G'day from W.A.
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- Cobber
- Novice
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:08 pm
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
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G'day from W.A.
G'day Folks,
Thanks for the kind welcome! We are heading into a bit of a dry spell for our local rugby and I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing/reading many more games like the weekends against Toulouse, esp. the first half! Top effort by the Men in White, and here's to more of the same against Llanelli this weekend!
So what should I tell you about the Western Force?
We are the newest Super14 team, based in Perth, Western Australia. We have the biggest member base of all the Super 14 clubs - ~ 24,000 members! We came last in our inaugural year, but against all odds managed to draw against the top of the ladder team in the 11th round! (I wish I had some money on that!) We have just recruited 2 of the brightest young starts in Australian rugby in Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell. Our coach is John Mitchell, the ex All Black who got unceremoniously dumped after the last world cup, and who also coached the English Forwards for a year. Our best player for 2006 would have to be Scott Staniforth. He was the last of the inaugural 33 man squad and was bought back from London Irish (where he went after being dropped by the NSW Waratahs) to play for the Force. Not only was he voted the TWF (TheWholeForce.com) player of the year, he was voted Club player of the year by his peers and also was the countries leading try scorer for the 2006 season! Scott has 2 brothers also playing rugby, Graydon Staniforth is over your way playing for the Glasgow Warriors and Nigel Staniforth was over your way a few weeks back - I believe he was in the NSW Waratahs Development team that played Ulster-A.
2007 should be a good year for us, and 2008 will see us in the finals. Coach John Mitchell has always said its a 3 year plan, and we are all backing him 100%.
The best thing about the Western Force is that they are new. They are the first professional rugby team to be based out of Perth (which is an Australian Rules Football town) and we have a rare opportunity to create a distinct rugby culture here in Perth.
Australian rugby supporters are for the most part, average. A culture of disrespect for the opposition on the field (and even for ones own team) is pervasive; one of our provinces - Queensland - even promoted "booing" certain player at matches after they left the club for another team! This is something we at TheWHoleForce.com would like NOT to happen in our town. It is in this endeavor that I would like to ask for your help! Songs, chants, traditions - anything you have to offer which may help us put a bit of soul into our supporters and players would be appreciated.
Anyways - that well enough of a rant for now! Thanks again for the welcome!
If you are interested, you'll find below links to a clip which has every try in order scored by the Force in 2006.
Low Res Force Tries ~5MB
Med Res Force Tries ~ 13MB
High Res Force Tries ~ 30MB
If you want to see more, each try (from the first phase of play up till the ball is grounded) can individually be downloaded from THIS forum on TWF .
Scott Staniforth in Action
Thanks for the kind welcome! We are heading into a bit of a dry spell for our local rugby and I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing/reading many more games like the weekends against Toulouse, esp. the first half! Top effort by the Men in White, and here's to more of the same against Llanelli this weekend!
So what should I tell you about the Western Force?
We are the newest Super14 team, based in Perth, Western Australia. We have the biggest member base of all the Super 14 clubs - ~ 24,000 members! We came last in our inaugural year, but against all odds managed to draw against the top of the ladder team in the 11th round! (I wish I had some money on that!) We have just recruited 2 of the brightest young starts in Australian rugby in Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell. Our coach is John Mitchell, the ex All Black who got unceremoniously dumped after the last world cup, and who also coached the English Forwards for a year. Our best player for 2006 would have to be Scott Staniforth. He was the last of the inaugural 33 man squad and was bought back from London Irish (where he went after being dropped by the NSW Waratahs) to play for the Force. Not only was he voted the TWF (TheWholeForce.com) player of the year, he was voted Club player of the year by his peers and also was the countries leading try scorer for the 2006 season! Scott has 2 brothers also playing rugby, Graydon Staniforth is over your way playing for the Glasgow Warriors and Nigel Staniforth was over your way a few weeks back - I believe he was in the NSW Waratahs Development team that played Ulster-A.
2007 should be a good year for us, and 2008 will see us in the finals. Coach John Mitchell has always said its a 3 year plan, and we are all backing him 100%.
