The Force have gone down by 36 points against a really professional performance from the Waratahs.
REPORT: FOLAU SETS RECORD AS TAHS THRASH FORCE
The Waratahs played smart in the first half, using little kicks in behind the line to slow the Force rushing defence, then as the game opened up their leaders in Hooper and Foley and Beale started to run the show.
The set piece was very good, the ball control was solid and the finishing was great.
Final score
Force 13
Waratahs 49
The NSW Waratahs cross the Nullarbor to tackle the Western Force in Perth, needing a win to keep their faint finals hopes alive. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45pm Saturday (AEDT).
Sadly for Waratahs fans, the Brumbies all but ended their season last week.
Even more sadly for Waratahs fans, their team now has to travel to Perth to take on their nemesis – the Western Force. The Waratahs have inexplicably had all sorts of problems with the Force in recent years, and the Western Australians have won their last three games against the Waratahs (straddling a period when the Tahs were close enough to the best team in the competition – a boast they can make no longer).
The Force come into this game having lost five straight games, but they have all been pretty tough fixtures (Brumbies, Hurricanes, Chiefs, Highlanders and Crusaders). They have been very competitive in the most recent games, and should just about have beaten the Crusaders last time out.
Meanwhile, even though the Waratahs lost a very competitive game to the Brumbies last week, they have been struggling to reach any great heights this season. Kurtley Beale was excellent for them last week, and he gets another opportunity to team up with Izzy Folau, who has been named at outside centre again this week. Tatafu Polota-Nau returns on the bench, while youngsters Andrew Kellaway and Tom Robertson also hold their spots.
The Force have lost Pek Cowan and Nathan Charles, and they join Jono Lance, Luke Burton and Chris Alcock on the sidelines. Even without those players, they have named a very solid starting fifteen and I expect them to be very competitive.
Tip:
I am going to stick with the Waratahs, but not with any great confidence. The Force usually cause the boys from NSW all sorts of problems, and I don’t expect anything different here, but I think the Tahs will just have too many points in them. Waratahs 1-12.
Chris
Guest
The referee had a very bad night with a Force pass called back as forward which, on replay wasn't, several forward passes by the Waratahs not called, as previously mentioned - a foot on the line not called out and a kick from behind the 22 carried out on the kick and not called and a line out throw by the Tahs clearly not straight then a forward pass in the same movement not called leading to a Tahs try. While the Tahs clearly outclassed the Force, who were competitive for 55 minutes but lack the depth to stay with the stronger opposition and cracked badly in the last 25 with the Tahs beating them out wide a number of times. However, the poor standard of refereeing is particularly frustrating to watch and the touchies appear worse than useless - the forward passes and the crooked line out throw in particular right in front of a zombie touch judge - who knows what game he was watching because it wasn't the one we attended.
Tatah
Guest
Read the rule book that should help
In Brief
Guest
This match had taught me two things: 1) if your foot is on the touch line you are out; if your put is on the 22 line you are in (KB style) 2) you have to release the ball when tackled; unless you decide to hold on to the ball and then pass it from the ground (KB style again) KB must be a genius
Lara
Guest
McCalman did a ton of good work for the Force, pity their backs are clueless except for Haylett-Petty and Mattewson.
Boomeranga
Guest
Did Coleman, Cottrell, McCalman or DHP show any form tonight?
Stu
Guest
Best comment of the year
Alex L
Roar Rookie
That's true, but their run home is substantially less difficult.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Beale at 12, Horne at 13, Folau at 15, Robinson at 11, Carraro at 14
PeterK
Roar Guru
they have not beaten any top 8 teams though so they have some hard games coming up.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
They were outstanding in the 2nd half. That doesn't hide the fact that they were terrible at times, with unforced errors, dropped ball etc etc in the first half. Scoring 49 points is a great result. But you can't ignore that they still have plenty to work on.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
If the Rebels were going to fade Harry I think they might have done so already; they've done most of their hard travel and aren't showing much in the way of fatigue signs.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
:) you're too humble mate
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Haha good call pman :) and great blog will! Pretty avge first half from both teams but tahs finally realised there are still bp to be won in 2016.
Harry Jones
Expert
The Tahs could sneak right back into the thick of things. Rebels will fade, I think. Brumbies will lose
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Thanks Will, very impressive second half from the Tahs. There biggest win against the Force who have been a bogey team. Scrum very solid tonight, lineout better whilst the backs in particular Foley were very good. Big game against the Stormers next weekend.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Atleast you beat Manly. We are just as woeful.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Thanks for tuning in everyone. If you're keen for more patchy internet and amateur rugby coverage, I am also doing the Stormers v Reds from 11pm! See you then!
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
What Tigers? I have no idea what you're talking about!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Cheers for the call Will. No doubt the Tahs easing the pain caused by your Tigers earlier.....
Daveski
Guest
Awful patches ? Like whole periods of five or ten minutes ? Or are you just commenting on specific errors but expecting them to be perfect. If a team gets 49pts but was awful in "patches" then I'm missing something. Frankly it was the smartest performance by a Tahs team against the Force in two and a bit years.