Written Saturday 03/02/2007

WESTERN FORCE LOSE A SEASON DEFINING GAME

I have to say I believe the above comment.  The Force played a must win game last night,  and up to about 25 minutes almost seemed to have it under control.  Why was it must win.  It was at home,  in favourable 30 plus degree local conditions,  against a depleted New Zealand side that live where you can see the icebergs floating in the sea.

To make the semis,  you must win at home,  probably at least once in New Zealand and once in South Africa to be even there with a chance.  Coupled with that,  the New Zealand sides minus their All Blacks are at their most vulnerable and the Aussie sides must take advantage of that and win these games,  absolute must if they are to feature in the finals.

It is also not your 1st XV or 22 that will win you the tournament,  it is the backups that you bring in when some of them are injured or as strategic replacements. 

New Force recruit and million dollar baby Mat Giteau was sharp,  gee he has great feet,  but he lost almost all of his impact when he had to move to flyhalf when James Hilgendorf was injured.  Hilgendorf was playing well,  really challenging the line and asking them to questions.  His leaving the field with a groin injury was one of the turning points of the match.  Drew Mitchell's first mistake,  leading to many more,  was the other.  He had an absolute shocker,  seemingly couldn't catch,  couldn't hold the ball in contact,  and fell over nice and easily when he was touched.  He almost single handedly put the Force behind on the scoreboard,  with a simple error being the cause of the Highlanders try.

Ryan Cross made a solid but not spectacular debut,  coupled with a couple of mistakes.  He is very strong on his pins,  and has a strong defensive repertoire.

Young David Pocock looks the goods,  strong,  vigorous,  maybe overly so at times,  but he appears well built and with a good knowledge of the game and ability to read it,  running a couple of good support lines and making some nice tackles.  This time two years ago he would have just completed his first week of senior schooling.

Tai McIsaac added some spark to the attack and some wayward lineout throwing to the Force when he came on,  he was just more dynamic than Cannon in attack,  got the attack moving forward across the gain line quite well.

Early in the game the Force were quite physical and quite effective at the breakdown,  but this didn't last long enough to see them dominate the whole contest.

The guy I really liked,  and surely he is the number one winger in Australia at the moment John and Scott,  was Scot Staniforth,  big,  robust,  strong defender,  good set of hands,  strong on his feet,  bit like Chris Latham really,  and importantly passionate,  revels in and for the game.  He was the best for the Force.  Hilgendorf their try scorer was good while he was on.

They have to tidy up their breakdown,  and get over the top of Giteau and ohter line breakers much more quickly and dynamically than they did last night.  Their efforts on the winning side of the gain line post contact I thought were quite poor,  losing them a number of turnovers.

The Force lineout was good while ever Vedelago and Sharp were in combination.  When Vedelago left the field the lineout options  decreased somewhat.

It will be interesting to see how long Giteau lasts given the level he will be targeted,  and the amount he may be asked to do.  I'll tip he won't play a full Super 14 season for his 2 odd million.  The real worry is Drew Mitchell,  and on big money,  he had an absolute shocker.  In fact I think if I were Mitchell he would have been yanked before half time.

Plenty of Queenslanders in the Force side,  Cannon,  Vedelago,  Sharp,  Brown,  Mitchell,  Luke Doherty,  Digby Ioane,  Dave Pocock plus a few others.

We Are What We Continually Do,  Excellence Therefore is a Habit,  Not an Act.  quote from Vince Lombardi.