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Nick Taylor
June 13, 2015, 10:21 am
Why did Western Force, so close to a maiden Super Rugby finals appearance last year, perform so poorly in 2015?
Did they overachieve in 2014 when they often punched well above their weight?
Did a fear of failure stymie them as this season wore on and restrict any chance of moving on from their game plan and into higher-risk rugby?
At the end of last season, everything looked rosy in the Force paddock. After the round-one win this year over the NSW Waratahs in Sydney, there was more talk of long-awaited success.
But it was a false dawn, even taking into account a second victory over the defending champions in Perth and last night’s 13-11 upset of Melbourne Rebels.
So what happened?
There is no doubt they missed inspirational captain Matt Hodgson for a chunk of the season and decision making let them down at crucial times.
But there were too many different problems that surfaced at different times.
When one fault was rectified, another appeared.
There is no doubting the players’ hard work and commitment, but those traits alone do not win games.
The adage of defence winning matches did not ring true and simply holding on to the ball is not good enough. The Force averaged longer in possession than any of their rivals, but it becomes a futile exercise if you do not go forward.
Kicking was too often inaccurate and they were often hurt by a lack of cohesion and consistency.
Unlike last year, close games did not go their way and the solution, as simple as it may seem, is to become a better attacking side and score more points.
But therein lies another problem because the Force do not have the power to take on teams in one-on-one match-ups.
There is a gulf in class of some players, shortcomings were exposed and coach Michael Foley does not have the individual brilliance of Quade Cooper or Israel Folau, who can change a game in a flash. Nothing much changed in the playing squad, but perhaps the small losses proved more significant than expected.
Front-rower Kieran Longbottom’s departure for England had Foley turning Tetera Faulkner into a tighthead prop on the run, although pretty successfully as he was called up to the Wallabies.
Utility back Jayden Hayward, who went to Italy, was an understated player with a steadying maturity in the back line.
Winger Nick Cummins returned from Japan but underperformed, while hooker Nathan Charles took a long time to regain full fitness after tearing a pectoral muscle in his fourth Wallabies appearance last year.
The Force had high hopes for South African Dillyn Leyds, but he returned to Cape Town where he has had a storming season.
Foley does not have the Australian Rugby Union-backed talent pool which is available in the other States.
The ARU pumps vast amounts of money into the Waratahs and Queensland Reds.
It provides only about $100,000 in top-up payments to Force players and another $200,000 for community rugby, but pours considerably more into the Waratahs and their Wallabies.
The reality is the Force are Australia’s most poorly funded club and have the smallest player nursery.
Foley has not used any of this as an excuse for the miserable season.
“We are underdogs and in the true sense of the word,” Foley said. “There are realities we have to face, there are many challenges and we are trying to come up with solutions.”
Foley faced tight financial recruiting restraints and brought 10 local players through the ranks.
The jury is still out on whether increasing the local base will provide the long-term answer to Force problems, but Foley immediately needs to fill gaps in key positions.
He can continue to build his pack around Wallabies No.8 Ben McCalman.
As Foley put it, he needs “a Matt Hodgson of the back line”.
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Originally Posted by Ecky
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