Ash
Michael Lynagh (62)
A little disturbing is the belief that Pretorius will be more effective than Giteau was last year, for example. I would not be glad that Gits left if I was a Force fan. Saying "he didn't want to be here, so someone else will be better" is just sugar coating the fact that he left.
There's some interesting stuff on TWF, and some know their rugby pretty well and have great inside knowledge of the team (which is why I like to read it). But, honestly, there's also a lot of self delusion, eg some already talk of McMalman as if he's a proven S14 player who adds greatly to the Force depth.
I still hold that the Force have a very strong backrow with good depth, great props with very good depth, and then no proven hooker (a huge risk), one proven lock in Sharpe (who's been significantly less effective at provincial level than international level lately) and a few unproven locks with potential. All in all a strong pack but with some weaknesses that could bite. Overall, apart from hookers the pack is improved from last year.
The backline is probably one of the weaker ones at S14 level (although definitely not the weakest), and if Pretorius goes down could really struggle. The decision to play J'OC at 15 really baffles me as the next 12 is a huge, and I mean huge, step down. If Shepherd can't play 15 because of his foot, then surely leaving J'OC at 12 and calling up DHP or Bartholomeusz to 15 would be the go. But I see the loss of Valentine for Sheehan as a negative, the less of Giteau for Pretorius as a negative, the loss of Mitchell as a negative, the loss of Staniforth as a negative, and Cummins is gone for half the season. The gain of Bartholomeusz will add depth and experience, but really, the level of the backline is significantly lower than last year and has gone from being maybe one of the top 3 - 4 backlines in the S14 and the best backline of the S14 Australian teams to being one of the bottom 6 backlines and the worst backline of the S14 Australian teams. If you want, I can do a comparison vs the Brumbies, Tahs and Reds, but I think all look better overall on paper, both for starting players and depth.
What I think will determine how effective the Force are will be very reliant on their forwards dominating (and no hiccoughs at lineout time - assuming they have a hooker who can throw well), if Pretorius stays uninjured and how he executes a game plan reliant on forward dominance (kicking to the corners will work well here if they aren't moving forward) and few injuries to their backs where the depth is paper thin (forward injuries could be well covered though).
A good result for the Force would be a mid-table finish, I'd think, around 7th - 8th. That would be reliant on a lot of things going their way, though. A few injuries could see the Force finish near the bottom.
I am hoping Pretorius goes well, he used to be one of my favourite players before he became a serially injured crock. And I am looking forward to some grunt from the Force - previously they relied on their backrow for parity in the forwards, now their tight 5 may be good enough for some parity to let their backrow dominate. Will be refreshing to see.
There's some interesting stuff on TWF, and some know their rugby pretty well and have great inside knowledge of the team (which is why I like to read it). But, honestly, there's also a lot of self delusion, eg some already talk of McMalman as if he's a proven S14 player who adds greatly to the Force depth.
I still hold that the Force have a very strong backrow with good depth, great props with very good depth, and then no proven hooker (a huge risk), one proven lock in Sharpe (who's been significantly less effective at provincial level than international level lately) and a few unproven locks with potential. All in all a strong pack but with some weaknesses that could bite. Overall, apart from hookers the pack is improved from last year.
The backline is probably one of the weaker ones at S14 level (although definitely not the weakest), and if Pretorius goes down could really struggle. The decision to play J'OC at 15 really baffles me as the next 12 is a huge, and I mean huge, step down. If Shepherd can't play 15 because of his foot, then surely leaving J'OC at 12 and calling up DHP or Bartholomeusz to 15 would be the go. But I see the loss of Valentine for Sheehan as a negative, the less of Giteau for Pretorius as a negative, the loss of Mitchell as a negative, the loss of Staniforth as a negative, and Cummins is gone for half the season. The gain of Bartholomeusz will add depth and experience, but really, the level of the backline is significantly lower than last year and has gone from being maybe one of the top 3 - 4 backlines in the S14 and the best backline of the S14 Australian teams to being one of the bottom 6 backlines and the worst backline of the S14 Australian teams. If you want, I can do a comparison vs the Brumbies, Tahs and Reds, but I think all look better overall on paper, both for starting players and depth.
What I think will determine how effective the Force are will be very reliant on their forwards dominating (and no hiccoughs at lineout time - assuming they have a hooker who can throw well), if Pretorius stays uninjured and how he executes a game plan reliant on forward dominance (kicking to the corners will work well here if they aren't moving forward) and few injuries to their backs where the depth is paper thin (forward injuries could be well covered though).
A good result for the Force would be a mid-table finish, I'd think, around 7th - 8th. That would be reliant on a lot of things going their way, though. A few injuries could see the Force finish near the bottom.
I am hoping Pretorius goes well, he used to be one of my favourite players before he became a serially injured crock. And I am looking forward to some grunt from the Force - previously they relied on their backrow for parity in the forwards, now their tight 5 may be good enough for some parity to let their backrow dominate. Will be refreshing to see.
