Force plan to crank up challenge

SA-led Aussie franchise set sights high for Super Rugby campaign

ARMED with a new R15-million sponsorship, Australia’s Western Force plan to be a power in Super Rugby this season thanks to extra allround firepower. This season, five of the Southern Kings’ 15 Super Rugby matches will be against Australian opposition, with three being played in Australia and two in Port Elizabeth.

On their Australian tour, in the first half of the season, they will play the Western Force in Perth, the Reds in Brisbane and the Waratahs in Sydney.

Later in the campaign, the Kings will host the Rebels and Brumbies in Port Elizabeth.

Last year, the Kings did not play any Australian teams, but faced sides in the New Zealand conference.

The Force’s South African coach, Dave Wessels, is quietly confident about the campaign.

“Not everything we did in the past was wrong, but we need to be fairly tough on ourselves and look at our game both on and off field and figure out what was working and what wasn’t working,” Wessels told rugby.com.au

“It’s in part an evolution and in part a revolution, and I’m pretty confident that we’ve got that blend right.”

After serving as caretaker coach for the final three games last year, Wessels was the logical choice to take over the reins full time this year.

He is under no illusion as to where his strengths and weaknesses lie.

A defensive specialist, Wessels looks to have significantly improved the skill base of his team in pre-season trials and at the Brisbane Tens through the guidance of skills coach Kevin Foote and attack coach Shaun Berne.

“Shaun has played a lot of top-level rugby and a lot of that has been in Europe,” Wessels said.

“He has come over with some different ideas and is probably approaching our attack slightly differently compared to the way a lot of other Australian coaches are thinking about it.

“We want to create a player-led, coach-supported environment, so my role is that I know as a head coach I’m not trying to do everything.

“I’m just trying to create the right environment for players, and if that means bringing in specialists in certain areas, we will do that.

“In terms of depth of the squad – that’s making a lot of difference for us. Guys like Bill Meakes, Curtis Rona, Chance Peni, Robbie Coleman, Alex Newsome, all of those guys are Super Rugby quality and they’ve been pushing each other for spots. “I feel like we have some real firepower now all across the backs, which is great.

“Meakes has played a lot of games for Gloucester in the snow and the ice and that makes you pretty tough,” he said.

“He’s very good defensively, he’s very physical, he’s good on the ball and he’s a very good organiser which is exactly what you want in a 12.

“Rona is big and powerful and he’s played a lot of top level at league but we’re very lucky that he has a union background.

“Ultimately, it’s just about giving the players the tools to realise their dreams – that’s how I see my role.

“If I can do that, I feel like the success will come naturally,” Wessels said.