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Force aiming to save face
By Tim Clarke
May 13, 2008
WITH Super 14 finals out of reach, Western Force coach John Mitchell has set his side the task of avoiding the unenviable record of losing to every other Australian side this season.
Having been pipped by the Waratahs and pumped by Queensland, the Force finish their third season with a visit from the ACT Brumbies on Friday.
And with Laurie Fisher stepping down after the game, Mitchell has said he intends to leave outgoing Brumbies' head coach with few good memories of his last game in charge.
“You can be remembered for your season finishing on a bad note or finishing on a good note, and both teams have an opportunity to finish 7-6 - that sounds a lot better than the other way,” Mitchell said.
“It is a local derby, and the Brumbies have been the benchmark of Australian rugby for a long time.
“The outcome (of the game) could be that (we lose to every Australian side), but more importantly it is about how we play.
“If that happens to be the case then we have to go back to the drawing board and find out why we have not performed against Australian teams this year.”
Despite Fisher's imminent departure, and the mid-table finish from both sides, Mitchell still said he still considered the Canberra side a cornerstone of Australian rugby albeit one going through some changes.
“They still have that aura ... and what has impressed me this year is that some of the young guys that have filled big shoes have played good rugby,” Mitchell said.
“They will be a better group for this year's experience. But we all had an aim to contest finals and we both have not got there.”
Mitchell has stuck with the majority of the team overpowered but not overrun by the Hurricanes in Wellington last week, with Chris O'Young returning to scrum half and Pek Cowan likely to be restored at prop.
Mitchell attributed Cowan's high pain threshold as the main reason why he is able to retake his place in the Force front row after almost losing his thumb in an horrific injury against the Chiefs two weeks ago.
A compound dislocation bent the thumb so far back the tip of the digit almost touched the back of Cowan's hand, but no nerve damage and some swift treatment will allow the prop to pack down against the Brumbies, provided he gets through training.
“It was a matter of that healing up and he has got a high pain threshold. This year he deserves the position, he has played very well. He got his chance and has done very well,” Mitchell said.
“Outside of the scrummaging he brings a high intensity and is very dynamic in the collision.”
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html
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