Seven Force Players to Keep Training ahead of Winter Tests

[GIGS20]

Robertson (also THP)

wash your mouth out.

THP is something Throbba CAN do, not something he SHOULD do.

[Transiting]

Agreed. Only, as a backup, which he did successfully last year before injury.

[Sheikh]

Everybody in the media talks about Tupou to the Tahs, but they don't mention that we've been operating with an Argentinean prop whose been removed at the request of his nation before, only returning when the team he was contracted to folded.

Because the media is Sydney-centric and probably wouldn't think of the Force in any way unless we're playing one of the East Coast teams?

[Kernow]

Everybody in the media talks about Tupou to the Tahs, but they don't mention that we've been operating with an Argentinean prop whose been removed at the request of his nation before, only returning when the team he was contracted to folded.

If there is a way to keep Santi (if they haven't already) then that's 1st prize in my opinion. I get the sense that Tupou is hard work to keep in "beast mode" both physically and as a result of injuries mentally, too; poor bugger's been through the mill.

[GIGS20]

If there is a way to keep Santi (if they haven't already) then that's 1st prize in my opinion. I get the sense that Tupou is hard work to keep in "beast mode" both physically and as a result of injuries mentally, too; poor bugger's been through the mill.

Agreed re Tupou.I'd take talakai and eloff instead, probably still have change to make a play for gibbon

[Transiting]

Agreed re Tupou.I'd take talakai and eloff instead, probably still have change to make a play for gibbon

Why do you want Gibbon? Already have Robertson, Hancock, Hoopert, and Pearce. Don't need any more LHPs.

[GIGS20]

Why do you want Gibbon? Already have Robertson, Hancock, Hoopert, and Pearce. Don't need any more LHPs.

Depth is a good thing.We learned that this year.If we can afford, I'd also take Canham and we have plenty of locks better than him.I don't rate Gordon, Tahs can have him, but I'd make a play for Anderson, Lancaster AND Daugunu.

[bootsetal06]

Saw Gordon was having a squiz at NRL …..

[Sheikh]

I get the sense that Tupou is hard work to keep in "beast mode" both physically and as a result of injuries mentally, too; poor bugger's been through the mill.

I think Tupou would benefit from a year or two in the NH, in the same way that Skelton has. Learned how to really look after his body (including losing ~10 kg but not losing any strength!) and being away from home and what he learned were bad influences from childhood friends. I'd hoped that moving to Melbourne would do something similar for Tupou, but I'm not sure if that happened.

[Kernow]

I think Tupou would benefit from a year or two in the NH, in the same way that Skelton has. Learned how to really look after his body (including losing ~10 kg but not losing any strength!) and being away from home and what he learned were bad influences from childhood friends. I'd hoped that moving to Melbourne would do something similar for Tupou, but I'm not sure if that happened.

Trick is getting him back, can't see anything to suggest Will is returning. RA would have been much better off throwing some extra cash at getting him back than trying to poach from the NRL IMHO.

[Sheikh]

Trick is getting him back, can't see anything to suggest Will is returning. RA would have been much better off throwing some extra cash at getting him back than trying to poach from the NRL IMHO.

Skelton has said he doesn't want to return to Sydney, as he did return to Australia briefly (probably on international duty) and found he fell back into his old habits too easily. I'm not sure if he'd be interested in playing for the Reds, the Brumbies don't need him, and RA would never spring the cash for us to sign him.

[Burgs]

...and RA would never spring the cash for us to sign him.

Personally I don't think he is worth the cash he would command.
He is a good player, no doubt, but he wouldn't feature in other International XV's in the top four rankings.
Squads yes, but not XV.

[wholetruth]

Seven Western Force players are in contention for new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt’s inaugural squad as coach ahead of his first Tests against Wales. Oh dear The West really has numbnuts. "In contention" Do some work and find out what is really going on.

[GIGS20]

Personally I don't think he is worth the cash he would command.He is a good player, no doubt, but he wouldn't feature in other International XV's in the top four rankings.Squads yes, but not XV.

Hang on Burgs.I get that he's a bit of a one trick pony, and does reduce our lineout because he doesn't jump but it happens that one trick is exactly where our deficiency is.The games we played well, we established clear dominance in the contact zone, pushing the opposition back in both attack and defence. The games we lost that was the opposite.Now, while thats a pretty obvious metric, skelton would certainly help on both sides of that metric.The real question? Would the benifits outweigh the costs.

[Sheikh]

Personally I don't think he is worth the cash he would command.
He is a good player, no doubt, but he wouldn't feature in other International XV's in the top four rankings.
Squads yes, but not XV.

Are you talking about Skelton or Tupou here?

Skelton's issue of not jumping in the line-out isn't so much of an issue if we have Williams at 6 (and possibly Anstee at 8!) Any player who can hold down a starting lock position for the European Champions is going to improve the Force.

If you are talking about Tupou, I agree. I've always thought he's overrated, as he can't scrum properly (continually bores in) and his tackling is a liability. A year to two in the NH would solve his technical issues, and if he gets the right coaching team should solve his weight and injury issues. However, I do wonder if what's really holding him back is the top 4" (cf Nemani Nadolo)