Force
41
Match Complete
Canberra Vikings
3
| A. Deegan |  | 72 | ||
| J. Placid |  | 71 | ||
| J. Thrush | | 67 | ||
| A. Deegan | | 58 | ||
| H. Tessmann | | 58 | ||
| A. Deegan |  | 49 | ||
| A. Deegan | | 46 | ||
| N. Jooste | | 45 | ||
| F. Lee-Warner | | 40 | ||
| A. Deegan | | 31 | ||
| F. Lee-Warner | | 30 | ||
| 16 | | R. Lonergan |
| 6 | Tries | 0 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Match result:
The Western Force have won the 2019 NRC title in dominant fashion, smashing the Canberra Vikings with 41 points to three on Saturday afternoon.
Final score
Western Force 41
Canberra Vikings 3
Match preview:
With just one loss this year, the Western Force will host the Canberra Vikings at UWA Sports Park. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 3pm (AEDT).
It’s been a near flawless year for the West Australians. They train together fulltime, which has only played into their favour.
An away loss to NSW Country is the only blemish on a solid campaign where they topped both the try-scoring and point-scoring charts, while the Vikings finished second in both of those records.
They tallied up more than 30 on every occasion except in the loss to the Eagles.
While the West Australians won an NRC final under the title of the Perth Spirit in 2016, it’s their first appearance in the decider since the change in branding.
The Vikings snuck into second place, but dropped multiple games and were pushed hard multiple times. Ultimately, they won more than they lost thanks to a perfect home record.
These teams clashed once in the regular season, with the Force winning it 45-28 at today’s venue, UWA sports park.
Both teams boast very solid forward packs, while their backs are no stranger to the try line either.
In team news, Brynard Stander comes in for the Force, knocking Tevin Ferris back to the bench, in what is the only change to the starting team that beat Brisbane City last weekend.
A late ankle knock ruled out Rob Valentini before the semi against the Drua, and he won’t play this game either.
Mack Hansen pushes Tom Wright from the left wing to the opposite side, with Toni Pulu ruled out with a hamstring strain. Wallaby Tom Banks will play fullback.
Keep an eye out for Issak Fines who has established himself as the first choice halfback for the Force this season. An absolute livewire, who the Vikings will want to limit.
Prediction
Force to get the job done. Home crowd will be a factor, as will travel.
Force by 6.
Join The Roar for live scores and the blog from 3pm (AEDT).
Venue: UWA sports park
Odds: Force $1.44, Vikings $2.80
TV: Fox Sports
Force
1. Harrison Lloyd, 2. Heath Tessmann, 3. Tom Sheminant, 4. Fergus Lee-Warner, 5. Jeremy Thrush, 6. Henry Stowers, 7. Carlo Tizzano, 8. Brynard Stander, 9. Issak Fines, 10. Andrew Deegan, 11. Jonah Placid, 12. Nick Jooste, 13. Pama Fou, 14. Byron Ralston, 15. Jack McGregor.
Reserves: 16. Andrew Ready, 17. Cameron Orr, 18. Dom Hardman, 19. Ben Grant, 20. Tevin Ferris, 21. Rory O’Sullivan, Chris Tuatara-Morrison, 23. Jake Strachan.
Vikings
1. Bo Abra, 2. Lachlan Lonergan, 3. Angus Wagner, 4. Blake Enever, 5. Nick Frost, 6. Pete Samu, 7. Will Miller, 8. Angus Allen, 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Mack Hansen, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Tom Wright, 15. Tom Banks.
Reserves: 16. TP Luteru, 17. Fred Kaihea, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Will Sankey, 20. Luke Gersekowski, 21. Joe Powell, 22. Bayley Kuenzle, 23. Lincoln Smith.
ForceFan
Roar Rookie
Nick Jooste is signed with the Western Force for 2020 for the initial year of GRR.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
My bad
ScottD
Roar Guru
Just a bit too small imo. I like watching him but I didn't think he was his normal self today
ScottD
Roar Guru
Let's not start this crap again guys.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Didn’t seem to stop the Force...
ScottD
Roar Guru
I wasn't just talking about your post
ScottD
Roar Guru
That combined with the unaccustomed heat could be an explanation
ScottD
Roar Guru
Do I look like him?
andrewM
Roar Rookie
At the rate the Rebels were losing money TWAS would the Rebels have even been able to challenge that in court?
andrewM
Roar Rookie
I was wondering how the travel impacted on them - from Fiji, then home, then to Perth?
DNZ
Guest
You sure you’re not EFF? Just wondering seeing as you spell vikings the same way and I’ve literally never seen this and cannot imagine anyone’s predictive spelling allowing two separate accounts to do so. Anyway, the Force were good. Deserved to win. But let’s not pretend this Vikings side was the Brumbies. Not even close. But the Brumbies should be peeved at their players for letting that run up on them so much. They should be angrier that their future hooker is clearly an age grade star and nowhere near ready for the contract they gave him too. But none of that gives credit to the Force. Who deserved to win. Lucky the Brumbies are getting two of their own next year who were way ahead of their opponents today.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It’s not really hyperbole. We saw the result last year. The Force were exceptional. Comprehensively outplayed them Vikings. Let’s focus on that.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Lot's of hyperbole there. Actually according to that great search engine in the sky, Pete Samu (7) has almost as many appearances for his national team as Thrush (11) and Thrush is several years past his best whereas Samu isn't. GRR isn't SR by a long shot but it is pretty shocking that Vikings have been so comprehensively thrashed today. I was at the game and apart from the first 10 minutes when they looked great the Vickings didn't really turn up. There were a few players often spoken about on this site as potential test material that did their cause no good today. Maybe the heat had something to do with it.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How much would it have set the game back if they cut the Rebels and kept the force and then lost a legal battle as the Rebels owned their licence?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It was a great victory. So dominant.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Really? Those 5 wallabies have about as many caps as Thrush has alone. You Force fans make it hard to like. Instead of celebrating a great win, you have to carry on like a pork chop and make it something it’s not. Beating a team with a handful of SR plans means GRR is close to SR? Righto. Add another 15 and you’ll get pumped. Like what happened when you faced close to a Rebels B team in the test window last year.
Tom English
Roar Guru
Seeya then mate :thumbup:
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Good luck to the Force and well done Vikings for making the final. A very dominant display by a team that should never have been shed from SR in my opinion. I’m still mystified however that this comp still exists... it still hasn’t found its place with the Australian Rugby community. It’s a comp confected out of a perceived need of administrators rather than fans.
Ex force fan
Guest
Great Force smashing a Vicking team with 5 Wallabies and 15 Superugby players. If anyone wondered how big the gap between Superugby and GRR is this final provide an answer
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Absolute pummeling from the force. Would be nice to see a closer game but very proud of the team. Onwards and upwards