The best thing about the Western Force is that they are new. They are the first professional rugby team to be based out of Perth (which is an Australian Rules Football town) and we have a rare opportunity to create a distinct rugby culture here in Perth.
Australian rugby supporters are for the most part, average. A culture of disrespect for the opposition on the field (and even for ones own team) is pervasive; one of our provinces - Queensland - even promoted "booing" certain player at matches after they left the club for another team! This is something we at TheWHoleForce.com would like NOT to happen in our town. It is in this endeavor that I would like to ask for your help! Songs, chants, traditions - anything you have to offer which may help us put a bit of soul into our supporters and players would be appreciated.
Anyways - that well enough of a rant for now! Thanks again for the welcome!
If you are interested, you'll find below links to a clip which has every try in order scored by the Force in 2006.
Low Res Force Tries ~5MB
Med Res Force Tries ~ 13MB
High Res Force Tries ~ 30MB
If you want to see more, each try (from the first phase of play up till the ball is grounded) can individually be downloaded from THIS forum on TWF .
Scott Staniforth in Action
15 Positions, 80 Minutes
whoops just turned guest posting off there... forgot.
Welcome to the UAFC messageboard You'll find a warm welcome here especially when we know who you are
Welcome to the UAFC messageboard You'll find a warm welcome here especially when we know who you are
Save lives, become an organ donor!!
- ding dong2u
- Red Hand Ambassador
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- Location: University of Walamaloo
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- Novice
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- Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:43 am
- Location: Perth/WA
cjp, it seems hard enough to get a good crowd over to Llanelli let alone Perth, but I do like your style.
I was lucky to see the Force play The Stormers and the Bulls at the beginning of last season and although rugby doesn't really lend itself to being played in an oval stadium the experience at Subiacco was just amazing. Distances between each city/state/province tends to mean that the crowd in Perth will always be hugely partizan but when there is upwards of 20-30k almost all kitted out in the blue colours of the Force, and under the floodlights it is an experience not to forget.
Won't make it back this season so will have to settle for downloads of all the games from Aussietorrents.com but am already planning my visit in March 2008. It helps having family out there and a niece who bless her is arranging her wedding at the time of year that will allow her favourite uncle a chance to watch the rugby.
Carn the Force and Ulster.
I was lucky to see the Force play The Stormers and the Bulls at the beginning of last season and although rugby doesn't really lend itself to being played in an oval stadium the experience at Subiacco was just amazing. Distances between each city/state/province tends to mean that the crowd in Perth will always be hugely partizan but when there is upwards of 20-30k almost all kitted out in the blue colours of the Force, and under the floodlights it is an experience not to forget.
Won't make it back this season so will have to settle for downloads of all the games from Aussietorrents.com but am already planning my visit in March 2008. It helps having family out there and a niece who bless her is arranging her wedding at the time of year that will allow her favourite uncle a chance to watch the rugby.
Carn the Force and Ulster.
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- Novice
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- Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:04 pm
- Location: Perth Western Australia
Does this mean I get to sledge you on both sides of the world now TLHthe lone hydrangea wrote:All Ulster crew are welcome to visit us in Perth. Let us know and we can catch up and have a pint or 2. You to Fat-Top, you gobby bugger
Just be careful how many pints your offering, there is a good chance they will get taken up.
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- Lord Chancellor
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COBBER ----- On our brief but very enjoyable visit to Perth in june we did make it to the Subiacco but unfortunately , either due to alcohol induced memory loss (which seemed to occur down under on quite a regular basis) or else their total absence from the ground, i have no recollection of seeing any Cheerleaders at the Oz v Ire game on 24 June. Can u inform us whether or not the situation improves at other times of the year in Perth? Photographic evidence wud b appreciated.
The Ulster public has a rite 2 no.
The Ulster public has a rite 2 no.
- ultimate ulster chick
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- Squire
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Re: G'day from W.A.
Hi Cobber, tlh, Burgs, hayden & Guest welcome on board.Cobber wrote:G'day Folks,
If you are interested, you'll find below links to a clip which has every try in order scored by the Force in 2006.
Excellent video coverage Cobber