Blues torture Force
2 Feb 2006
An All Blacks-inspired Blues team shattered the Western Force’s illusion of Super 14 rugby with a 43-5 pounding in Auckland.
The Blues scored seven tries to one and led 29-nil at halftime. Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell had worked with many of the Blues players. On Thursday, he had to watch them terrorise his young Force outfit.
In a night of irony, you had an Aussie coach in charge of the Blues and a Kiwi in charge of the Force.
Marc Hinton, writing on XtraMsn.co.nz, described the Force as being woefully short of what will be required in little more than a week’s time when the competition starts.
Hinton added that Mitchell, a former Chiefs Super 12 coach, must now be brutally aware of the extent of the challenge in front of him with Australia’s first expansion franchise.
Perhaps the emotional turmoil he was feeling explained why he left the New Zealand media waiting well over an hour for him to appear at the pre-appointed press conference. As most wandered out muttering something about “nothing changing” he could well have been mulling just what he’s got himself into.
Blues coach David Nucifora, whose side had lost to the Reds and Waratahs in pre-season hit outs, confessed afterwards to being “reasonably comfortable” heading into next Friday’s Super 14 opener against the Hurricanes on Eden Park.
“Right throughout the pre-season we’ve pushed the guys really hard. We had an extremely hard week training in Australia and we trained hard as soon as we came back and haven’t taken that foot off the pedal,” said Nucifora. “It would have been easy for the guys to lie down tonight and feel fatigued. We did feel fatigued, but we had a bit of a challenge amongst ourselves to try to play with some intensity out there tonight whilst they were fairly tired – as they did.”
As for the Force? Well Nucifora’s own opinion was that it was “hard to gauge” just where they’re at, though reading between the lines of his response suggested he wasn’t exactly expecting them to set the world on fire.
“Unless you know how each team is preparing for the season it’s very difficult to make assumptions,” said Nucifora. “They, I believe, have been working quite hard in Melbourne and have flown in yesterday. I’m sure they weren’t too satisfied with their effort tonight and they’ve got a challenge next week.”
Scorers:
Blues 43: Isa Nacewa, John Senio, Brent Ward, Joe Rokocoko, Justin Collins, Villie Waqaseduadua, Rua Tipoki tries; Ward 4 con.
Western Force 5: Luke Doherty try. Ht: 29-0.
17 Comments
2 Feb 2006, 12:48 pm
At least the Western Force will beat the sharks and not prop up the bottom of the log.
2 Feb 2006, 12:49 pm
Hey, why did my post drop off????????
I SAID; could the force be the new whipping boys of the S14?
2 Feb 2006, 12:49 pm
Another game worth nothing. Let the competion begin.
2 Feb 2006, 12:50 pm
Just want to try something. :fishing:
2 Feb 2006, 12:54 pm
The Sharks are thinking: Mmmmm, maybe we will not end last in the Soper 14!!!!
2 Feb 2006, 12:56 pm
It’s between the sharks, cats and the western force to finish bottom. Can’t wait for the 10th!
GO CHEETAHS
2 Feb 2006, 12:56 pm
Don’t forget the rubble reds
2 Feb 2006, 13:05 pm
Would love to dee the new odds.
2 Feb 2006, 13:12 pm
So…
how’s this different than the Spears in their first year????
2 Feb 2006, 13:13 pm
Maybe the force is pulling the wool over everyones eyes. They look reasonable on paper. Plenty of wool to go around in Oz and NZ though. Most of these freindly games have been a bit of a joke. We’ll all see when they meet the Crusaders or Brumbies or Bulls. We’ll have to get them
to play at Centurion or SCG for a proper score board.
2 Feb 2006, 13:31 pm
It would seem that the Farce could be facing relegation.
2 Feb 2006, 13:33 pm
it the Western Force are so kuk, why don’t they play the Spears Quickly and we know where they are ito competing. that would be interesting.
2 Feb 2006, 13:37 pm
I think most teams are not showing all their cards at this point. We have to wait and see come opening weekend who is going to fit in where…
All I know is that this is going to be a very very tough season.
Kandas, where can I pick up a Spears jersey, and maybe a telephone number for a spear leader?
2 Feb 2006, 13:45 pm
KietieCat
Just go to http://www.thespears.co.za and send them a mail. They will arrange everything.
As far as the Spearleaders are concerned, you should know by now:
PH: 041 – 555 6969
Ask for Candy.
2 Feb 2006, 13:47 pm
Green blood… spot-on… western force should play the spears…
3 Feb 2006, 05:08 am
The Force have not shown their true colors yet.Dont be too quick to write ‘em off.Mitchell is too good of a coach and with a good mix of youth and experience,they cant be that bad!
3 Feb 2006, 07:47 am
You can’t measure the Spears and Force, the simple reason is that the force have had almost a year to prepare for this super 14. Give the spear time till after the Currie Cup and if they suck then, then you can make a clear decision.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.