Life on the road is already looking brighter for the Western Force after a late penalty earned them a 21-19 pre-season win over the Queensland Reds at their Ballymore heartland.
The Force (5-9) missed finals by one victory last Super Rugby Pacific season, despite not registering a win away from Perth.
But coach Simon Cron said the recruitment of Wallabies five-eighth Ben Donaldson, who controlled play in a 46-minute stint on Saturday, and veteran halfback Nic White among others had already made an impact.
Cron joked that touring had already become easier because, unlike last season, “everyone gets on”.
“We had to make a lot of changes in the organisation and … a lot of that’s been done now,” he said.
“It’s a completely different culture.
“The way we play, he (Donaldson) will get a lot of touches.
“But it’s combinations of players that change it, we can’t pin it on one guy.”
Simon Cron believes the Western Force have made some big changes on and off the field. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Skipper Michael Wells, who took over the role last season immediately after departing the Melbourne Rebels, said the victory in Brisbane was “the first step”.
“Credit to how Donno (Donaldson) ran the game and the standards Whitey’s driving, even though he’s at home (with a shoulder injury), it’s hard to replace,” he said.
“In terms of bringing respect to the Force … the best way to do that is winning games.
“I don’t want to be a comeback team, I want to be a team that wins from the front.”
The Force were forced to come back on Saturday after a bright start, with wing recruit Harry Potter crossing twice in the first of three 30-minute periods.
The Reds ate up a 13-3 deficit with tries to Harry Wilson, Tim Ryan and Joe Brial to lead 19-13.
But the Force held them scoreless in the final period, Chase Tiatia’s lovely left-foot cross-field kick hitting try-scorer Ronan Leahy on the chest, before Ian Prior’s 88th-minute penalty put them ahead.
“There’s a lot we learnt, that’s for sure,” Reds coach Les Kiss said, lamenting some poor execution and turnovers.
Irish lock Cormac Daly played 80 minutes for the Reds, Connor Vest played his first minutes since fracturing his neck last season, and back-up scrum half Louis Werchon was sharp.
Kiss was pleased with fullbacks Jordan Petaia and Jock Campbell, while Tom Lynagh (back) is likely to get his chance at No.10 against the Waratahs next week after Lawson Creighton and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips shared the duties.
While the Reds’ scrum killed the Force, both teams struggled at the lineout.
For the Force, Test-capped hooker Feleti Kaitu’u was strong off the bench, while Potter only enhanced his reputation as a quality finisher. Donaldson, too, looked comfortable at fly-half.
Test midfielder Hunter Paisami was one of the Reds’ best, with the strong runner making life particularly uncomfortable for Tim Anstee.
Halfback Tate McDermott was lively, while his replacement in the second third of the match, Louis Werchon, was also impressive.
Creighton, who was given first crack in the No.10 jersey, struggled.
Tate McDermott was one of the Reds’ best during their narrow defeat to the Force at Ballymore. Photo: Queensland Rugby Union
Veteran James O’Connor’s training setback (hamstring) has ruled him out of both pre-season clashes.
The Melbourne Rebels, who went into voluntary administration this week, also notched a statement victory.
They beat the Waratahs 38-12 in Moorabbin, with star recruit Taniela Tupou unscathed in a 30-minute stint after injury ruined his World Cup.
Former Queensland and Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto also impressed.
In Canberra, the Brumbies overcame a 28-7 deficit to post a fighting 43-40 win over Fijian Drua.
The Brumbies struggled to keep pace with the speedy Drua in the opening 30 minutes, but they finished with a flurry, scoring six of the last eight tries of the match.
Angus Staniforth, the cousin of former Brumby Tom Staniforth, scored the go-ahead try with a speedy run in the 73rd minute, before Dan Nelson crossed a short time later to give the home side a match-winning eight-point buffer.
AAP with staff writers
Robbo
Roar Rookie
You're right, Burey hopefully is no 10 ahead of Donaldson. Far more pace and has a bit of excitement about him. Donalson has the basics and is steady but I certainly did'nt see anything special about him last season, whilst Burey showed heaps of potential. (although....it appears Eddie saw something I did'nt....)
