NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian
December 10, 2010, 6:26 am


Bill Hatto/The West Australian © Enlarge photo
Phil Blake and Nick Stiles have travelled very different rugby roads to arrive at the Western Force.

A couple of months ago, former league star Blake, the club's new defence and skills coach, was getting ready for another year at the Manly club in Sydney.

Instead, he has flown to Perth the long way, via Hong Kong and Europe after a surprise call-up to the Wallabies spring tour staff.

Former Wallaby prop Stiles, the new forwards boss, took a more direct route from Japan, where he has been coaching at Kubota Spears for the past three years.

Both are very aware of the challenges facing a new-look Force going into the new Super 15 competition next year.

Blake must improve a leaky defence while Stiles must blend experience and youth into his front row.

Blake's record with Manly speaks for itself. In the last two seasons, the club was the best defensive side in the NSW competition.

From conceding 71 tries in 2008, their line was only crossed 46 and 44 times in the last two seasons.

Blake, who admits he was never the best defensive player in his 15-year, seven-club league career, began studying Force game-day recordings with the Wallabies.

"I've done a little bit of homework … we'll change a few things," he said. "First and foremost, we'll get the attitude right.

"Once we get the attitude right, we'll get them to embrace the system. I'm confident we can change things. They were not working as one.

"They were working as individuals and defence is all about working as a unit, understanding your space, who is in your space.

"I was exposed to the six (Force) Wallabies on tour. Their attitude is fantastic in regards to defence so if they can set that platform others will follow."

Stiles, who is back in Super rugby for the first time in six years (the last time he played for Queensland it was still Super 12) will be working with wily props like another former Wallaby Matt Dunning and junior All Black Tim Fairbrother.

But the two first-choice hookers in the middle of the front row, Ben Whittaker and Nathan Charles, are both just 21, and have only 19 Force appearances between them.

"There's a tremendous amount of experience but to also try and nurture the young hookers, that will be the challenge for us," Stiles said.

Head coach Richard Graham and Stiles will have to fit four Wallaby back-rowers, David Pocock, Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman and Richard Brown, into three spots.

"To have a back-row option like we do is a strength of our side," Stiles said.

"The way rugby's being played now … if you can control the breakdown you'll be successful. There's a lot of improvement in us."

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