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[VIDEO] Western Force vs Blues: Super Rugby highlights, scores, blog

Roar Guru
28th June, 2014
Teams

Western Force
15 Jayden Hayward
14 Dane Haylett-Petty
13 Marcel Brache
12 Chris Tuatara-Morrison
11 Nick Cummins
10 Sias Ebersohn
9 Alby Mathewson
8 Ben McCalman
7 Matt Hodgson (capt)
6 Hugh McMeniman
5 Adam Coleman
4 Sam Wykes
3 Kieran Longbottom
2 Nathan Charles
1 Pek Cowan.

Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Tetera Faulkner, Oliver Hoskins, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Zack Holmes, Solomoni Rasolea

Blues
15 Lolagi Visinia
14 Frank Halai
13 Pita Ahki
12 Ma'a Nonu
11 George Moala
10 Ihaia West
9 Bryn Hall
8 Jerome Kaino
7 Luke Braid (capt)
6 Steven Luatua
5 Patrick Tuipulotu
4 Tom Donnelly
3 Charlie Faumuina/Angus Ta'avao
2 Keven Mealamu
1 Tony Woodcock

Reserves: James Parsons, Ta'avao/Tom McCartney, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Hayden Triggs, Peter Saili, Piri Weepu, Francis Saili, Tevita Li.

Kickoff: 9:45pm AEST
Venue: NIB Stadium
Last meeting: Blues 32 defeated Force 9 in New Zealand 2012
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
TV: Fox Sports
Betting: $1.80 Force, $2.02 Blues
The Western Force do have the talent to remain in Super Rugby, but they need a new coach. (AAP Image/Theron Kirkman)
Roar Guru
28th June, 2014
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3773 Reads

The Western Force come off the international break looking to make it six wins in a row at home when they take on the Blues at NIB Stadium. We’ll have live scores and commentaries from 9:45pm AEST.

Both sides need a win to keep their finals hopes alive in a close Super Rugby season.

Steven Luatua will return to the starting XV for the Blues, not having featured in the starting line-up for the Blues since Round 10 against the Hurricanes.

It’s also worth noting that this match will kick off at 11:45pm New Zealand time, which is usually the time most people want to head to bed. It hurt the Chiefs when they played the Force in Perth, with the defending champions starting slow before succumbing to the Force 18-15.

The Force will be looking to start well against the Blues, who are one of the worst starters in Super Rugby. On aggregate, the Blues have won three of the four quarters of matches this season, only having a negative points difference in the opening 20 minutes of games, while the Force’s best time period is just before halftime, the only quarter for which they have a positive differential.

The Force have scored plenty of tries on the counter-attack this year, scoring seven tries from opponents’ errors. This is third to the Sharks and Chiefs who both have nine a piece. Both sides also know how to hurt from their own half, with the Blues having scored 13 tries (first) and Force 11 (third) from their side of halfway.

Keys to victory
If the Force are to win this game they need to keep it tight and locked in, if they allow the Blues too much quick ball and possession they won’t win.

I’ll be looking for the Force to try and turn the ball over in the Blues half and get them on the counter-attack.

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The Blues need to get the game open, give the ball to their outside backs. Look for Ihaia West – he could be exactly what the Blues need.

Prediction
Purely going for the home advantage here and the time difference that the Blues are going to suffer from.

Force by 3.

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