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'United the group': Club legend to coach Western Force in Super W
By Finn Morton
The Western Force have revealed some exciting news ahead of this year’s Super W campaign, with club legend Matt Hodgson set to take over as head coach.
Former Wallaby Hodgson, who was with the Force when they were kicked out of Super Rugby, has been working as the General Manager of Rugby at the club.
After making his debut in the Force’s first-ever Super Rugby match against the Brumbies 17 years ago, the former flanker went on to make 140 appearances for the Western Australian franchise.
But a new opportunity beckons for the club’s inspirational leader, with the Force announcing on Thursday that he’ll take over the head coaching reigns for the 2023 Super W season.
“Hodgo has brought a lot of energy and positivity to the group. He has united the group and grown the culture from the get-go,” Female High Performance Manager Claudia Bell said in a statement.
“The girls greatly respect Hodgo; I see it in their commitment to training and their changes to better themselves and the team.
“He is very much a conversationalist. He makes an effort to form bonds with the players, and with that respect follows. When he speaks at training, 100% of the squad if all ears; this is vital in any rugby team.
“As General Manager, eh has brought a lot of connections back to the club, the girls now understand what they stand for and the values they must uphold.”
Both the men’s and women’s Western Force teams will play crucial matches late next month, as they look to usher in a new era of greatness for the club.
While the men are set to kick-off their Super Rugby Pacific campaign on February 25 against the Melbourne Rebels, the women will also run out for their first pre-season hit out on the same night.
“There is a biz of a buzz around HQ at the moment with men’s teams,” Bell added. “We can all feel that the Force is turning into a powerhouse.
“The two teams feel very united, which comes down to Hodgo’s ongoing instillment of being one club.”
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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