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WATCH: Details emerge about Perth's breakaway rugby competition

Perth mining billionaire Andrew Forrest surprised many with his seemingly out of the blue idea for an independent rugby competition based out of Western Australia.

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However, according to Brett McKay on The Short Ball, plans have advanced to a stage where the Force will be apparently playing an international side in the near future.

McKay’s revelations did little to quell the skepticism of Short Ball hosts Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina, whose facial expressions speak volumes.

While examples of breakaway competitions historically working do exist, they are few and far between. The most obvious parallel to what Forrest is proposing would be World Series Cricket in the 1970’s, which was headed by Australian media baron Kerry Packer. However, the main difference between the introduction of one-day cricket and a new rugby competition is the fact that one was new and the other is not.

The fact is that the Force, while popular in Perth, are not the sort of drawcard that can anchor an entire competition – especially in an Australian rugby market that is already struggling.

It’ll be fascinating to watch the reaction to the Wallabies when they run out onto nib Stadium, in front of a crowd that have made it clear that they’re fed up with the way the game is being run.

LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST:

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Nickers 33 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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