The high-flying Chiefs host the struggling Western Force at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton to kick off Round 11 of Super Rugby. Join The Roar for live scores and debate from 5:35pm (AEST).
The Chiefs will approach today’s match confident that they can secure a strong victory and ensure the ladder-leading Hurricanes feel the pressure of their conference rival breathing down their neck heading into the back end of the season.
As the second best team in the competition, it is only by burden of being in the same conference as the Hurricanes that the Chiefs find themselves in fourth place on the Super Rugby ladder.
There is therefore added incentive today, as win against the Force will see them move top of the table overall, a position the Chiefs can remain pending the result of the Hurricanes match against the Queensland Reds on Sunday afternoon.
In their two most recent fixtures, the Chiefs have secured strong wins against fellow NZ conference sides, the Crusaders and Blues, so will welcome the opportunity to host a travelling side today.
Bonus points will certainly be on their mind.
The last time these sides met was in March, 2015, in Perth – a game in which the Force snuck a 3-point win. Before that however, the Chiefs certainly held the wood over the boys from Perth, dominating this fixture for over five years.
In the Chiefs’ favour today is also the fact the Force have managed just the one win from nine starts so far this season, and enter this tough away fixture after suffering a disappointing home loss to the Stormers last week.
The Force may have enjoyed a popularity boost this week, with Nick ‘the Honey Badger’ Cummins going viral across the United States for his latest post-match interview, however that acclaim will count for little against one of the competition’s main contenders.
Tip: Chiefs to cruise to the top of the table.
Join The Roar for live scores of the Chiefs vs Western Force from 5:35pm (AEST).
If you are following the action live, be sure to join in the discussion by sharing your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
piru
Guest
A farce who scored 4 tries
Zero Gain
Guest
OK, let's wait until the end of the competition when we can all enjoy the likely egg all over your face, especially if the Tahs or Brumbies win it and the Reds rise to above mid pack, as I am confident they will. Your best team scraps past one of our worst by 8 points when they have 14 men and you say that!
Old Bugger
Guest
Ken IMO, you are asking the wrong question about administrators finding a better system. You should ask "Can't the players tackle in accordance with the laws....." The only reason there is a card system is because players consistently infringe the games laws and now those infringements, are becoming a blight on the games status and safety security. The future of the game does not need infringements of this nature which will surely impact upon parents deciding whether their young child will play rugby or tiddly-winks....but I'm sure you recognised that impact. Play the game in accordance with the laws and we will see, 15 on 15.
Ken
Guest
I would like to add my support to those that are disappointed with the impact that red cards and yellow have on the game these days. I turned the game off at half time last night. While I agree that punishment needs to be meted out for illegalities, I think it is counter productive to all in rugby to have fans and players all punished when the competitiveness of a game is ruined. Cant administrators find a better system. The first rule of rugby is that it is 15 on 15.
RobC
Roar Guru
shhh OB. Im sure he's lurking here. You might provoke him and his team, and pile 100 points on us.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
That match is on Sunday I think. I am going overseas next Tuesday and have a fair bit to do before I go (Tax time here in Aussie .. deadlines aplenty) otherwise I would go to the match. I think Diggers 'Canes will hold too many trumps though... hope I haven't put the kiss of death on them!
RobC
Roar Guru
tbh RT. 'analysis' aside, Im with you mate It feft like an NRC game. hehe
Rugby Tragic
Guest
I trust your analytical mind as I know you will pull the game apart... a bit like a coroner!... My observations are much more general and focus tends to be much narrower than yours. I saw a Chiefs side who never thought they were going to lose played with flair and abandon in the first half then forgot that the game was over 80 mins. All credit though to the Force, a man down after 29 miins and they never gave up. The defence from both though was not great.. so many holes.
Old Bugger
Guest
RT Absolutely agree - very scrappy. I thought the Chiefs could've tightened the game up when they got their 4th try but somehow they forgot about structure and they allowed themselves to get too loose - and what happens...??The Force just came back at them with 2 great line out/maul tries....very impressive considering they were a forward short for 60 odd minutes. Nevertheless, I'll take the win and the BP....now, I wonder if the Reds can make a go of it tomorrow?? Maybe......?? It's not asking too much is it?? Digs may have something to say about that though.....haha!! Cheers mate
Wii
Guest
I thnk you all missed the part were three of the bottom 5 teams are from the Australian conference, it speaks volumes about the weakness of Australian rugby
Harry Jones
Expert
Makes me feel better about the Stormers' win. Force can score!
RobC
Roar Guru
true RT. A lot of TOs. I think Chiefs kept going thinking Force will give in. A bit like Tahs / Stormers (only a bit) Force were defending with 14 players, so the gaps were there to be found. But their scramble was good. Chiefs D was indeed soft. But I think the Force, did their part as well. They have been continually been able to find themselves in the opponents redzone on regular basis. Their problem was finishing off. Not tonight.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Excellent? .. Rob I thought it was very scrappy and loose, defence on both sides very average...I also think Chiefs took their foot of the pedal after Retallick was subbed off ..
Woodsman
Guest
Speaking of going to sleep, I think you missed the part where the Force only had 14 men for 60mins of the game. Hardly a convincing win to prove the strength of the conferences beyond all doubt!
AndyS
Guest
To be honest, I thought the Force were rubbish. No team playing even half well kicks that much ball away when down one man, or in attack with 45 seconds to go when any score would get the bonus point.
RobC
Roar Guru
Excellent match: - Force attack into the A (red) zone still working! - Then attack from the A zone has lifted. - Or is it the Hodgo factor? My favourite part. The anthems, and honouring our countrymen and the fallen. Lest we forget. Kudos SANZAR. A big improvement to last year.
Mike
Guest
I hope Force take some confidence out of that. Well done.
Mike
Guest
"I think we can clearly see the difference in strengths between the two conferences" Yes of course. The Force are representative of the standard of the Aust conference, just as the Chiefs are representative of the standard of the NZ conference. Its so obvious! ;)
cantab
Guest
That's your opinion, but I still disagree, all good. :)
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Better to test and use that depth now than having to form those combinations at crunch time if there's an injury. Australian teams do try and keep the same 15 every week, often the result is that a couple of injuries completely upset the house of cards.