Force V Tonga Trial - Mandurah - Live Call.

[zed]

Is this a Tongan pub team from Perth?

Yeah I can't imagine this is the Tongan team that recently played at Murrayfield.

[benny]

Can someone tell me why we had quarters last night ?
Last hit out till the season proper starts and we aren't setting a simulation game ? Wasn't hot. Or any other excuses were given or heard....

Still think the performance wasn't that healthy. Defensive we are going to be misers for the year. And some attacking flair. But playing against a Tongan team with no super rugby, international experience I feel that game was an improvement from last year, but still not enough for week in week out rugby season.

With the scoreline like this and reading the reviews from Darwin, plus speaking to hodgo and pek, the confidence is up. And a fully fit squad baring Sheehan, I am penciling in 2wins from our first 3 week road journey.

[beige]

Is this a Tongan pub team from Perth?

Tonga 'A', made up of Tongan based players, is playing in a tournament soon so it might have been them - they did look somewhat official. I'm sure someone will correct me.

[GAFFA]

Well i know the 17 for tonga has been playing at baysie for the last 2-3 but qas prop one of if not the best prop in the prem comp last year ended up with 10 tries and call in the the gold squad. The were def better than i thought they would be but just didnt have the legs to go with the force.

It was a very very scrapy game but you expect that when you play teams like these.
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[GIGS20]

How do you feel about this season now GIGS?

Hopeful, not confident.

The Tongans looked like they were going to be a useful opponent in the first 15 minutes, but looked like schoolboys once fitness came into play. If they were a reasonable approximation of the level we'll be up against I'd say good, but you can't tell that much from a trial.

At the end of the day, if we win three or four and play some good attacking rugby like was on display last night, I'll be happy. I won't commit to us finishing higher than tenth until after we play at home (we will have met most of the cellar dwellers by then)

[travelling_gerry]

Some pics up on the Force facebook page featuring many TWF'ers

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/...type=1&theater

[Muddly]

http://tinyurl.com/c7eorsb Some
Highlights from Friday.

[valzc]

http://tinyurl.com/c7eorsb Some
Highlights from Friday.

HOLY SHITE - IS THIS THE SAME FORCE AS LAST YEAR!??!!! High jumps? WTF?!!!

[palitu]

I for one was more disappointed after watching the video. You could see the tongans out on their feet, and the kick over the top would have been met with a proper back three, the scrum would not have been decimated etc etc.

would have liked to see some of the defence the boys put in, like foley said, that was the highlight.

no good watching a professional rugby club play some blokes who are on their haunches at half time.

I hope they do not have a false sense of security after the match

[Muddly]

I agree palitu. If you compare that to the Rables trial it doesn’t look too good. Having said that there was no defence on display at all in the Rable game. If we can contain them in the first 15-20 min we should be in with a good show.

[GIGS20]

It's not like we didn't have the match in hand for the first 15 minutes while the Tongans still had some legs. That would be the true indicator of any value.

It would also be fair to say the team fielded against them was pretty understrength in some positions, so not much can be gained from the result.

Positives, there was no stage last year where chasers were running on to ANY kick, regardless of the defense that was a positive. There was some slick passing after the tongans were out on their feet, so at least we know they're looking to play that way.

I really won't be surprised if this team gets a pasting, but will be happy as long as they show some heart and try to play entertaining rugby. If they aren't up to the standard, they'll learn more that way anyhow.

One or two more of those lovely flick ons from Kyle to set up the second try and they might be in with a big shout!

[Happy]

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