025, as I am hoping as the season progresses Divad Palu gets more and more game time.

I only saw him at one club level game this year but really liked what I saw and if correctly managed next year, he will turn out to be a very astute get.

[GIGS20]

I think Strachan is a stretch having not re-signed him. I don’t think he played again for the force after that HIA against the Tahs. He had some pace about him but not a big body at pace.

You need people to push the ones who are starting and we are currently pretty thin at fullback Potter (who might be better on the wing) and Burey followed by not a great deal with Super experience.

Beggars can't be choosers when RA is pulling out all the stops to make sure you have a second rate team. (and RA control the contracts)

[chiraag]

Fingers crossed we'll finally have Reesjan fit next year, in which case we'd probably want him at 15, with Potter on the wing.

[Burgs]

The Squads in the two threads should be the same now.

[GIGS20]

Fingers crossed we'll finally have Reesjan fit next year, in which case we'd probably want him at 15, with Potter on the wing.

I remember Crono saying he needs to work on his kicking in general play, if that work hasn't been done I wouldn't expect him at 15, if it has, he might go closer to the action (but not many holes in 10-12 so maybe not)

[Sheikh]

I remember Crono saying he needs to work on his kicking in general play, if that work hasn't been done I wouldn't expect him at 15, if it has, he might go closer to the action (but not many holes in 10-12 so maybe not)

Game time is more important than position for young blokes. We played O'Connor as a full-back in his first year and he moved into 12 by the end of the season. He then got picked as a wing for the Wallabies before again moving closer to the action. Although (controversies aside) he may have actually suffered from being too versatile as he never seemed to lock down one spot and become world class in it.

[Burgs]

Fingers crossed we'll finally have Reesjan fit next year, in which case we'd probably want him at 15, with Potter on the wing.

For lack of hearing otherwise (that I can recall at least) pretty sure he got through a full season with Baysie and was playing #15?

[Burgs]

Game time is more important than position for young blokes. We played O'Connor as a full-back in his first year and he moved into 12 by the end of the season. He then got picked as a wing for the Wallabies before again moving closer to the action. Although (controversies aside) he may have actually suffered from being too versatile as he never seemed to lock down one spot and become world class in it.

I do think it is a bit of a modern issue of becoming too much a single position player, particularly in the Centre's and #10 v #15.
We all recall the great Larkham transition from the #15 to the #10.
If you look at Paisami, at Wallabies he either starts or isn't selected.
It would be very hard to see him in #22/23 as he isn't versatile enough.
I would like to see some minutes of #12 Stewart, #13 Paisami though.
A bit stronger tackling and passing in close, moving the penetration out a little wider.

[volvo]

Wallabies wing Pietsch signs with Force in backline boost
Sat, Sep 14, 2024, 10:12 AM
by Ben Somerford

The Western Force are thrilled to announce the signing of exciting Wallabies wing Dylan Pietsch from the NSW Waratahs on a multi-year contract.

The 26-year-old will join the Force after a strong 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Tahs where his four tries in 12 appearances led to his Wallabies debut against Wales in July.

Pietsch, who is a proud Wiradjuri man, will join the Force in November for pre-season ahead of the 2025 campaign.

The speedy and skillful ball-running wing debuted for the Tahs in 2022 and has scored 14 tries in 38 games across three seasons. Pietsch’s pace is underlined by the fact he represented Australia’s in rugby sevens at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The wing said he was excited about the move west, where he believes he can play his best rugby in a top-class environment and bolster his international ambitions.

Pietsch said: “I feel like the Western Force are on the up at the moment and I’m really excited to play my part in it.

“The Force play a fast style of rugby where they like to move the ball which suits me. I believe that can bring out my strengths with carrying and ball-running on the edges.

“My Wallabies ambition is a big thing too. Now I’ve had a taste of international rugby, I want to play consistent footy and I feel I can play my best footy with the Force. I feel this move can help propel me forward.”

Pietsch is familiar with plenty of his new teammates from his time at the Waratahs which will help him settle into the new environment quickly.

“I’m really excited to play with a good group of boys,” he said. “I room with Donno (Ben Donaldson) on every Wallabies tour. I know a fair of them, Jeremy Williams, Will Harris, Tom Horton and many more.

“It’s good to have those relationships going into a new team, it makes the transition a lot easier.”

The wing’s signing is a boost to the Force’s backline following the recruitment of former All Blacks midfielder Matt Proctor and dynamic back Divad Palu from the Melbourne Rebels, with Force head coach Simon Cron thrilled to secure his signature.

Cron said: “He’s a genuine winger, who brings pace and power out wide. He also has a really driven personality type that will fit in really well with our group.

“The best players have that inner drive and he definitely has it, so we’re excited about getting Dylan over after his Wallabies duties.

“For us, it’s really important we get depth in the back three as it will only help others in the squad to develop and get better.”

This off-season, the Force have also added international-capped players Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Nic Dolly, Proctor and Darcy Swain along with emerging forward Josh Thompson and back-rowers Vaiolini Ekuasi and Nick Champion de Crespigny.

Cron added that he was delighted the Force were able to lure west another high-quality player.

“Over the past few years, he’s been a standout performer at Super Rugby level and he’s been a regular in Wallabies squads,” Cron said.

“In talking with him, he’s excited about coming over to the Force and we are really looking forward to having him and his partner Ella arrive in Western Australia.”

2025 Force Memberships are due to go on sale in October at westernforce.rugby.

Dylan Pietsch

23/04/1998

Wing

187cm

NSW Waratahs (2021-2024, 38 caps, 14 tries)

Wallabies (2024-, 2 caps)

Australia A (2022-, 4 caps, 3 tries)
https://westernforce.rugby/news/dyla...ZjgmLaJ8crrlPQ

[James]

Great news. Good for all if you ask me.