The Western Force make a long-awaited return to rugby, hosting the Fiji Warriors for their World Series Rugby opener. Join The Roar for live scores and blog from 8:30pm (AEST).
Almost ten months after they last played, beating the Waratahs 40-11 in June, the Western Force are back and already making history.
It will be the first time that provincial rugby in Australia will be shown on free-to-air – live on Channel Seven in Perth – and a sellout means it will be the highest crowd in provincial rugby since Waratahs-Brumbies in 2016.
As for the game, it’s a familiar team list, with eight former Force players, many from development squads and other Super Rugby sides, while South Africa has a large input as well.
Fiji haven’t brought their Test team, rather it’s the Warriors, who are the equivalent to Fiji A, but many have international experience.
Some new initiatives will be introduced, such as a 60-second time limit for scrums, lineouts can now happen as soon as the throwing team are ready, and the Power Try is initiated.
The Power Try will be a seven-point play, with a potential conversion, and will be awarded for any try that begins inside the attacking team’s 22.
Plenty of youth will take the field for both sides, but the Force will lean heavily on players like Ian Prior and Peter Grant, who have close to 200 Super Rugby caps between them.
Prediction
Expect the Force to be too strong.
Force by 8.
cheryl
Guest
Thoroughly enjoyed last nights game - lots of try's scored and very entertaining. Fiji took it up to the Force and made them fight for their win. My first Force game and wont be my last. Well done by both teams.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
In 2017 the Force started slow owing to massive injury problems early and improved massively as the season progressed and the 1st choice players returned.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Probably the same reason that many Force fans feel the need to derail other articles.
KCR
Guest
I agree, in a post further down I said that on field performance was not an acceptable reason for the treatment of the Western Force. Just wanted to address a growing belief that the Force had a great season last year compared to the Rebels this year when they're about the same.
KCR
Guest
I agree, in a post further down I said that on field performance was not an acceptable reason for the treatment of the Western Force. Just wanted to address a growing belief that the Force had a great season last year compared to the Rebels this year when they're about the same.
Ex force fan
Guest
So no improvement despite almost merging Force and Rebels. In my opinion if they kept the Force together for a second year the combinations would be better and the Force would have been more competitive.
Ex force fan
Guest
If your comments are the yardstick for the quality of your contribution then I am afraid there will not be much to erase. Twiggy did more to promote rugby in Asia and WA the past 6 months than anyone else did in the past decade.
sittingbison
Guest
nah, just erasing your 40 years of real grassroots rugby contribution will do fine
sittingbison
Guest
Tahs?
Bakkies
Guest
Thanks saw that. Would make a good avatar for this site.
Bakkies
Guest
Famous in your own lunch time Realist, Drongo, drop kick, Josephine Barker whatever user name you come up with next.
GusTee
Roar Pro
The negative reactions that have been posted are very sad and do nothing to advance the cause of rugby union. Our game is not being properly supported by those in control. Instead, they seem to be content to allow vested interests to rule and divide us all. The result is that our finances are in turmoil, our player stocks are debilitated and our sport is a national disgrace. Why deride Andrew Forrest's attempts to spark something new in the West - after all, since 2017, we have nothing. Last's nights game in Perth was a genuine attempt to reintroduce a sense of the joy to the game of rugby - and it did! Those of us lucky enough to be at NIB thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Andrew Forrest may be a rich man but he is well grounded and one of us - a proud Western Australian and therefore a significant Australian of our time. He deserves congratulations not derision.
sittingbison
Guest
Errrrr....no The only "freebies" were for rugbyroo juniors as part of their participation package Back under your bridge
Demak
Roar Rookie
So many haters I really don’t get you lot honestly last night was the first game for a new group of guys trying to ply their trade and I reckon they did ok . WA rugby fans turned out to show their support of the sport they love good on them. Surely a strong WA rugby environment is good for Australian rugby,as a Brumbies supporter(and Force) I say well done and hope the Force go well
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
You're only as good as your last performance! The Force's last performance in Super Rugby was a 41-11 demolition of the Tahs. The first hit out of Force Mark II after being together for only a few weeks was pretty good. There's room for improvement but everything gbis satisfyingly heading in the right direction.
Drongo
Guest
All for me! Wow, thanks Twiggy. Now, let’s just erase my 40 years of my real grass roots rugby contribution and all hail the rich guy for putting on an embarrassing, overhyped sideshow. With lots of Twiggy promotion thrown in.
LuckyEddie
Guest
I bet that 19,500 , probably all freebies, will drop to about 5k once the novelty is over and you have to pay. A bit like WAFL.
PerthPete
Guest
Yep, you’re onto the secret there mate, it was a great night out!
Too old
Guest
Sounds like Sydney rugby union.
i miss the force
Guest
a novelty and a gimmick. a rich mans plaything for an area that cant produce players ans has been a horrible side since inception