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NATHAN SHARPE, The West Australian
May 4, 2011, 7:36 am
Our worst game of the year was against the Waratahs a month ago and it was the catalyst for a turnaround in our performances.
The memories are fresh of that night when our team, which is normally so confrontational in defence, sat back and let the Waratahs have a training run against us.
We get an opportunity to thank them for that this weekend as we travel to Sydney to continue to build momentum.
The interstate games are critical, particularly as so many teams are grouped from seventh to 13th on the Super Rugby table.
We need the points this round heading into our second bye but, more importantly, I feel the team is looking forward to a dramatic lift in intensity at the Sydney Football Stadium.
David Pocock and Matt Hodgson got through their first games back from injury with flying colours and their class was apparent from their first involvements.
David performed a great job of getting through a full game after such a long lay-off.
Before the game I thought he might be sucking in so much air that the seagulls surrounding the stadium might be in danger of being swallowed. Thankfully the surrounding birdlife survived.
Congratulations also to David, who will play his 50th game for the Western Force this weekend. The way that he can influence a match makes it easy to forget that he is still only a young man.
Couple that with an uncanny ability to raise his output in each game he plays, there is plenty to look forward to in the next 50 as well.
The line between winning and losing can be far smaller than it seems when you look at the big picture of a sporting contest.
The smallest things can turn a game on its head with a simple momentum shift.
Three key errors at the end of the game against the Crusaders gave them the leg up they had been searching for. They are a team which does not need to be asked twice to take advantage.
Two scrum turnovers and a refereeing decision that could have gone either way effectively took us out of the game. From there they were too good and the momentum got them home.
Some more great off-field news this week with Brett Sheehan and James Stannard both re-signing with the club. Sheehan is playing the best football of his career, which he puts down to the fact he is so smitten with a girl at present.
Stannard, the current Australian Sevens Player of the Year, has been a huge contributor when he has got on to the field.
His energy and drive have been infectious. Great to have you boys on board for 2012.
As the injury list for us grows shorter, our team will continue to challenge.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...to-thank-tahs/
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