The Western Force have been made to pay dearly for their ill discipline during a 25-15 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman loss to the Highlanders in Perth.
The Force trailed 20-3 after 36 minutes of Friday night’s match before launching a brave comeback that almost saw them reduce the margin to three points.
Down by ten points early in the second half, the Force came close to scoring on three occasions – only for penalties to bring them undone each time with the line in sight.
A 60th-minute yellow card to reserve prop Greg Holmes – and a Highlanders try a minute later – killed off the Force’s victory hopes in front of 13,587 fans at HBF Park, ensuring Australian teams remain without a win after seven matches against Kiwi sides.
The penalty count read 9-3 against the Force at halftime and 12-6 late in the match before the Highlanders committed some ill-disciplined acts in the dying minutes for the final count to read 12-9.
“First half, we let ourselves down a fair bit. It was a 9-3 penalty count at halftime,” Force coach Tim Sampson said.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
“We let the opposition off the hook too often there. There were too many errors and penalties. It’s hard to get into a game when you’re turning ball over so frequently.”
The Force suffered a blow before the game when former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush became a late withdrawal.
And flyhalf Jake McIntyre lasted just 22 minutes before being knocked unconscious in a sickening clash of heads with Highlanders winger Patelesio Tomkinson.
Winger Jona Nareki scored the opener in the 12th minute when the Highlanders pulled off a smooth line-out move and scrumhalf Aaron Smith broke through Feleti Kaitu’u’s tackle to provide the assist.
The Force were brought undone at the line-out again in the 23rd minute when the Highlanders threw it short and formed a rolling maul for prop Ayden Johnstone to barge over.
Alarm bells were ringing in the 36th minute when a rolling maul congested the Force defence before the ball was offloaded to inside centre Scott Gregory to touch down.
But the home side hit back on halftime with their own piece of magic from a lineout. Winger Jordan Olowofela made a sharp 20-metre break before dishing off to centre Henry Taefu.
Taefu’s pass was knocked down but scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli swooped on the loose ball and shook off a tackle in a sprint to the line.
Domingo Miotti’s conversion made it 20-10 at halftime, and the Force dominated long periods early in the second half, only for untimely penalties to bring them undone on three occasions close to the line.
Holmes’ yellow card for a high tackle that was swiftly followed by a second try to Gregory extended the margin to 15 points, but the Highlanders were denied a bonus point when Force substitute Angus Wagner scored in the 79th minute.
Were any of the Force fans smirking?
Force were outplayed and didnt quite handle the speed or the intensity
piru
Roar Rookie
Tbh looking at the other TT scores I'm thinking we've been relatively not that bad
piru
Roar Rookie
Hilarious
Ex force fan
Guest
Who will be the first Australian team to beat a NZ team this year? The Force does not look close to winning yet, but seems to be the closest of all the Australian teams to record a win against Kiwi opponents. None of these games will get easier. Players like Godwin, Wilson, Timani etc have been growing in stature while regular Wallabies like Tamoa and Sio have been found wanting. NZ Superugby teams is a good litmus test before the internationals.
Ex force fan
Guest
The Western Force performance on Friday night improved as the weekend progress. We may end up as the Top Australian team but still in the bottom half of the TT log.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yes, I thought Rodda would be available by now too ? No, just checked. Back in July
Mo
Guest
The highlanders speed and smith’s passes were always going to be a problem. Force eventually sorted themselves out and finished well. No Thrush a problem. Taefu did better than I expected. Godwin and kahui doing well. Surely timani gets a wallabies gig. Added a lot of power all day and didn’t look too slow.
Ex force fan
Guest
9,000-10,000 is double that other more favourite teams are getting. You can go to war with then... like we did since 2017.
ScottD
Roar Guru
A Smith was at his brilliant best last night. The Highlanders definitely were a less dangerous team when he went off. The Force had their own opportunities but at the end of the day the score reflected the game. The Force were close for 60 minutes of the game but their first 25 minutes was not nearly good enough and its hard to catch up with only 14 men. I agree with Paul that the Force could end up with 5 L's against their name but I am ok with the style of game they are playing. It just lacks a little bit of finesse when our best team isn't available.
Kick n Clap
Guest
What was up with “Thrush”? “ Couldn’t he find his Zimmerframe”?
andrewM
Roar Rookie
Some do – when their kiwi team is playing you can tell cause they’ll have their kiwi jersey on but their Force membership card hanging round their neck
Val Saunders
Guest
Your right he has only played 81 games of Super Rugby but his first game was 2015 so he is a six year veteran. I'm not really bagging Powell but the difference in the quality of passing between the two yesterday was so marked. As a professional for six years and as a scrum half passing should the absolute foundation of his game but it really hasn't improved. I've got the same complaint with hookers who can't get the ball to the right spot in the line out. They are professionals so what else do they do at training!
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
You'll never get a job in the Western Force marketing division.
AndyS
Guest
To be honest, I thought that tackle showed the Force their best chance of winning the game. They should have used it to get the Highlanders down to ten men and then kept them there for the rest of the game. Said only partly in jest, because ducking became a genuine issue in the AFL. I would be prepared to bet that smart teams will have already thought about it (particularly national teams), as it could be gold at key moments in close games. If not, that example last night would surely have to show them the possibilities pretty clearly.
Ex force fan
Guest
I think the Force also left as much points on the pitch as the Highlanders did. The scoreboard is for me a fair reflection of the game. The Highlanders played Berry better than the Force as the rucks were a free to all while advancing to chase a kick were pedantically officiated. I don’t know if it was the focus of the week or something that the Highlanders highlighted to the officials prior to the game but there seems to have been more than the usual focus in this match and communication between especially Keane and a Berry on anyone advancing before being set onside even if that offence was inconsequential to the play. 4 of the 12 penalties were ill discipline or very soft penalties for the Force,
Ex force fan
Guest
Advancing before being set onside costed the Force 4 penalties (out of 12), all of these transgressions were inconsequential as it didn’t impact the next play but were still picked up by a very Keane Assistant Referee. It was ill discipline and Lee Warner was guilty for half of these penalties. It costed the Force at critical stages. The YC in my view was unlucky especially on timing when the Force lifted the tempo and the Landers needed “injuries” to slow the game down. Good win for the Landers. I am satisfied that the Force continue to open the gap between us and the Rebels as Australia’s 3rd best side. As long as we continue to improve we will soon challenge the Reds and Brumbies as Australia’s top team. We were never serious contenders to. E TT finalists.
Olfella
Guest
Given most people on this forum know a bit about rugby, could someone explain to me the reason for all the pointless kicks Aussie teams engage in throughout play. The Rebels struggled to get clean possession and turn over ball, but when they did Powell in particular, would broadcast his kick from the base of the ruck and lob it into the arms of the opposition who would then run rampart. Is it because no one wants to run the ball in case they drop it or get tackled ? Is it because the team has run out of options or is because they’ve put money on the opposition. I watched the Reds do it time and time again last week and paid dearly. When the Kiwis kick it either goes out or is lofted high so their players can compete for the ball, catch it or pick up the knock on .......and are in attack again. Talk about frustrating to watch !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mo
Guest
Highlander dove into Holmes tackle. Nothing Holmes could do. I knew it would be a yellow but still not right
Woolfe
Roar Rookie
Good crowd again but my eternal complaint, why don't the Kiwis in Perth support the Force when their teams are not playing? If they want to continue to see their teams they need to support the home team. Look what happened when the Force were kicked out of Super Rugby, if there had of been more support this may not have happened (i know, i know its a big may). Seems to be about 9-10,000 faithful Force supporters every TT match with the rest made up of smirking Kiwis. It would make such a difference financially if we could routinely get another couple of thousand at the home games.