The Western Force feel they are in the box seat to make a real dent on the Super Rugby AU finals after snatching victory against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night in Melbourne.
The Force won 16-15, only taking the lead in the 77th minute at AAMI Park after Tim Anstee’s try was converted by Domingo Miotti.
“We didn’t really assert any dominance in any areas of the game but we had the belief that we could still get the job done,” said coach Tim Sampson.
“That was a very crucial game to win and the next few weeks is in our hands now – we know what level we can get to.”
The victory moved the Force level on the competition ladder with the Rebels, with two rounds remaining.
The Force play both of those games – against the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds – at home in Perth, where they hope to ride a swell of support to join the Reds and Brumbies in the three-team finals.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Rebels play the Brumbies in Melbourne and then the Waratahs in Sydney.
“We have two home games in front of our great supporters… it’s set up well for us and the guys know where we’re heading,” Sampson said.
While Sampson rated their defensive effort – keeping the Rebels from scoring a try – as one of their best, but he said they still had plenty to work on.
As well as losing a couple of crucial lineouts he felt their attack would improve with more time, after a number of personnel changes.
“We need more continuity and flow in our attack but I don’t think you can underestimate the amount of changes we’ve had,” Sampson said.
The Force suffered one serious injury with winger Byron Ralston stretchered from the field after being knocked out making a tackle.
“He’s a bit crook in the change rooms, poor bugger,” Sampson said.
“He should be okay.”
ScottD
Roar Guru
yes, I agree with all of that
Paul D
Roar Rookie
You complained about the Tahs taking McDonald and look what happens when you get him back!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Well, I had them pegged for a finals finish from the start. :shocked:
JC
Roar Rookie
They seem to start well and then fade away. They surprised the Brums last year, 30:12 from memory, and there were the two close games against the Brums and Reds this year. But they’re obviously missing some key ingredient. In fact, they could do with someone like Cheika to instil some belief (and kick a few behinds!).
Scott I see the Reds as a team who play to win rather than play at their best all the time and with it being the last round when they play, the Reds may well rest a few as will have home ground wrapped up. I think the Brumbies are more likely to put 25 points on an opposition than the Reds do so from that perspective the Rebels facing the Brumbies this week are probably less likely to get a losing BP than the Force are from the Reds game....It all comes to a head this weekend from my perspective as the Force need beat the Tahs with a BP if they want a finals berth. I think the Rebels are favoured at this point to finish 3rd...
piru
Roar Rookie
Not sure you can count the GRR squad squeezed into the SR fixture as 'super rugby'.
piru
Roar Rookie
I mean I'm sure somebody cares can't imagine who though
ScottD
Roar Guru
“No one outside Sydney I’d guess” Delete your last four words Piru
ScottD
Roar Guru
I think that TK hasn't been given the opportunity to deliver his best at the Force. passes going behind him or at least not allowing him to hit them at pace. We are lacking a quality 12 (and that's no slight on the players there) that has an "understanding" with TK and can put him into gaps.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Really? I reckon nobody expected Dad's army to be 3rd and there were some pundits picking us for last.
ScottD
Roar Guru
If the Force win against the TAH's next week with a bonus point and the Rebels lose against the Brumbies (with no bonus point) then the Force will have their tail up for the Reds game at home. The Rebels will be desperate against the TAH's and the TAH's will see the last game as their last opportunity to redeem themselves at home. In that scenario the final position will be taken by whoever of the Rebels and Force can maintain their composure in the last game....... anything could happen :)
ScottD
Roar Guru
I think Miotti and Cubelli were very good together. Miotti wasn't so good in his only other start (I think I have only seen him start one other game, is that correct?). McIntyre seems to lack something that Miotti showed so if Miotti keeps playing at that standard I'd be happy to keep him on. He is a very very smart kick and is easily better in that regard than both McIntyre and Lance. I am a big fan of Jonno and I like him as a 10 but I'm realistic that he's not at international standard in that position and never will be. Miotti on the other hand is a current international 10 with upside. Jonno is a great utility and I'd like to see him stay with the Force for another couple of seasons.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yeah, the reality is that apart from Sharpe the Force didn't rip the guts out of the Reds or anyone else. We got a couple of high quality players (WB's ) from Reds and Tahs and the rest were fringe players (like Staniforth) that thought they'd get more game time with the Force or guys we enticed back from overseas who were past their best (like John Welborn). A lot of the guys were cannon fodder that probably didn't deserve to be in SR but were needed to make up the last 5-10 in the squad. Probably fair enough to say that the Force grabbed some talent (like O'Connor, Hodgson, Pocock etc) in their first 2 years that could have been playing for east coast franchises but the fact is those players wouldn't have come over if they had been provided opportunities in their home state (apart from a couple of WB's looking for adventure). Also fair to say that a couple of those young guys wanted to play under John Mitchell as they thought it would be good for their long term career- and you can't blame them for that. Still, the perception from QLD is that the Force were the reason they had a barren patch. Psychologists call it externalising the problem.
Tony
Guest
That is so true, RahRah. Despite players coming and going, the one constant over the years was the Force not pulling it together until they’d already dug a huge hole for themselves. That said, I did feel that on some occasions when we did come good, refs were sometimes scared to make decisions that would mean a Force win over star studded NZ teams. We were dudded in our first (winless) season when we scored at the very end to take the lead against the mighty Crusaders. The ref thought it was a try but asked the TMO to confirm. The TMO said he wasn’t 100% sure if someone’s leg might’ve gone over the sideline because it had rained and the line marking was faint; and he wasn’t even sure if the leg was the try scorer’s or a tackler’s. The ref said well, if you can’t confirm it I’m not giving it. I remember two other games I went to where the Force were just behind in the last 10 minutes and were hammering their NZ opponent’s line, who were only hanging on by multiple infringements in quick succession. Both times the ref chickened out of dishing out a card, even though he’d warned them earlier. Naturally, when the visitors eventually turned it over and scored at the other end, securing the win, the yellow card would immediately came out at their next infringement in the last moments of the game. Of course 95% or more of our woes were self inflicted but things like that were just heartbreaking.
Happy to...
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Well... 14 counting last season. And I didn’t say it was pathetic, just that I think given the squad they bought that a finals appearance should be in line with expectations. As for the Tahs. Well, they are in line with expectations also. *shrugs*
piru
Roar Rookie
I think that excuse is running out of steam. Didn’t really have any hinderances this year. Yes, we've had a full 6 games as a super rugby club now and only two wins to show for it, pathetic really. How are the Waratahs going btw?
Piru
Guest
The point is mate, no one was Shanghaied, no one went to sleep in Southbank and woke up on a ship to Perth. The Force was simply 40 odd new opportunities to play professional rugby in Australia. Maybe the Reds had the most players looking to move on, or the most up and comers looking for a shot at the next level at the time. Whatever the reason, it's simply the way of the professional game. My point with the axing comment was that we've more than paid for whatever (real or imagined) slight Reds fans felt occurred.
piru
Roar Rookie
Disagree
Ex force fan
Guest
What circumstances? Picking a new team that will take time to gel. The Force will do well to make the finals but fourth is par for them this year. They will get better as they year progress and If they can keep the bulk of the team together they can go one better next year. The off course the fact that RA tried to kill professional rugby in WA. We lost most of our upcoming talent and it will take years to undo the damage done in an insane moment of madness in 2017. The real game changer is the progress of the Academy side that has become harder when the NPC were cannes.. It will take at least 5 years to rebuild the team to a level they were in 2017. There was no quick fix in 2017 and there is still no quick fic