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Sampson highlights 'interesting stat' that gives Force hope against Crusaders

Kyle Godwin. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

Western Force flanker Kane Koteka will miss the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season with a foot injury.

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Koteka suffered the injury in last week’s 22-18 loss to the Blues in Perth.

The 28-year-old won the team’s best and fairest award last year, and his absence is a big blow to the Force’s hopes of landing a top-eight berth.

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Why Super Rugby Pacific is still not yet where it needs to be.

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      Why Super Rugby Pacific is still not yet where it needs to be.

      The Force have made two changes to the starting line-up for Saturday night’s clash with the Crusaders in Perth.

      Backrower Tim Anstee has been included to start in the No 8 jersey, with Ollie Callan moving to the right flank. Winger Byron Ralston replaces Toni Pulu (hamstring).

      Force coach Tim Sampson has praised his team’s resilience in the face of disappointment following a series of heartbreaking losses this season.

      The Force’s four-point defeat to the ladder-leading Blues was their fifth by six points or less this year.

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      Sampson’s men suffered heartbreaking one-point losses to both the Rebels and Brumbies, and they went down to the Waratahs by five points. In round one, the Force conceded a late try to lose to the Brumbies by six points.

      The run of close losses has seen the Force slip to ninth spot with a 2-7 record, but they are still in the hunt for a top-eight berth.

      “They’re in a good space,” Sampson said of his players. “I take my hat off to them. We’ve had so many tight losses. It’s five games now that have been by [six] points or less.

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      “It’s a pretty tough crew, and they’re desperate to get a win.”

      The Force finally reversed their notorious slow starts last week, and also managed to hold the Blues scoreless in the second half to almost steal the win.

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      “An interesting stat that came out was it was the first time the Blues had been held scoreless in the second half for four years,” Sampson said. “We still lost, but we take a lot of confidence out of that against the top team.”

      Force: Tom Robertson, Feleti Kaitu’u, Santiago Medrano, Ryan McCauley, Izack Rodda, Fergus Lee-Warner, Ollie Callan, Tim Anstee, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Reesjan Pasitoa, Manasa Mataele, Bayley Kuenzle, Kyle Godwin, Byron Ralston, Jake Strachan. Reserves: Andrew Ready, Angus Wagner, Bo Abra, Jeremy Thrush, Alex Masibaka, Ian Prior, Jake McIntyre, Richard Kahui

      – Justin Chadwick

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      Upnorth-taniwha 39 minutes ago
      New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

      So with all that's been said, France sending a b team, top 14 so strong, we support ab’s, they support top 14 and WC and six nations. It is what it is, but do you think that the results of this tour have matched the outcry? Like the first test against a so called b side? Yes we won, just. The second test was better, but against a lesser team apparently. And the third test we will experiment, to a degree. But we are still not thrashing them. One would expect if the teams they are sending are so bad, then why aren't we holding them scoreless and why aren't we putting 50-60 points on them every week? We put all our emphasis on international rugby, yet the show isn't what one would think it would be considering all the facts. I don't know, but I was really expecting the ABS to come out in the first test and show France how pissed off they were that they had sent a mediocre test team. Send them home thrashed and with their Tails between there legs, but I don't know. I think they would go home confident that even if they put the b side in, they can compete against a power house AB team. Not good for us, more so for them. As we all know, the mental side of international rugby is huge. Players confidence can set there path for their careers. So I think it was a perfect chance to absolutely dent the confidence of these up and comers, so when they faced us again in the future, they wouldnt be so keen! And if the ABs had really smashed this team and any other team that done the same, then it would be a message to all international sides. That if you do so, you do so at your own risk and at the expense of the growth of your players going forwards. I get what everyone is saying in regards to all the other stuff. Yes we have a lot to work on. But firstly we need to win, and win big. Otherwise these complaints of b sides, look rather silly. Yes we are 2 nil up. The second test against a much weeker side was better-ish. But C'mon, if they want to send b sides, we should treat them like that, and really be smashing them. Confidence in any player, can be changed for the entirety of their careers. Maybe if we did this, they would realise the effects and send stronger teams. But I don't think that so far this series, any player would feel like they wouldn't want another go at the ABs and can face up to them. Just a thought

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