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Monday, 22 June 2009 11:39am
By Chris Pike
Emirates Western Force coach John Mitchell likes how his 2010 Investec Super 14 squad is shaping up after the signing of Andre Pretorius and he is confident of keeping James O'Connor.
While much of the focus at the end of the 2009 season was on the players departing the Force, the squad for next year already is shaping up as one that is more than capable of being a power in the competition.
With props Matt Dunning and Tim Fairbrother, and scrumhalf Brett Sheehan already joining the Force, the addition of South African flyhalf Pretorius is a massive boost.
The 30-year-old played 69 Super rugby games with the Johannesburg-based Lions since 2002, earned 31 caps for the Springboks including being part of the 2007 World Cup winning team and Mitchell is delighted to have him on board for 2010.
"It's important to focus on the strengths that he brings to our team and to the mix that we are trying to create. It will be all revealed eventually that the team's strength will be huge by his presence," Pretorius said.
"He's enormously experienced, is a very good attacking footballer, has had experience at international level, has closed out games by kick and possesses an all-round game that will suit us really well."
Mitchell certainly won't be comparing Pretorius to Matt Giteau and what he did, with the two very different No. 10s.
"Him replacing Matt hasn’t been discussed and that would be really unfair to compare both players," he said.
"It would be unfair to compare what Matt did here to what he does going forward, and more important is what Andre brings to us and the strength of the group."
As for the potential re-signing of utility teenage back O'Connor, Mitchell and the Force won't be pressuring him into making any decision and will let him focus on continuing to perform for the Wallabies. Mitchell has no doubt the Force is a good place for him to stay and develop though.
"We are pretty positive that we will get James, and it's just a matter of time and negotiating, which is down to the individual. I am pretty confident though," he said.
"It's a very difficult times for individuals to be juggling contracting when playing for their country, and at his age he needs to be focusing all his time on playing for his country. We need to allow him to do that.
"This program has been pretty good at developing people of his ability and that has been reflected in about nine boys that have made Wallabies since inception, and we've resurrected a few careers too."
The plans of putting together a significantly different group ahead of the 2010 season have so far gone to plan for the Force.
Mitchell likes the balance of the experience coming in from Pretorius, Dunning, Fairbrother and Sheehan, with the youngsters still in the team and likely signing of young hooker Damien Fitzpatrick.
"It's clear now to everyone that we have an international frontrow and also that we've gained a certain strength at halfback in terms of first phase defence and now we bring in Andre's experience at flyhalf, it's looking good," he said.
"The team mix is going to have great versatility, and very good experience amongst some pretty enthusiastic youth. We're still looking at an outside back, another inside back and naturally we want to look at a person that can succeed Pretorius in time.
"Damien Fitzpatrick is right on our radar and is currently finishing off as the Australian under-20s captain, so we'll wait until he gets back into the country and see where that heads."
http://www.westernforce.com.au/news/.../section/50753
"It's important to focus on the strengths that he brings to our team and to the mix that we are trying to create. It will be all revealed eventually that the team's strength will be huge by his presence," Pretorius said.
"He's enormously experienced, is a very good attacking footballer, has had experience at international level, has closed out games by kick and possesses an all-round game that will suit us really well."
Hopefully that's a typo and Andre has gone all Lote third person on us
I believe we are very close to being a better team going into 2010.
Maybe not a better Squad of individuals but a better unit.
As touched on above, Sheehan a huge amount to the defensive structure, similar to Henjak, as a virtual fourth Backrow.
Our Props are clearly an improvement, with a bit of a question mark at #2.
The Locks are world class (Sharpe) or a year more mature (Hockings/Wykes/O'Connor).
The Backrow speaks for itself, with maybe a decision or two at #6 as I imagine Mitch won't expect both Pocock and Hodgson to play 80 minutes all season, some rotation will be required.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Didn't someone say on here a month or so ago that Dunning's played hooker? Maybe it was a drunken conversation I had (possibly involving someone else, but not necessarily!)
Yep, our starting forwards certainly look better than last year (with the exception of hooker) and we've some depth outside the back row.
The starting backs appear to be:
9. Sheehan
10. Pretorius
11. Cummings?
12. JO'C
13. Cross
14/15. Shep/DHP (Shep's position pending ankle health)
I'd say that we need an experienced winger (mainly as DHP had a 'mare against NZ in the U20 semi) and possibly see who's released by other clubs (eg, Brumbies) to provide a bit more depth on the bench, but the starting 15 looks like a strong bunch of forwards and a mixture of experience and raw speed/talent in the backs.
Go Force - early pick to win 8 games next year and an away semi-final!
Clyde on the Bench?
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
How about
The starting backs as:
9. Sheehan
10. Pretorius
11. Cummings
12. JO'C
13. Cross
14. Ioane
15. Shep
We've got to dream!!
i dont think it is a good as the 2009 roster, what happens if JOC gets injured?
Im not trying to stir shit, but realistically the Force is going to be seriously short of depth in 2010. How many matches did Shep miss in 2009? what happens if JOC or Pretorious gets injured?
There just isnt the quality/experienced depth that the Force had in 2009.
Looks like I am dreaming!! and that Digby is going to resign with the Reds
GAMEBREAKER Digby Ioane is set to re-sign with the Reds next week despite the off-field smell of sackings, a resignation and instability swirling around the battling Super 14 side.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...-10389,00.html
He'll be signing with the Brumbies for sure...
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
JOC will be part of the Force but he will be playing 15 on Deans instruction Maybe later next year or even in 2011 will he be moved to 10 but only if it fits into Deans plans for the world cup But I see him Playing 15 even into the world cup with Gits on 10
TOCC you're right, we need to be careful and hopefully get a couple more, as if JOC gets injured we could be faced with a rather large catasrophy. Would it be Josh Tatupu who'd replace him perhaps?
A kick in this game is like a rather nasty alcoholic shooter, only as good as it's chaser...
Courtesy of quality South African commentry
Your not turning this into a Brumbies thread are you Burgs....
Digby Ioane to Brumbies! Well they are after an outside back.... I thought Ioane was going to Japan... But looking closer he isn't a born raise crazed QLDer so he might take another offer from an Australian province.... So Friday week then...
I'd be happy with him at the wild horses he'd fit in nicely...
JT would be right in the mix. I like his style - with a bit more polish, which is sure to come, he's a real chance.