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Where has it all gone wrong?
Has it gone wrong?
The vibes around Perth this season have been a class above recent years. Simon Cron has added a real level of professionalism to this organisation and their backroom management team have done an excellent job in attracting talent. They’ve even signed some key players to long term deals, however, I won’t be able to credit their retention until they lock down Carlo Tizzano. All of Western Australia waits with bated breath.
It all looked so promising, but the last three rounds indicate their race may be run. It has been a difficult tour of New Zealand, management may have even factored those games into their thinkings at the start of the year. However Cron and co will look back at a 17-17 draw versus the Hurricanes and a 28-24 loss to the Reds as two massive opportunities where they could have come away with more points.
Now, they round out the year against the Drua in Fiji before their final game versus the Waratahs back in Perth. Middling or “growing” teams are procrastinators by nature, leaving it all to the last minute and there will be massive focus on that final fixture, with Dan McKellar’s men only one spot ahead of them on the table currently.
Let’s take a look at some key talking points ahead of the Forces game versus the Drua in Fiji.
Rest Days
The Western Force have had some incredible luck in the injury department this season. Massive credit has to go to the strength and conditioning team. Their key players have racked up some serious minutes this year and this rest week couldn’t come at a worse time as they make a final push for the playoffs. Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart and Nic White have all been rested, which takes some serious zip and experience out of their backline.
In the forwards, Simon Cron once again calls on the likes of Darcy Swain and Tom Robertson to lead from the front in Lautoka. It’s 79% Humidity there at the moment, I’m not 100% sure what that means but it sounds high and tough.
I’d be interested to know if this level of rotation was planned at the beginning of the year of if it’s a necessity at this point of the season.
Big Ben Donaldson is on the Bench
25 year old Alex Harford will start in the ten shirt this weekend in what will be his Super Rugby Pacific debut. Harford has most recently been playing in New Zealand's NPC for Canterbury and Auckland and now gets his shot with the Western Force. It isn’t a complete week off for Ben Donaldson who takes up a spot on the bench.
Harford recently joined the Force on an injury cover contract and will be chomping at the bit to put in a performance to put agents across the sport on notice. Unfortunately for Harford, he’s lining out alongside another inexperienced halfback in Henry Robertson. Nic White’s experience will be missed in particular this week. It’s an incredibly tough environment to make your debut in but also an incredible opportunity for Harford moving forward.
The Dr Playing His Way Into A Gold Jersey
That’s right, the Doc, Tom Robertson. Having played in every game this year, Robertson has been invaluable for Simon Cron’s side and is one of the signings of the season. It may not garner the same headlines as Ardie Savea to Moana Pasifika, or even the same attention as some of the other signings on his own team, but Tom Robertson is one of the most underrated players in Super Rugby Pacific. His performances out on the pitch in the number three shirt have led to his name beginning to appear in Wallabies chatter versus the British and Irish Lions.
Fresh off the back of a whopping 29 tackles versus the Brumbies, Robertson is once again being rolled out to lock down this Force pack, where he gets another opportunity to impress Joe Schmidt. At 30 years of age, Robertson has now solidified his position in the front row as a tighthead and has found some of, if not, his best form. With a Lions tour and World Cup on the horizon, Tom Robertson has an opportunity over the next few weeks to punch his ticket into Wallabies camp and quite possibly the starting team.