Western Force unlikely to advance much further - Growden

[shasta]

How long has Russel Barwick been on the bandwagon? "My Western Force"
Still anyone who serves it up to Growden is OK by me. Welcome to the ES Sea of Blue Russell.
Seems like Growden and Martin ate not the only journos who visit here often.

[blindsid3]

Attachment 2872

Well we made Grumbles video show.

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby...dio/index.html

Guilty, your honour.

I knocked it up for the #bestinblue competition in the hope that it would be put on the big screen at the game. No such luck :-(

[andrewM]

GG's latest column.

As with last season's Super Rugby tournament, this year's competition has been dominated by stoic defence. There hasn't exactly been a glut of tries from the Australian provinces. The Brumbies currently boast the most number of tries with 22 from eight games at an average of 2.75 per match, followed by the Force 21 (2.625), Waratahs 20 (2.5), Queensland Reds 18 (2.25) and Rebels 15 (1.875).

Such skinny figures are understandable, considering that the defensive structures of all teams in the competition have improved remarkably. Each Australian team has been frugal in letting in opposition tries. The Waratahs are the best gatekeepers with 13 tries scored against them, followed by Brumbies (15), Force (17), Reds and Rebels (19 each).

The Rebels would be the most delighted with their improved defensive statistics, because before this season they were as useful as a levy bank made out of straw.

And the most effective in this department has been the Force. The prime reason why they won five games in a row was that their first-rate defence has frustrated oppositions into error. Masterful bloodsuckers, they have relied on other teams' stupidity to survive.

The Force's success has been built on a determined defence, The Force's attack has often been non-existent, and while their inside centre Kyle Godwin is billed as the most promising attacking player in the country, all we have discovered this year is that he can tackle, and tackle and tackle. Yet the Force have avoided its attacking deficiencies being exposed by providing an effective barricade on their own line, holding out the enemy for endless minutes. And when there has been a half-chance, a dropped ball or a penalty, the Force have swooped. So many of their tries have been handed to them by an opponent under pressure making a blunder.

Eventually it had to end, and it wasn't surprising it occurred when their scrumhalf Alby Mathewson wasn't around. Mathewson - the standout No. 9 in the Australian teams - is the glue to the Force team, and without him, they soon fragment. Fatigue also crept in, and the Rebels ended the dream.

Grand defence is fine, but you need more. That's why, with the Test season looming, it was so comforting to see Folau running around again on the weekend.

Read more at http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby...ghRkhTHzssl.99

[Sheikh]

Yeah, the Force's attack has been so non-existent that we've scored more tries than the Tahs!

While for the last couple of games we've relied on defense, our offense looked good against the Rebels (first time) and Highlanders.

[shasta]

He's hanging his hat on the boys folding from here on in so he can say "See? I was right all along". Basically saying they are still a bunch of no talent bums. Just that the bums have learned to defend well. Pin that on the change room wall Foles.

He's pretty irrelevant as a media commentator these days anyway. So who gives a flying f@ck what he says.

[jono]

It seems a lot of people on here do