Michael Foley vows to fight on at Force

The pressure is starting to build on Western Force coach Michael Foley following the team's 10-match losing run.

The Forces Head Coach Michael Foley

Western Force coach says his players need to keep their chin up even if things aren't going right. (AAP)

Western Force coach Michael Foley is adamant he's still the right man for the job, saying he remains tight with the player group despite the team's poor results this season.

Pressure is starting to mount on Foley following his team's 10-match losing run - the worst in the Force's Super Rugby history.

The situation is in stark contrast to last season, when Foley led the Force to within a whisker of a maiden finals berth in just his second year in charge.

Foley is contracted to the Force until the end of the 2017 season, and his position appears safe for the time being.

The former Wallabies hooker says he has no intentions of walking away from the job, and he's confident the team's fortunes will soon change for the better.

"I'm as determined as I've ever been," Foley said ahead of Saturday night's clash with the NSW Waratahs in Perth.

"Hanging on for the sake of tenure is a waste of time. I'm not overly concerned about that.

"But I am very focused on trying to deliver for the people who have done the right thing by us.

"I'm very positive about the way we're tackling things."

Foley's short-lived stint as Waratahs coach came to an end in 2012 following an eight-match losing run and rumours of player unrest.

But the situation appears different at the Force, where he enjoys support from the player group despite the lean on-field results.

"I certainly feel like the relationship with the players is strong," Foley said.

"I've seen groups under less pressure fracture.

"We're challenging each other and we're staying tight.

"We're honest with each other. We're not having cuddles in the corners when we play games like last week (a 41-24 loss to the Blues).

"But the thing I'm most proud about is they're staying at their work. If they keep doing that, the results will come."

The last-placed Force haven't tasted victory since their shock round-one win over the Waratahs in Sydney.

Foley is confident he has the game plan to bring down the Waratahs for a third straight time, but he knows it will only work if his players bring their physical A-game.

Lock Adam Coleman's return from a shoulder injury will help the Force's cause, but the Waratahs will start as hot favourites after snaring three wins in a row to get their title defence back on track.


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Source: AAP


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