It’s an amazing and exciting season to be a Western Force fan. They aren’t only winning games, they are playing well.
Saturday saw the Perth based team win their fourth game on the trot, when they sneaked in for a last minute 23-29 victory over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. This is the first time in the franchise’s history that they have recorded such a winning streak. I like it. Mainly because it gives me something positive to write about without having to scrap and scrape looking for the positive and trying to hide the negative. But mostly, as a rugby fan, it gives a nice feeling being able to watch a team turn around so much.
Now, obviously that doesn’t mean that the Force are going to climb their way to the top of the ladder and take home the Championship, but it is most definitely progress.
In fact, the biggest winning streak the team have recorded prior to this weekend was way back in 2007, just one year after they joined the Super Rugby competition. That year, they recorded a three game winning streak. But haven’t been so successful until now.
So what has changed? What is the cause of the Force’s Record Win Streak?
This is coming after it was rumoured that coach Michael Foley had his job hanging on the line. It was reported that the team would have to see out the season with a total of four wins or they would be hunting for a new coach. But I bet when that was said, no-one expected the four games to be won consecutively. It’s quite a surprise.
So, I set out asking not only Western Force fans but just genuine rugby fans, what they thought had changed.
Former Head of Rugby here at Last Word on Sports, Kyle Willoughby gives his thoughts. “The team just seems to have more belief in itself this season. It doesn’t look like a foregone conclusion anymore that the Force will be beaten. They look solid. They look competitive. And they look credible”
Belief is, I think the first step to success and I think Kyle puts it down perfectly. The team look like they have edge. They play together as a team. That seems like the basis of a “team” sport, but in today’s world, so many players are out there for themselves. They don’t play for the team.
Western Force fan Tracey Healey thinks it has a lot to do with the fact that “there doesn’t seem to be as much in house politics as before and they have recruited well instead of just going for the big name players.”
I like Tracey’s point because it’s absolutely the truth. So many teams pay the big bucks for the big name players to draw in the crowds. The Force don’t really have any “big name” players as such. Although Nick “The Honey Badger” Cummins seems to be drawing in a crowd of his own.
And there seems to be a general consensus amongst rugby fans that The Honey Badger is the player of the season so far. Kyle says “I would happyily support The Honey Badger anyday of the week” and Tracey mentions him as her stand out player of the season.
I am inclined to agree. Some of you may have read the article I wrote about him a few weeks back “Top 10 Reasons to Love The Honey Badger”. Writing that article did require a lot of research and everything I found about him just made me think “wow, this guy is a top bloke”. He’s been playing like his life depends on it week in and week out.
I have to also point out the captain, Matt Hodgson. He has had such an impact on the team this season. He puts his body on the line every week and leads from the front. Isaiah Rehuta also agrees and calls Hodgson “Captain Couragous” and says that Hodgson has “lead by example game after game and putting in 110% and leading the forwards.” Isaiah also mentions Sias Ebohsom “The General” and says that he is a great example for the team to follow and take calls from. I think Isaiah is spot on. It doesn’t just take one person to lead a team. Ebohsom has been great this season. The team respond well to the judgements he makes. I imagine that must be something Isaiah looks for in his coaching of his Under 17s team, the Mandurah Pirates. Who knows, we may see some of his young guys out on the field in the next few seasons.
It’s all well and good having the Force win their last four games but how are they going to keep it up for the rest of the season?
One word – consistency. Not only in the way they are playing but also with the team that are stepping out onto the field every week. The team that have been playing, have really pulled together and compliment each other. They pull together when it matters. I think I may have mentioned this last week but I can’t get over that magnificent rolling maul they had against the Chiefs two weeks ago. I’d have expected that from the Chiefs but I was stunned and in awe when the Force boys pulled that out the bag. Surprise seems to be their winning factor.
They have a big challenge this weekend when they take on the Waratahs in Perth. They will need to “remain positive but humble” says Isaiah. Kyle mentions “building on the foundations they have already set so far this season” and Tracey thinks that “keeping on the pressure” is key.
All three will be needed this weekend that’s for sure, as Israel Folau is tipped to make his return from injury for the Waratahs. He alone, will be difficult to bring down. But if the Force can shut down the backline and isolate Folau, I have no doubt that they may be able to pull off another surprise win.
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