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Hoping he has a breakout year as we need a 12 with his skill set
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
Agree. Maybe it's a testosterone thing to see who has the biggest kick. Watching the 6 Nations over the weekend it seemed 50-60% of kicks hit the grass; rugby ball is a funny shape, anything can happen when it hits the ground
Olly
Roar Rookie
Haha, could be a short season for the Tahs coach.
Olly
Roar Rookie
The Force have had some great backs but the likes of Gits and JOC are small bodied players who need that big line crashing back to work with. Guys like JOC in particular comes alive when he has big backs creating momentum and space for him. And in the modern game for the last 20 years the forward need backs to help hitting it up. The force had the k-train for the end of his career but unfortunately he really only turned up for Test matches.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
True… just ask the Tah fans! Pre season guns and just keep disappointing… maybe not this year though after the weekend!
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
We had some good midfielders in the past eg Staniforth, Giteau and JOC. When everyone is healthy we can field a very good team that can surprise the best on their day. Consistency has been an issue as well as the step up from club to SR. The latter takes decades to fix.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
Not sure he is a Wallaby just yet…. Although if you ask Tim Horan he is… hence he’s not…
Olly
Roar Rookie
The Force backline recruitment continues to be an issue for them. Recruitment is an issue for them and I am not sure this will ever change. The Force always have a good hard working pack and generally are good at the core elements of the game. What they always lack is that midfielder who brings real physicality to the team. You need a midfielder who can just punch the line and take some of the pressure off the forward pack. Ideally you also want a winger and a 15 who can also help the Forwards out. Unfortunately the Force do not have this resulting in the forwards having a very high workload that is hard to carry through the season.
Mirt
Roar Rookie
I resemble that remark
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Thanks Bliksem. Hoping Izack can back to full fitness and health and get on the field, but as you say the lack of news is a worry.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Sorry Reds Harry, don't have much news on Luckless Rodda. No news is often not good news. His pair of foot injuries kept him on the sidelines in the past two season as he only played 76 minutes in 2023. A firing Rodda adds a missing element to the Force’s squad - he can get over the advantage line and his line-out work is first class. Rodda needs a strong season to force his way back into the Wallabies. In his absence, Jeremy Williams stepped up and I hope he will continue this progress to play himself into Wallaby contention. I think Williams may have a break-out year.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Can a Force fan give us an update on I. Rodda? Missing from the squad on the weekend. Still injured? If so, thats very sad news.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Why would that be? Season after season regardless of the players or coaches.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
A game of 3 x 30mins with mostly the wider squad involved. Key takeaways: Reds starting team down 3-13 put on 19 unanswered points in 30mins then departed. Reds scrum won all scrums except one where collapse was deemed to be a penalty to the force. Every single other scrum was a Reds pack asserting themselves, winning a penalty and simply playing on. Handling for both teams in the heat was shocking. Reds more interested in running at other players than finding space and doing something other than establishing who the toughest kid in the school yard is. Very impressed with the new Reds 8 Briel who I’m convinced needs to play lock instead (since Australia has a bazillion 8’s already. If we leave Harry Wilson at home we definitely don’t need another 8! Briel could become a Wallaby 4 or 5 because we know with absolute certainty that the Brumby and Tahs players we select there will be completely missing in action. Donaldson and Stewart impressed for me in the Force. I also liked Grealy’s game and continue to wonder why we still pay Vunivalu a salary.
Ruckin' Oaf
Roar Rookie
Played in Tasmania might work. :stoked:
Olly
Roar Rookie
Got to love a trial game hype :laughing:
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I thought he was saying better than Stewart. Like others, I think Paisami is better suited to 13 than 12, but he has shown he can handle 12 on the international stage. It would seem that the centres is/are a position where we have developed some depth.
savant
Roar Rookie
Did TWAS mean Henry was a better 12 than Paisami?
Olly
Roar Rookie
Don't get your hopes up over a trial game...as a Reds fan I have learnt the hard way about trials and the actual season.