Western Force Super Rugby AUS coach Damian Steele says the strategic decision taken by the Club for the tournament is paying off with increased depth, including clear pathways developing via Fortescue Premier Grade.
The Force are 2-0 and destined for the Swyftx Super Rugby AUS Grand Final, which the side will host if they down the NSW Waratahs in Sunday’s clash in Sydney from 10:45am WST.
It’s been a strong campaign where 11 players have been given maiden opportunities in Force colours, including a long list of WA Premier Grade players.
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Cottesloe lock Zak Healey arguably the standout, named in the rugby.com.au Team of the Week twice in a row.
“Zak Healey, voted in Team of the Week two weeks in a row, he’s head down and working his backside off,” Steele said.
“If Lopeti (Faifua) and Gus Farnan were here, he may not have got so many minutes, so it’s a big positive.”
Healey’s opportunity has come with the Force allowing 10 players to play in New Zealand’s NPC in order gain valuable game-time and accelerate their physical and tactical development against elite opposition.
That decision has enabled the Force to expose new locally-based Premier Grade players to the Club through training and playing during Super Rugby AUS.
UWA’s Jackson Iose has started both games along with Healey, while Wests Scarborough back-rower Seta Baker impressed off the bench before injury last round, along with Nedlands utility back Tama Anderson.
Nedlands prop Junior Passi, Cottesloe prop Regin Pratt (Force Academy), UWA lock Wil Taylor, Associates hooker Sam Faoagali and Cottesloe forward Tim Sail are other local players to have earned game-time this campaign in the absence of the Wallabies and NPC contingent.
Steele added: “That was a strategic position the Club took many months ago to allow those guys to go over.
“It’s given minutes and exposure to guys who may not have had that. Credit to the guys. You never really know how they’re going to go with it.
“But we’ll not to look too far ahead of ourselves, the proof will be in the pudding next year once Super (Rugby Pacific) rolls around.
“We’re happy with the depth we’ve been able to build within our squad and within the local community here in Perth. At the moment, it’s been a really positive campaign for us.”
Sunday’s game brings curiosity, with Grand Final hosting rights up for grabs, while also pitting the two grand finalists against each other one week before the critical game, where both coaches may need to resist giving too much away.
“It’s an interesting one,” Steele said. “Knowing that the winner gets to host, it’s a big carrot for both teams.
“Both teams will be going out to do their best to win this one. We’ve got a couple of changes to the squad, so it’s not about trying to be too clever. It’ll be more of the same for us.”
Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch is one of those changes, back into the Force line-up following a foot injury picked up on national duty in Argentina.
“He’s obviously a wonderful asset for us to be able to utilise in this competition,” Steele said.
“He was pretty keen last week and had to get held back. He’s super excited. He brings such a physical presence, a huge work rate and he’s got such good energy among the squad and the changerooms.”
Steele said the Force wouldn’t focus too much on the ‘Tahs weapons despite their strong results so far.
“For us it’s around building on what we’ve been doing and keep improving that,” he said. “We do just want to look after our own backyard.
“They’ve clearly got a lot of points in them. they’ve got a young but powerful forward pack and some real threats in the backline with Max Burey, George Poolman and Sid Harvey.
“For us, it’ll be about controlling the ball, controlling the field and working and also working hard on our defensive connection and our physicality in defence.”
Kick-off for Sunday’s game is 10:45am WST live on Stan Sport and rugby.com.au Youtube channel.
Head to https://am.ticketmaster.com/westernforce/ to secure your 2027 Western Force Membership today.
