Sunwolves vs Force highlights: Force break losing streak

Match result:

A very entertaining game comes to an end, the Force played very well, did their job and got the win.

REPORT: FORCE THRASH SUNWOLVES

Michael Foley will be pleased, his win percentage will now have probably edged above Richard Graham’s. Hurrah!

The Moondogs were the star of the show, although their enterprise was often unstuck by their mistakes.

The Force had scored less tries than penalties coming into this game, but that stat is sure to be rectified after today. Talking of kicks, the Force missed all but one kick whereas the Sunwolves only got one.

If all the kicks had been had, the score would’ve been 31-42. That’s a very different game.

Force have got a try bonus point, their first in probably a very long time, and their first of this new kind.

Final score
Sunwolves 22
Force 40

Match preview:

A sunny kickoff just in time for afternoon tea is coming to us via Tokyo as the Sunwolves meet the Force to give off eight hours of Super Rugby on this glorious Saturday. Join The Roar for live scores, commentary and bit of cheeky bants from 3:15pm AEST.

Two weeks ago the Sunwolves beat the Jaguares at home to notch their first ever win in Super Rugby, Tipping that game was a coin toss and, despite the favourable odds to the Force, this match should be considered the same.

The Sunwolves, or as the cool kids call them, the Moondogs, are well-rested after being given the chance to put their feet up last weekend. They will be feeling refreshed, and Ed Quirk’s hair will be a bit longer, edging towards the flowing and slightly disgusting fiery ranga locks that propelled his early career at the Reds.

Speaking of the Reds, they were the last team the Force beat all the way back when Richard Graham was their coach for too long. Since then, Matt Hodgson’s men have lost their last seven(!) games, getting spanked (or pseudo-spanked in the case of the Crusaders) in every game since then.

Last week the Force were made to eat their own shoes after the Bulls trounced them with an actually pretty impressive running display. They come to Tokyo as part of their South African away trip (which due to the new format, will have them playing only one other game, in Bloemfontein, a few weeks from now) and they will be hoping to edge out the new boys, who are only one place below them.

In terms of team news, the Sunwolves have drafted in a pair of new wingers, including Japan star Akihiro Yamada, as well as tinkering with their starting scrumhalf and second row pairing. Most importantly, the multi-talented Ed Quirk is starting with an 8 on his back.

Kyle Godwin, meanwhile, is set to make his first start for the Force since their first game (against the Rebels), he was out with knee grief. Guy Millar, Ross Haylett-Petty and Brynand Stander come into the pack. Local lad and AFL convert Harry Scoble gets another start at hooker.

Prediction
The Force have the betting agents on their side, as well as Roar Supremo Patty Effeney. They do have big manly muscle on their side, and that might have a major impact on this slight Japanese side, but the rub of the green in this coin-toss match will probably see the Sunwolves, via Yamada, fumble their way across the line.

Sunwolves by 3