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'There aren't many 100kg fly-halves going around': Force re-sign three Wallaby hopefuls
Halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa has set his sights on becoming a World Cup Wallaby in 2027 after re-signing with the Western Force.
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Fines-Leleiwasa, Bayley Kuenzle, and injured playmaker Reesjan Pasitoa all penned new two-year deals with the Force on Wednesday, tying them to the Super Rugby Pacific club until the end of 2025.
The impending arrival of Wallabies halfback Nic White on a two-year deal means Fines-Leleiwasa faces the real prospect of being relegated to the bench for a large chunk of games next season.
But the 27-year-old is embracing White’s arrival, and has the 2027 World Cup in Australia in the back of his mind as well.
“There is a lot of chat around Australian Rugby, and it’s an exciting time to be here playing,” Fines-Leleiwasa said.
“Part of my goal is to stick around and see what happens. I’d love to represent my country one day, and to do it as a Western Force player would be unreal.”
Force coach Simon Cron described Fines-Leleiwasa as a “brilliant team man”, and he wants the speedster to achieve his dreams.
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“We want him to become an international player,” Cron said.
“He is tough, strong and, overall a great human who we know has the talent.”
Pasitoa has been ruled out for the entire Super Rugby season after tearing his ACL a year ago.
But the Force are confident the 21-year-old will form a key part of the side next season.
“He’s a beast for a fly-half; there aren’t many 100kg fly-halves going around,” Cron said of Pasitoa, who also harbours dreams of representing the Wallabies.
“He’s got real talent, so we have to nurture that for him to be successful here at the Force.”
Kuenzle, who is currently sidelined by a hamstring injury, has become a key part of the side this season.
“I want to keep building towards my goal of playing for the Wallabies and winning a Super Rugby title, so being here under Crono is where I need to be,” Kuenzle said.
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The eighth-placed Force will be aiming to make it two wins on the trot when they host the Brumbies at HBF Park on Saturday night.
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 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.
10 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.
37 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
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
37 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.
37 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.
37 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.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments