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23-year-old takes over from veteran as new Western Force captain for 2024

Jeremy Williams of the Force looks to break the tacklers during the round 12 Super Rugby Pacific match between Western Force and Fijian Drua at HBF Park, on May 12, 2023, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

The Western Force will have a new captain in 2024 with the club confirming on Friday that 23-year-old Jeremy Williams will lead the team during the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season.

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On the back of a breakout season last time around, Williams has been bestowed the honour of becoming the eighth men’s captain in the Westen Force’s history.

Williams, who stands at 195cm tall, joined the club in 2022 from the Waratahs and went on to win the Force Man Award last year.

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The second rower replaces 30-year-old Michael Wells in the role, although the former skipper will serve as one of two vice-captains in 2024 along with Wallaby Nic White.

“It’s our pleasure to appoint Jeremy as the Club’s Super Rugby Pacific captain, with the support of Michael Wells and Nic White as vice-captains,” head coach Simon Cron said in a statement.

“A big part of this decision is looking to the future for someone who can help drive the leadership forward over the next couple of years.

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“We thought Wellsy did a brilliant job in 2023 and we’ve decided it’s the right time to transition with a view to the future.

“Jeremy is a fantastic young man. He has a lot of respect from the playing group, he played big minutes for us last year and he leads by doing.

“The job of Wellsy and Whitey as vice-captains is to help support Jeremy. All great leadership teams work as a collective group and we are no different.

“Whitey and Wellsy are two of our most experienced players. Whitey is a genuine international with unmatched experience, Wellsy has played over 100 Super Rugby games,” he added.

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“The two of them have been captains before, they’re great leaders. That experience will be critical for the team on and off the field.”

The two vice-captains have more than 200 Super Rugby games of experience between them, with Wells bringing up his century of appearances late last season. As for Nic White, the Wallaby has played for Australia 63 times across two Rugby World Cups.

Wells and White will be there to support their new captain, who only has 29 Super Rugby caps to his name. Sydney-born Williams said it was both a “privilege” and an “honour” to be named the Force’s captain.

“I genuinely cannot wait to lead the boys out this year and am really excited for the season ahead after all the work we’ve done this pre-season,” Willaims explained.

“I believe that I am a leader by example but also know that my captaincy style will evolve with time so I’m thrilled to have the support of Michael Wells and Nic White around me, given their vast experiences.

“They’re going to play a massive role in helping me and guiding me through the journey, so I’m really excited to work alongside those guys.”

The Western Force will get their season underway next week when they host the Hurricanes at HBG Park from 7 pm (local time) on Friday 23 February.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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