The Western Force want to prove they’re not a one-hit wonder and history will be on their side when they take on the Highlanders in Saturday’s Super Rugby clash in Dunedin.
The Force emerged from a fortnight of pain to inflict a devastating 32-7 win over the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday night.
The Perth-based franchise were the lowest scoring side last season, but unleashed a four-try blitz inside the opening 27 minutes to put the Rebels to the sword.
Now, their challenge is to back up their attacking onslaught on enemy territory.
The Force have won their past five games against the Highlanders, with three of those wins coming in New Zealand.
Scrumhalf Alby Mathewson is confident the Force’s attacking mantra will continue at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
“I think we can replicate that. It’s all part of what we want to do,” Mathewson said on Monday.
“Last year we were really strong defensively, so we worked a lot on attack during the pre-season.
“It’s going to be nice conditions because it’s an indoor stadium, so we can continue with our style of play.
“But we want to be consistent. There’s no point having a win one week and then dropping off the week after.
“One sunny day doesn’t make a summer as some of us say around here.”
Wallabies forward Hugh McMeniman, who missed last week with a neck injury, is a chance to return against the Highlanders, while fellow lock Sam Wykes has recovered well from a head knock.
The Highlanders (1-1) will enter the game fresh following a bye last week, and Mathewson identified the breakdown as a key area against the New Zealand outfit.
“(Highlanders coach) Jamie Joseph was my coach for five or six years at the Wellington Lions. He’s quite old school but he’s a tough man,” NZ-born Mathewson said.
“Defensively, he wants the whole team to be physical, and I think they are. NZ teams do like to counter ruck with their forwards if they get a dominant tackle.”
Crazy Horse
Guest
They used to come all he time when they would only have the state team, no where near the quality of the current one, to play. They have not been game to come to Perth since they would have to play a team that might give them a run for their monet. Strange though be ause given the large Kiwi population in Perth it would be a guaranteed sell out.
atlas
Guest
cheers - should be Perry Lakes not Parry . . . lived in Perth 85-6 pre Americas Cup never saw any rugby when there - more interested in the beach in those days Distance would have been the barrier on earlier tours when ABs played/toured east coast only, time and cost of commercial flights (if available) back then checked and that 1970 two games in a day was right, they had to borrow a halfback (Jamie Hendrie AB for a day, 19yr old Singapore-born Scot playing club rugby in WA) for one match as AB Sid Going did not play Sundays for religious reasons. Hope Hendrie kept his AB jersey and didn't swap it after the game!
ngamu thompson
Roar Rookie
thanks atlas your a bloody legend cheers
atlas
Guest
Welcome to the Atlas History Channel! more - six in total, 5 were v WA and one v ARU Presidents XV: from what I can find the first match All Blacks v Western Australia was: (and an oddity, two matches one day, presume to give full NZ squad a run?) June 14, 1970 Perry Lakes Stadium, Perth NZ 50 - WA 3, and NZ 52 - ARU Presidents XV 3 These two matches were played in Perth before a 24 match tour of South Africa then: May 5,1974 Perry Lakes, Perth NZ 31 - WA 3 (part of a tour 12 matches Australia and one v Fiji) July 15 1984 Parry Lakes, Perth NZ 72 - WA 0 (14 match tour) June 19 1988 Parry Lakes, Perth NZ 60 - WA 3 (13 match tour) June 21 1992 WACA Ground, Perth NZ 80 - WA 0 (11 match tour) Attendance - 16000 And we've seen the end of these tours, lucky now to get one non-test when an international side visits.
Brett McKay
Expert
Sensible comments from Mathewson: "There’s no point having a win one week and then dropping off the week after." Bingo....
atlas
Guest
1988 - even some youtube coverage All Blacks' first match of their 1988, 13 match tour of Australia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhpJSGeWhaw also played 1992 Western Australia v All Blacks
ngamu thompson
Roar Rookie
awesome thanks can you remember where they played and what the years were
Halfback 9
Guest
NT - the All Blacks have not played a test in Perth, but have played against WA in the old amateur days (twice in my memory)
ngamu thompson
Roar Rookie
hi there now i know this is a little left field but can anyone tell me if the all blacks have ever played in perth ?
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Roar Guru
Sounds exactly like what the Rebels were saying this time last week.