NSW Waratahs play the Western Force in a good old-fashioned Sunday afternoon bonanza at Allianz Stadium. Join us for live scores and updates from 4.05pm AEDT.
The Waratahs are fresh off an inspired victory against the Blues last week at home. The win showed the team have real character – it was backs to the wall stuff.
After a torrid start in 2013 underscored by a few ugly losses to the Reds and the Brumbies, the Tahs have finally started to play with some enterprise.
While they lost to the Cheetahs in round four it was an encouraging loss, if there is such a thing.
And last week in round six it all came together as they took down a rampaging Blues outfit. And don’t be mistaken, the Blues turned up to play. But so did the Waratahs.
There seems to be an interesting trend developing in this side. The general kicks in play, from their opening game to last week look like this:
Game 1 (Tahs v Reds): 20 kicks
Game 2 (Tahs v Rebels): 17 kicks
Game 3 (Tahs v Brumbies): 14 kicks
Game 4 (Tahs v Cheetahs): 10 kicks
Game 5 (Tahs v Blues): 6 kicks
If this trend continues we can expect about zero kicks against the Force tonight. And it’s no surprise their season has picked up as the weeks have trudged on.
Their intent to run the ball is clear as Tasmanian water.
The Tahs’ set pieces are a tad shaky this year and will want to improve if they are going to contend for the finals.
Their attacking stats are actually fairly decent; the team is third in the comp for clean breaks and fourth in terms of running metres.
This is mainly due to Israel Folau, who is second in the comp for carries at an insane 58 runs with the ball in five games. He’s coming good.
Drew Mitchell features near the top billing for defenders beaten, primarily due to a strong game last week, and has clearly benefited from a bit of tough love from the coach when stood down the week prior.
To his credit he didn’t complain about his treatment, he got on with his work and did the business. More of it Mr Mitchell.
Onto the Force, who lost miserably to the Cheetahs last week as they went down 10-19 at home.
It wasn’t an enjoyable loss after the massive heights the week prior when they knee-capped the Reds at Suncorp.
The Force stand up when challenged, they just love to take down behemoths, and they have a penchant for winning away.
They always have and this year is no different.
The Tahs will have their hands full with winger Alfie Mafi; one of the form outside backs in world rugby and equal top try scorer so far in 2013.
Their attacking stats are not too bad and their continuity of possession is third best in the comp, but their scrum completion rate is second worst in the comp, just ahead of the Bulls, curiously enough.
This is going to be an interesting battle. Expect a big game from both teams and a heated derby.
Join us at 4.05pm AEDT this afternoon on The Roar, the place to be for live scores and where you can have your say on the go.
sittingbison
Guest
not necessarily true jiggles. in a "relaunch" with totally new players, coaches and admin that are trying to completely revamp the way the side operates and plays, the performance in this first season is just as important as points
Blue Blood
Guest
Hooper has the media and Deans on his side but he got taught a lesson by Hodgson tonight. Hodgson's all round game looked great. The Force did an amazing job to keep their heads as well as they did. The black arm bands were out of respect and in support of bench player Chris Eaton. His wife died Saturday night so he would have found out during the night or the morning of the game. Respect to Chris at this time. http://m.foxsports.com.au/story/rugby/1226610217773;jsessionid=91834131E39AF543853D65C48E35C69E
Shop
Guest
Crusaders ruined mine too! I thought without Carter, Rechi, Read and Dagg the Stormers would get up.
HighTackle
Guest
I would go 1) Robinson 2) Moore 3) Alexander 4) Horwill 5) MmM 6) Higgs 7) Gill 8) Mowen 9) Genia 10) Beale 11) Ioane 12) Tapuai 13) AAC 14) Mafi 15) JOC 16) TPN 17) Slipper 18) Ryan 19) Douglas 20) Hooper 21) White 22) Lealiifano 23) Mogg If I was selecting a team to play in 3 weeks. If G.Smith was eligible he would be selected.
Malo
Guest
Foley played well still not convinced with hooper
DMac
Guest
Guess we just saw it differently. Tahs don't use a rolling maul. From memory they got pinged for pulling it down the first time the force tried it, but after that the force had a few more goes and went nowhere, the Tahs even drove them back onto their own arses at one point. According to the stats the Tahs lost one lineout on their own throw and force none so maybe a slight edge there, but the force had a couple of ugly ones they somehow managed to save. I didn't see any edge in the scrum at all, either way. I thought the force were pretty ineffective with their pick and go, especially in the Tahs 22 they seemed to use a lot of phases to go nowhere. Anyway, it's cool, just saw it differently. I was at the game so may need to check out the replay sometime.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Pyle has been rubbish the last 2 weeks. I'd have Simmons, he's back to his 2010-2011 form.
Malo
Guest
Get a life HT both sides played well
Malo
Guest
How good is mckibben
Malo
Guest
Folau had a blinder
Malo
Guest
Quality game of rugby should both beat qld
Malo
Guest
Izzy Foley and mckibben had blinders
Colvin
Guest
This Folau is going to be a big deal. Possibly the best of the league converts in recent years. He's a potential superstar.
PeterK
Guest
Dan Palmer ONLY plays 3 and Sio only 1. Smith is not eligible. Peter Kimlin I know is Krimlin his russian brother? Big call on Kuridrani on only starting 13 2 times. You need a very good goal kicker in the startying XV. So 1 of CL, JoC, Barnes or Harris has to be in the team. So from your team JoC needs to be there. I would put him at 12 or the wing. TPN is a big call, he has been injured a lot and unlike Palu has not come back from injury play intl's that well.
Johnno
Guest
Tahs deserved win in a close one . My Wallaby Lion's 1st test team 15)Jess Mogg/ if not fit then JOC 14)DIgby Ioane 13)Kuridrani 12)Ben Tapaui 11)Albe Mafi 10)Quade 9) Will Genia 8)Wycliff Palu 7)George Smith 6)Peter Krimlin 5)H MMM 4)James Horwill (captain) 3)Scott Sio 2)TPN 1)Dan Palmer Bench: Nic White, JOC,Joe Tomane,Fotu Aulua,Timani senior, Steve Moore, Ben Alexander,Ben Robinson
PeterK
Guest
The force won the battle of the breakdown, they were first to the ball often, they pilfered more. Yes they cheated more as well. The force had a better maul, the tahs had to resort to illegally pulling it down. The force was better in the lineouts MMM stole a few. The force were poorer at throwing the ball in when they went long though, often not caught by anyone. The tahs used to have a dominant scrum but I thought the force had the edge. The force pick and drive significantly better. The force forard runners made easy yards time and again. Itw as the tah backs that made all the metres for the tahs. The tah forwards did not make much metres running the ball. They really miss Palu badly.
DMac
Guest
None of whom are even playing at 6 atm.
DMac
Guest
Wondering on what basis you think the force forwards dominated? Looked pretty even to me. Nothing in the set piece, force got maybe one driving maul going but the Tahs stopped a bunch more, at the breakdown it looked like equal parts getting penalised and forcing turnovers for both sides to me.
PeterK
Guest
the force not rolling away, slowing the ball down with hands, and constant sealing off leaving feet at the ruck. Lucky Walsh let them get away with it.
Blue Blood
Guest
A yellow should have been dishes out for which repeat offences? The Tahs playing the ball on the ground or for constantly being off side most of the game?