Force vs Stormers highlights: Stormers cement their finals spot

Roar Guru

9th July, 2016

3181 Reads

Where: nib Stadium
When: 9:55pm AEST
TV: Fox Sports

Force
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Marcel Brache, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Luke Morahan (c), 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Angus Cottrell, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Richard Hardwick, 5 Rory Walton, 4 Ross Haylett-Petty, 3 Guy Millar, 2 Harry Scoble, 1 Pek Cowan.

Replacements: 16 Anaru Rangi, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Peter Grant, 23 Semisi Masirewa.

Stormers
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Daniel du Plessis, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Schalk Burger (c), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Alistair Vermaak .

Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 JP Smith, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Rynhardt Elstadt, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Huw Jones, 23 Scott van Breda.

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The Western Force have had their Super Rugby license discontinued. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

Will Sinclair

Roar Guru

9th July, 2016

165

3181 Reads

Match result:

The Western Force took a solid beating from the Stormers on Saturday night, going down by a margin of 19 points.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
Force 3
Stormers 22

Match preview:

The Force welcome the Stormers to Perth for this Round 16 Super Rugby fixture. Join The Roar from 9:55pm (AEST) for live scores from the match and a blog of the game.

There are plenty of crucial matches being played in Super Rugby this weekend, but I couldn’t mount a compelling argument that this is one of them.

The Stormers have sewn up top spot in the Africa 1 conference (and, with it, home ground advantage in Week 1 of the Finals) with two games to play, while the Western Force are pinned to the bottom of the Aussie conference.

Indeed, the Force have won only two games this season, against fellow battlers the Sunwolves and the Reds. However, they did produce a great second half last weekend to come within a whisker of beating the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Unfortunately, they have now lost 13 of their last 14 home games, including the last nine in a row. To put up with that kind of drought, but keep turning up, must surely earn their supporters – the famed “Sea of Blue” – a place among the most dedicated supporter bases in this country in any code. I can’t imagine people in Sydney putting up with it!

The Stormers have won seven of the last nine games between these two sides, including the last four in a row. They were great last weekend, producing a really physical game to get over the top of the spirited Rebels in Melbourne.

It remains to be seen whether they will take the foot off the pedal knowing that their finals spot is secured.

The Stomers will be without injured Nizaam Carr and Oli Kebble, while the Force have promoted Guy Millar, Ben Tapuai and local product Richard Hardwick (who will make his debut).

Tip: The Sea of Blue are in for another tough night I reckon – Stormers by heaps.

Join The Roar from 9:55pm (AEST) for live scores from the match and a blog of the game.

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