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Force bank on old heads for finals debut AAP 4 hrs ago Justin Chadwick and Murray Wenzel © Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS Tim Sampson says the Force has lots of old heads to cope with their Super finals semi-final debut. The Western Force are entering uncharted waters, but coach Tim Sampson is backing the team's old heads to provide a calming influence in Saturday night's semi-final showdown against the Brumbies in Canberra. The Force's stunning 30-27 win over the Queensland Reds last week saw the Perth-based franchise end their 16-year finals drought. The result also cont...

Can the Wallabies find the right combinations and depth in the ten-12 axis? A Set the default text size A Set large text size Replay A Set the default text size A Set large text size With the 40-man Wallabies training squad announced, what was evident is the depth of in-form players in the forwards. With the exception of loosehead prop – where from a national perspective you would have to question the move of Harry Johnson-Holmes to tighthead where there is plenty of depth – the forward positions are ultra competitive, which will only increase with the return of overseas-...

The Wrap: Lineout issues tower over Super Rugby A Set the default text size A Set large text size Replay A Set the default text size A Set large text size No matter what tinkering around the edges of laws is undertaken, one fundamental rugby truth remains the same: games are won and lost at the set piece. This is not an article bemoaning too many scrum penalties and lineout maul tries. Individual and pack strength must remain a key component of the contest, lest the big boppers are turfed from the game and rugby becomes a game for a certain body type only. Nobody wants this.

If the Waratahs thought last week’s heavy defeat to the Reds was bad, Saturday’s 61-10 defeat to the Brumbies was even more shambolic.

Coach's Corner issue 1: Can the Reds midfield step up for Australia? A Set the default text size A Set large text size Replay A Set the default text size A Set large text size Thanks to all who participated in the forum for my first article this week, either by asking questions or making comment. All offered value. The most intriguing theme, and the most relevant to events at the weekend, was how the success of the Queensland Reds attack under Jim McKay may influence Wallaby selection in midfield and the back three in 2021. The question fell into three parts: