'A bit shocked': Force players react to axing of outgoing coach Tim Sampson

Western Force players are keen to send out coach Tim Sampson in style, starting with Friday night’s Super Rugby Pacific grudge match against the Melbourne Rebels in Perth.

The Force dropped a bombshell last week when they announced they had signed former Waratahs assistant Simon Cron to lead the club from next season.

Sampson, who will coach out the season, approached the Force several months ago about extending his contract beyond this year, but the club decided to take a new direction.

Why the Brumbies are the team to beat in Super Rugby Pacific | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

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Force players were left blindsided by the decision.

“A bit shocked there,” flanker Tim Anstee said on Monday.

“But that’s professional sport, it’s pretty cut-throat.

“As players, we just get on with things. We’re still right behind Tim for the rest of the season.”

The Force currently sit in seventh spot with a 2-4 record, but still have the toughest part of the draw to come when the New Zealand-based teams face the Australian-based sides.

Fullback Jake Strachan said the team were eager to play well for Sampson, who has coached the Force since 2018 and led them to the Super Rugby AU finals last year.

“It (the decision) came as a surprise,” Strachan said.

“But we’ve still got the rest of the season with Sambo, so that’s our main focus at the moment – to finish the season well for Sambo.

“He has done a lot for the club.”

Both the Force and the ninth-placed Rebels (1-5) had a bye last week.

The Rebels enter Friday’s match with some momentum following their 42-27 win over Fijian Drua.

But their most recent meeting against the Force – in round two – ended in a 28-3 defeat.

“It’s a bit of a grudge match for us,” Anstee said in reference to the Rebels surviving the Rugby Australia axe in 2017 at the expense of the Force.

“If you look at their form, they’re trending right. They beat Fijian Drua, and almost beat the Tahs. So it’s going to be a tough contest, that’s for sure.”