'I deliberately haven't mentioned it too much this week': Tim Sampson keeping mum ahead of Blues battle
The Western Force aim to play the role of party poopers on Saturday when they take on the ladder-leading Blues at a venue that shall not be named.
A win for the Blues will almost certainly be enough for them to secure a spot in the Trans-Tasman Super Rugby final, but they may need a bonus point to earn hosting rights.
The Force are winless after four games, but are desperate to go out on a high while also putting a dent in the Blues’ title hopes in the process.
“We touched on that in our little meeting today – they’ve got a lot to play for. If they get the bonus point win it guarantees them a home final,” Force coach Tim Sampson said.
“That’s a hell of a lot to play for for them. We’re going to make it as hard as possible.
“We’ll go and throw the kitchen sink at these guys. The guys know within themselves we’ve got a lot to play for as well, and that’s to finish on a good note.”
The Force have only been blown away in one of the four games against Kiwi opposition – by the Hurricanes – while pushing the Chiefs, Highlanders and Crusaders hard.
Saturday’s match will be played at Eden Park – an iconic venue that has notoriously become a graveyard for visiting foreign teams.
“I deliberately haven’t mentioned it too much this week – where we’re playing,” Sampson said.
“I’m sure you hear a lot about it, how daunting it can be playing at such a venue. That’s why we don’t talk about it too much. We have to treat it like another venue.”
Don't expect to see many foreign-based players named in the first @Wallabies squad of the year on Sunday morning. #Wallabieshttps://t.co/4yKfOwh87c
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 12, 2021
The Melbourne Rebels face an equally daunting task when they take on the Crusaders at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.
The third-placed Crusaders entered the round just points differential adrift of the second-placed Highlanders, meaning they will be keen to unleash an all-out attack against the Rebels in a bid to qualify for the final.
The NSW Waratahs will be aiming to bank their first win of 2020 when they face off against the Chiefs at Brookvale Oval.
The Waratahs failed to snare victory during Super Rugby AU, and they are long odds to break that losing run against the Chiefs, even though the visitors are without suspended star Damien McKenzie.
Waratahs lock and former Force favourite Sam Wykes, who has been sidelined since suffering a biceps injury against the Reds in round six of Super Rugby AU, announced his retirement from professional rugby on Friday.
“It definitely feels like time, the body just gave way over the last couple of years with some injuries and I wasn’t keen on chasing any more gigs overseas as I’ve got a small young family,” Wykes said.
“It was a short time here at the Waratahs, I’ve spent a lot of it on a bloody wattbike and in the rehab room, but I’m really grateful and appreciative to be back home in NSW.”
– Justin Chadwick
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments