Force coach Mitchell promises more pain
Western Force players have gone through nine weeks of blood, sweat and grunt in pre-season training - but coach John Mitchell has warned there's a lot more to come when they return from their Christmas break.
"The kitchen is only starting to heat up," he said.
Mitchell only gets his full squad together for the first time when the club's Wallaby representatives join training on January 4 - just 19 days before their first trial against the Stormers in Cape Town.
"There is a lot to do in those 19 days." Mitchell said. "Some people don't appreciate that we don't have our whole squad together until after Christmas.
"We're not like other codes where everyone comes together from day one."
Mitchell said players had put in a huge effort, with some completing 60 weight sessions on top of their other workload.
"The boys have been fantastic," he said. "They have built a foundation individually but it gets exciting when we finally get together as a team."
Mitchell is not a fan of long pre-seasons but said: "Our club competitions finish early, earlier than the other two Super 14 countries (New Zealand and South Africa) so we have to cater for that.
"We have to start conditioning earlier or we miss out on the benefits when it comes to the physical aspects of the game. The guys have got a really good work ethic. There's a real openness to learn and they've turned up to work every day."
When the full squad assembles next year Mitchell does not expect to see players carrying Christmas kilos.
"As internationals we expect them to take ownership and pride in who they are," he said.
He said the addition of experienced players like Andre Pretorius, Brett Sheehan, Mark Bartholomeusz, Nic Henderson and Tim Fairbrother to the squad and captain Nathan Sharpe and full-back Cameron Shepherd recovering in Perth had added maturity to training.
There had also been a strong focus on managing injuries to players like Sharpe, Shepherd and winger Nick Cummins.
"It's a balancing act by team management. They are problems that you are dealt with and it is up to you to get the players ready," Mitchell said.
After the Stormers, the Force take on the Sharks, also in Cape Town, three days later. They play the Queensland Reds in a trial at ME Bank Stadium on February 5 before opening the season at home against the Brumbies the following Friday.
