Force call on cool heads to guide them through their grudge match with the side that probably should have been booted from Super Rugby
For the fans it's the ultimate grudge match, but Western Force players will do their best to keep emotions in check when they take on the Melbourne Rebels at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night.
Scores of Force fans are still filthy that their beloved franchise was axed from Super Rugby at the end of 2017 instead of the Rebels.
That decision was made despite billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest offering a package worth about $70 million to Rugby Australia to keep the Force in the competition.
The Force spent two years in the Global Rapid Rugby wilderness after Forrest's deal was rejected, but they are now in Super Rugby ranks following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Perth-based franchise are 0-3 in the new Australian competition, and were handed a reality check in last week's 24-0 loss to the Brumbies.
Veteran prop Pek Cowan, skipper Ian Prior, flyhalf Jono Lance, and Marcel Brache are among the current players who experienced the Force axing in 2017.
Former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush said the player group wouldn't let their emotions get the better of them.
"We've touched on it a little bit," Thrush said.
"It is there and we all know the history behind all that, but we need to focus on what we need to do right, and get our mindset right.
There's always emotion ... there will be that there. But if we let that control us, we'll probably make a fair few errors and let ourselves down."
The Force have named their strongest squad of the season to date, with World Cup-winning All Black Richard Kahui and former Wallaby Godwin named as the new centre pairing.
"You're after cool heads in big games and this is a big game for us," Force coach Tim Sampson said.
"Through our backs, you go Nick Frisby, Lance, Kahui, Godwin, Brache on the wing - there's great experience there."
Foundation Force squad member Cowan has been named on the bench after serving his quarantine period and getting up to speed with the squad.
"He's raring to go. He's like a 20-year-old debutant," Sampson said.
The Rebels have recalled Wallabies No.8 Isi Naisarani, but former Force star Dane Haylett-Petty has been ruled out for at least five weeks with a knee injury.
The Rebels have posted a win, a draw, and a loss from their three games.
- Justin Chadwick
Latest Comments
Bokke bokke Bokke
Go to commentsThe main thing you need on your side to win a World Cup is luck. ABs had their fair share of it in the 2011 final. One score game in the SF vs Springboks in 2015 means there always things you can look at and say if this thing or that thing happened then SA would/should have won that game. Smith’s try being called back broke protocol, but it was the correct decision, so I don’t have a problem with that. If it was an SA try called back in the same circumstances I don’t think many ABS fans would have a problem with it. Cane’s shot was high, it was the classic thing NZ players have been doing, and getting carded for for years - Walking around bolt upright trying to put a big hit on someone. Stupid play by someone with a poor disciplinary record. The one that was a big problem for me was Etzebeth’s obstruction. The referee just choked on this occasion. Frustrating to have the TMO in his ear all night, apart from at this moment. Minimum yellow card for Etzebeth, but a very strong case for a penalty try also. Despite all that the ABs had the opportunity to be ahead with 3 minutes to play, so it’s hard to point fingers too much. Pollard makes that kick 99/100. JB and RM make it 50/100. That’s what it came down to in the end.
Go to comments