Western Force Club legend Matt Hodgson has reflected on the best Force side he ever played in during the latest episode of the Full Force Podcast, hosted by Cairo Takarangi.
Hodgson earned a Club record 140 caps between 2006 and 2017 and is now the Force’s general manager of rugby.
The back-rower, who played 11 times for the Wallabies and was part of Australia’s 2011 World Cup squad, pointed to the 2007 and 2014 Force sides.
In 2007, John Mitchell’s Force finished seventh in the 14-team competition with a 6-1-6 record in a side led by Nathan Sharpe, with the likes of Scott Fava, Matt Henjak, Drew Mitchell, Cameron Shepherd and Matt Giteau.
The Force came ever closer to an elusive finals berth in 2014 under Michael Foley, finishing eighth with a 9-7 record, missing the top six by two points. That Force side featured players like Pek Cowan, Nathan Charles, Sam Wykes, Nick Cummins, Dane Haylett-Petty and Ben McCalman.
“I’d say there was probably better players in ’07 but a better team in ’14,” Hodgson told the Full Force Podcast.
“I remember ’14 a lot more because of how we came together and played as a unit. We probably didn’t have the squad but we won some big games.
“I think from memory we only missed out on playoffs because of a bonus point. That was frustrating but we played some really good football.
“2014 was a tough year, there was a lot of big opposition and big names. I felt Super Rugby was in a really good place. To be part of that team was really special.”
Hodgson also reflected on the teammates he rated the best across his long career at the Force, pinpointing Fava and McCalman.
On Fava, he said: “We just knew what we were going to do on the field together. We were different types of players that worked well together.”
On McCalman, he added: “He was one of the hardest footballers going out there. He was someone who you knew had your back no matter.”
Hodgson also highlighted Cowan and Wykes, while he was quick to point to George Smith and David Pocock at the international level.
Listen to the full episode below:
