Western Force’s dreams of a first Super Rugby Pacific finals berth have been shattered in a 43-19 loss to the table-topping Chiefs in a do-or-die clash at HBF Park.
The Chiefs rested plenty of stars on Saturday night, making 11 changes to the side that beat the Brumbies in the previous round to secure top spot.
But the depth and class of the New Zealand side shone through as they ended the Force’s unbeaten home run of six games.
They were well drilled, had power across the park and bullied the Force, effectively sealing the win with four first-half tries.
They added two more after the break with the Force crossing three times.
Force’s fate was in their own hands after earlier results opened the door to a play-off berth but coach Simon Cron was forced to make two late changes.
He brought in Brazilian prop Wilton Rebolo – who has been playing club rugby in Perth – for his Super debut, replacing Argentine international Santiago Medrano, while winger Toni Pulu came off the bench to replace Zack Kibirige.
The Force needed a fast start but their kicking game gave the Chiefs too many counter-attack options.
The Chiefs carried powerfully across the park and continually bent the Force line as the home side missed too many tackles.
The Force struggled to break the Chiefs’ defensive superiority and they dominated the opening salvos before second rower Laghlan McWhannell crashed over inside eight minutes, with the try converted by Rameka Poihipi.
Chiefs full-back Shaun Stevenson sliced the defence open before Poihipi sent a pin-point kick to the corner for Anton Leinert-Brown for their second.
Soon after Liam Coombes-Fabling picked off a Hamish Stewart pass to race home from 60 metres.
The Chiefs were in control defensively but the Force finally had a lengthy spell on their line and Carlo Tizzano squirmed over. Max Burey added the extras.
Their joy was short-lived when Samipeni Finau strolled through poor defence for the Chiefs’ fourth try, converted, and they finished the first-half comfortably with a Poihipi penalty.
There was no let up for the Force after the break and scrum-half Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi quickly added more pain with the Chiefs’ fifth.
Cron made early changes from the bench and Tim Anstee won the race to a chip behind to score.
But the Chiefs were relentless and Pita Gus Sowakula went over from the back of a scrum.
Burey then produced a brilliant piece of individual skill, kicking ahead and somehow keeping it infield before winning the chase.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I was just thinking 'what next for these guys?' This isn't the firs time the Aus U20s have done really well, but there just isn't a clear next step or pathway for them to keep going. Not at a high enough standard to allow a smooth step up to SR. This see players moved into SR way too young and then take a beating for a few years. Now, Eddie has to joke about having psychologists for the psychologists. If we can see it, why can't people supposedly a lot smarter, and paid a heck of a lot more than us, see it and actually do something about it?
Sci
Roar Rookie
You don't sharpen players by playing against weaker players - quite the opposite. Lol ; ) - is that contemptuous ?
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
The bench had a positive impact with Fines, Ainstee and Williams coming on. I agree with Ainstee and that Cron has a too soft spot for Wells. If your captain is good enough you need someone else. Tazzano had a terrible game, giving away stupid penalties and falling off crucial tackles. His a hard worker but he is not a Hardwick. He lacks physical strength and although he is tough with tenacity, he needs to make better decisions.
piru
Roar Rookie
I'm not disappointed either. Would have been nice to snag a win or two away, but more than happy to start with locking down home as a bit of a fortress. Plenty to like about the team going forward
GusTee
Roar Pro
Bluesfan - I disagree with you entirely as to your negativity regarding the Force. The Chiefs are not top of the ladder by accident. As disappointed as I was at the outcome, it was a good game to watch at the ground. The final points difference was in essence dictated by 3 lapses by the Force, which the Chiefs seized with both hands. With respect, the statistics of the game are far more enlightening and tell a much bigger story than your dismissive contribution.
savant
Roar Rookie
It was men vs boys until the Chiefs got tired. I’m surprised that Cron is recruiting so many backs when it’s clear that it’s the forwards that are getting bashed up and driven on to the back foot. The Force have gone to water with the injuries to Throbber and Medrano. Only Kalapu and occasionally Fainga provide go forward on the carry and there is no gain line speed in the cleaning. Wells doesn’t offer any thing at this level and needs to be moved on. Rodda was understandably miles off the pace and looks like he needs a half a season to get up to speed. I think we can forget about him for the WC. I think Cron also needs to give himself an uppercut for starting Wells over Anstee, Simpson over Fines and for going to his bench 20 minutes late last week. This week he must have realized his mistake and went earlier but Cron should not be exempt from criticism over how the Force have faded this year. One final note. I felt sorry for Stewart who has given up 3 tries to the opposition- all chasing the game - in the last 2 weeks. I notice he finished the season as the only back in the competition in the top ten tacklers. It was an undeserving finish for a guy who gives it everything. As they say defence is about attitude and if that’s the measure his can’t be faulted.
GusTee
Roar Pro
The reality is that Australian Rugby simply does not benefit by continuously playing an annual "domestic" competition against New Zealand. All we achieve by doing so is to teach our players how to lose and allow the NZ teams to sharpen their game in time for the internationals. Added to that is the contempt often shown for us by NZ posters on this site.
WEST
Roar Guru
I agree! These players excel at junior level then their form or initiate fades when they transition into the next level or SR or into the international level? Seems odd that the only way these guys can progress is playing in another country. That isn’t saying much for professional development in ARU. Could be a lack of a strong domestic comp? I suggested they combine domestic competition with NZ NPC or have a short tournament with NZ. I think it’s the coaching standard at SR level seems to undermined their progress.. whatever it is, there’s something missing in their careers.
WEST
Roar Guru
Not at all. I actually want Aussie rugby to do well. I’m getting tired of seeing the ABs or NZ SR punish Australia year after year.. gets tiresome. Your weak attitude is another prime example. Keep it up mate, you prefer to be a victim of injustice meanwhile another 18 years ticks by with no Bledisloe, no RWC, no RC trophy. Empty trophy cupboard. Just weak minded opinions :thumbup: good luck with that one
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Disagree. It’s those good young players are coming through the system, but the majority of SR teams remain filled the weaker older years. One good year won’t change SR teams. SR teams are filled with a decade of ex under 20s (in fact more than that. When did Tet Faulkner play 20s for example?). You need a solid decade of under 20s to have good SR squads where departing players are filled with quality youth.
Cam
Roar Rookie
We have had great U18 and U20’s for years, our U20’s beat the Junior All Blacks in Wellington only last week. Looking back on the 2019 squad that lost the U20’s World Cup final by a point to France, 17 of the 28 are playing Super Rugby and 8 kids from that squad have played for the Wallabies. These good young players are coming through the system, it just seems once they get to a senior level, their performance drops off. I can only speculate the issue is with the quality of the ARU and Australian Super Rugby programs? I mean, you can’t argue with the results the past half dozen years, they really, really stink.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
The issue more than anything is the lack of pathways for these guys to develop in between u20 and Super Rugby. Desperately in need of a nrc here
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
As Force fan I am not at all disappointed. We almost made the finals for our first time ever! This with a squad that lacks superstars, with lots of injuries, a new coach in his first year in Superugby, a lot of upcoming talent even from club rugby got exposure to Superugby. This year was a rebuilding year and so will next year also be as we build slow. We are years from threatening to win any title as we have to pick ourselves up by own shoe laces. It was only a couple of seasons ago that RA decimated professional rugby in WA and RA hasn’t done anything to help us recover. There was more than 10,600 spectators at a last night game on a cold night in Perth to see if they can deliver another upset… they didn’t… we didn’t expect they would The fact that neither the Force nor Rebels ever made the finals are surely an outcome of how the Australian rugby system is designed. Year after year, coach after coach and team at team they “disappoint” the ignorant that choose to ignore this fact. Australian rugby is setup to produce this outcome. For example, a salary cap that excludes Wallaby top-ups and third party payments enables Rugby Australia to focus RA’s resources to improve their favourite franchises the Tahs and Reds, at the cost of the also runs such as the Force and Rebels. They created the two tier system and maintain it. The Force and Rebels have to fight just to get a break. What is disappointing is the favourite franchises, that despite sucking up the bulk of RA resources, continued to disappoint. The financials doesn’t explain how much of the third party payments and Wallaby top-ups is going to each franchise. I know this is substantial in the millions that Rugby Australia spent to ensure that the Tahs and Reds play an extra game every season. Is it worth it?
Jez North
Roar Rookie
Sometimes I wonder why we bother to suffer the usual condescending comments from you and your lot. Then I remember that for some, clinging onto All Blacks jersey is all that some people have. Then I smile :happy:
WEST
Roar Guru
Close game, 1 point in it. Might be a strong wave of Australian rugby coming up. ARU, the media.. fans can’t dump all their grudges or burdens on the next generation. Far to long the Aussies are unloading all their negativity onto the next generation. It’s not allowing the junior guys to flourish, reading about how bad ARU is or their coaches complaining about being ripped off by the refs if they lose. The attitude inside ARU needs to change, if that hasn’t been addressed.. no matter how much money you throw at these kids they’ll buy into all the BS and you’ll get the same results. Get your house in order first.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Super disappointed as an Aus rugby fan after that weekend. Only bright spot is the u20s.
Bluesfan
That was really poor from the Force (especially after I tipped them) - Chiefs were there for the taking or should have being - 2nd week on tour, different timezone and lot's of players having first game in month or two. Chiefs however were all class and look like they might be building a dynasty - strength in depth, Finau looks like the long term solution for AB 6 and just class all round. Given Crusaders form/injury issues - Chiefs have to be favorites for the comp for this year and can already see that they are setting up to be favorites for 2024. For Force - hopefully they can recruit well for 2024 because given that if they won they would have being in the finals and then what they showed last night - would be super disappointed if I was a Force fan.