Western Force hungry for success on New Zealand soil

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They will play the Crusaders and Blues in the final weeks of the competition.

The Force's head of rugby, Matt Hodgson, believes the side has made significant progress since the start of the season. While they had been narrow losers of their first two games in the Trans-Tasman event, he was confident they could pick up wins on the road.

He told westernforce.com.au, "If we go back to round one of Super Rugby Australia, we probably started a bit poor.

"About four to five weeks into the competition, we sat down as a group and reviewed what we were doing both on and off the field as an organisation.

"We brought in a new system and a new process, and we started to see those results at the back end of Super Rugby Australia," he said.

"We have goals set for the New Zealand tour. There is a belief in the group that we can come away victorious there. We have a team full of confidence. We have players that have played overseas before and have played in these kinds of environments.

"For our group, and where we are at as a newly-developed team, there is nothing better than three weeks away to form that bond and connection," he said.

Lock Ryan McCauley, who visited New Zealand with Waratahs sides, earlier in his career said the side was looking forward to the road trip.

"We're going to have some great times together. Not many of the boys have been to Napier, so it's exciting, and also a challenge," he said.

"Last year, we weren't able to play against any international opponents [in Super Rugby], and I think over the last two games we've shown we can match them.

"The Hurricanes are a physical outfit, and we're going to have to be really strong around the ball, and with our cleanout work."

Prop Angus Wagner, who scored the first try of his Super Rugby career last week against the Highlanders, said he was enjoying the Trans-Tasman competition.

"We've put in some good performances in the last couple of weeks. We haven't come away with the result, but we're building, and learning new things every week. We are on the up," he said.

"I think it's going to be a tough game [against the Hurricanes]. All the Kiwi teams are good sides, so every time you play them you have to be at your best."