The Western Force have put a dent in the NSW Waratahs’ ambitions of winning Super Rugby’s Australian conference, beating the defending champions for a second time this season.
Off the back of a try in each half to Ryan Louwrens and captain Matt Hodgson, the Force ground down the Waratahs to win 18-11 at nib Stadium.
The Force had also opened the 2015 season with a 25-13 win over the Waratahs in Sydney but then lost 10 matches in between in a season of bad luck, missed opportunities and frustration.
The Waratahs did score a second half try courtesy of exciting winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, but it wasn’t enough to back up last week’s win over the Brumbies.
As a result the Waratahs missed the chance to jump to the top of the Australian conference ahead of the Brumbies with five games to go.
The sides are now locked on 32 points apiece on the ladder.
It took 20 minutes for the game’s first score but that came courtesy of the Force when a turnover by Ben McCalman set up halfback Louwrens to make his path through an opening in the Waratahs’ defence and score a try.
Luke Burton converted after having come on to briefly replace Sias Ebersohn who was being tested for concussion, but the ‘Tahs worked back into the contest with penalties by Bernard Foley.
Things turned again just before halftime though, with Sekope Kepu’s sin binning for stomping in the ruck and then two more penalties to Burton helping the Force to a 13-6 lead.
The Waratahs scored the first try of the second half through Naiyaravoro, but the Force hit back thanks to Hodgson scoring the five-pointer on the back of a terrific rolling maul.
The Force then led 18-11 but Hodgson received a yellow card in the 70th minute, leaving him sidelined for the rest of the match.
The Waratahs however couldn’t take advantage of their edge in numbers and were left to rue another loss to the unfancied home side.
Piru
Guest
Force tight five hold their own with the best of SA and NZ - it's only when they come up against manipulative 'scamming' packs like the Tahs they seem to suffer.
Piru
Guest
So Tahs fans just so we in the west can be clear, you're blaming this one on the ref? My under 16s coach used to say if you lose don't lose the lesson. Maybe this would be a good time to look at why you were outplayed than look to blame everyone else.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Lealifano looks to me to be the best option at 1st 5 for the wallabies. Can run, is incisive, can kick, can tackle and has a nice pass.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Hes not a dud - he has a 30% win rate ..... less in 2015 ... 2 from 12 = ? % ---- woe betide the Wallabies.
Utah
Guest
As tough as McCabe was, he wasn't big (94kg), and hence struggled to break through the defence.
Combesy
Guest
I said technical coach Jibba. It's obvious he has acute skills in some areas of the game
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Foley.... that's deep down in the barrel, Foley 2 wins from 12 games this year and overall 30% win rate as a coach.... try aiming for the top,
Jibba Jabba
Guest
My concern for the Wallabies is the Tas had no idea against the Force - and their coach is the Wallabies coach, good luck with that, the messiah he certainly aint. Selected cos he was last man standing.........
Are u for real
Guest
"Time to adjust before RWC" Are u serious? There are 5 games left in the S15. ACC is just another journeyman. Just like Beale, Falou, OConnor, Lealiifano. About to play more than one position but never first choice in one.
Harry
Guest
Wingers are wingers generally because of their finishing abilities and don't tend to be natural ball players. Why is we think wingers can be overnight be centres? - Folau, Speight? Pick the right players and focusing on improving their skills instead of playing players out of position.
pick & go..!!
Guest
AAC at 12 for the world cup?? LOL
Joe
Guest
while the referee may have made some strange calls the Waratahs should have had enough quality players to win this game by plenty. They got lucky last year and won the comp and this year they are showing they are just one of the pack.
StMike
Guest
I'm happy now; we have a back line that can be 'respected'. Problem is Genia looks disinterested - going through the motions; QC has had 1 reasonable game but with some real petulant hissy fits; you want to play AAC out of position as he has time to adjust before RWC? Give Stirzaker the same opportunity to adjust and develop before RWC; do likewise for 10 - harder call as to who has the most upside. Nothing ventured - nothing gained.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I don't expect a lot of complaints about the referee. I think he made errors for both sides. The ref allowed a messy breakdown and the Force adapted to his style, congratulations to them, they deserved their win.
jeznez
Roar Guru
All the more reason to cap him and hope he returns down the track. At 23 yrs old plenty of time to get back in the fold after a stint up north.
El Gamba
Roar Guru
Pretty simple really. You can't ruck. Kepu is incredibly lucky he didn't get a glance of the head or face (not suggesting he was trying, just saying how random things can happen) and got weeks off.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Agreed, hoffman was all tas for the first 75 minutes then when he realised they didn't have it in them to win he penalised them a couple of times to try and look even handed. He failed.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
He was pulling a blokes head around by the face... what a tough guy he must be. He should have been carded as well but hoffman was still on the Tas side at that stage.
Combesy
Guest
Peter its taken a while. But I actually 100% agree with you on this point. Not 100% sold on kerevi YET. But as some have said Folau is an option. Unfortunately as is the case for most things regarding the wallabies. This won't happen. We'll pick the same team, in the same structure and wonder why we don't win
AndyS
Guest
Agree in general terms, but not sure I agree with respect to this game. Watching the replay, I thought the Force played quite differently than they have to date, taking a pick-and-choose approach to the breakdown and conceding the ball otherwise. That seemed to be borne out by Cheika's post-match comments, when he said that..."We just followed the script a bit too much. Everyone said they were going to get into our ruck so we didn't ruck past the ball. We know how they're going to play, we made some poor decisions about when to run, and when to kick and how to play the game there." Putting aside the implication that Cheika is relying on hearsay to tell him how other Australian teams play, it seems that the Waratahs just couldn't make the switch to an appropriate Plan B when required. Mind you, it is not like the Force had previously given any indication of requiring one...