Western Force
18
Match Complete
Blues
22
| B. Abra |  | 75 | ||
| J. Thrush | | 62 | ||
| 29 | | A. Lam | ||
| 22 |  | B. Barrett | ||
| 21 | | A. Ioane | ||
| 19 | | B. Barrett | ||
| 17 | | S. Darry | ||
| 12 |  | B. Barrett | ||
| M. Mataele | | 8 | ||
| B. Kuenzle | | 3 |
| 3 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 0 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Super Rugby Pacific Round 11 continues as the Western Force host the Auckland Blues at HBF Park, Perth in their first match against New Zealand opposition this season. Join The Roar for live scores from 10:00pm AEST.
After missing out on playing in Round 10 because of a COVID outbreak, the Force will be hoping that their side is more on the rested side of things than recovering side as they take on competition leaders, the Blues.
The Perth side have been able to welcome back crucial experience in the form of Wallabies Feleti Kaitu’u, Izack Rodda, and Tom Robertson. Rapid scrum half Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and exciting fly half Reesjan Pasitoa will need to be on top form if they are going to find ways to unlock the Blues defence. The Force will need to score plenty of tries to stand a chance of winning and the half backs are going to need to set the tone for the west coast side.
The Blues meanwhile are welcoming back their own internationals with seven All Blacks in the match day 23 including the dangerous Caleb Clarke and key forwards Akira Ioane and Dalton Papalii.
These seven internationals are part of 11 overall changes to the competition leaders. In the backs the only players to remain in the same positions as they played in last week’s win over the Drua are Beauden Barrett and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who will be excited about the opportunity of running at the Force’s defence who have struggled in recent weeks.
The Force have played bravely this season and been close to a number of wins over their Australian opposition. Unfortunately close isn’t the same as winning and they’ve only managed two victories so far. With a series of games against the Kiwi sides now on the schedule, the Perth side will be worried that they will be on the wrong side of some big scorelines.
Game Information
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
Kick-off: 10:00pm (AEST)
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Force $9.50, Blues $1.06 – odds via PlayUp
Force (1-15): Tom Robertson, Feleti Kaitu’u (c), Santiago Medrano, Ryan McCauley, Izack Rodda, Fergus Lee-Warner, Kane Koteka, Ollie Callan, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Reesjan Pasitoa, Manasa Mataele, Bayley Kuenzle, Kyle Godwin, Toni Pulu, Jake Strachan/Jake McIntyre.
Reserves: Andrew Ready, Bo Abra, Greg Holmes, Jeremy Thrush, Tim Anstee, Alex Masibaka, Ian Prior, Richard Kahui.
Blues (1-15): Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tuungafasi, Luke Romano, Sam Darry, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Anton Segner, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Bryce Heem, AJ Lam, Zarn Sullivan.
Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Marcel Renata, James Tucker, Adrian Choat, Taufa Funaki, Tanielu Tele’a, Jacob Tatumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
WEST
Roar Guru
Hahaha :laughing:
piru
Roar Rookie
I'm feeling a bit attacked here... Were you in the shed?
WEST
Roar Guru
Ok.. the Force Fans around me certainly thought so. With every touch of the ball. It’s .. Ref that was forward! Ohhh ref they’re offside!! Open ya eyes ref! Shepherding!! Must be exhausting for some fans to watch rugby with all the potential offences whizzing around in their heads :laughing:
piru
Roar Rookie
I actually didn't mind him (no seriously) appreciated his attempts to keep the offside line, though he kind of softened one it as they game went on I thought.
piru
Roar Rookie
Not constantly....
robel
Roar Pro
OK, maybe the 8pm KO allowed a few brews to be consumed. But my contention A. Gardner should stick to putting manure on his roses rather than shoveling it all over the Force is still valid. I did concede that missed kicks were the difference at the end. But the continual lack of the "rub of the green" for the Force, particularly in light of the blatant nature of the two knock downs is galling. I was expecting a thumping by the way and thought that a score line with the Force getting within 20 could be considered a "win". The fact they decided to play from the first whistle instead of waiting 20mins is a good sign.
piru
Roar Rookie
He always plays at high tempo and tries to make things happen
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Rugby is almost as popular on Mars as it is in Australia.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
I was enjoying myself a little too much last night. May have been slightly biased :stoked:
Joe
Guest
Just like to see what people thought of Gardner , first let me say the force were great and very competitive , but personally I found the game difficult to watch with continuous whistle blowing by Gardner , he has a tendency to be over the top , that incident with the alleged high tackle seemed to go on for ever, I stopped watching at that stage .
WEST
Roar Guru
The SR weekend in Melbourne was weird? But WA isn’t exactly rugby country either! But there’s probably more enthusiasm for rugby in WA. By that I mean people willing to actually get their butts to the game. There’s plenty of kiwi supporters who live in Perth, the Aussies who love rugby there are frothing mad fans. But next time it should be in QLD or NSW.. Just a quick 5 hour flight across the bite mate, good weekend on the pss with ya mates, leave doll at home though :rugby: :thumbup:
WEST
Roar Guru
Unfortunately mate, the Crusaders are next.. get your typo fingers ready to spin the next yarn :thumbup:
WEST
Roar Guru
Good game by the Force, can be a stubborn bstrd of a team to beat at times. I remember the first time I watched the Force vs Crusaders in Perth.. Expecting a relatively easy win for the Crusaders, despite it being on the homeward journey from South Africa. But! Nope Force had other plans and beat the Crusaders! Anyway, nothing is guaranteed in Perth. The time after a few years later in Perth they got hammered by the Canes! Just never know what you’ll get :thumbup: the fans are loyal, they also think the opposition cheats constantly :laughing:
Yeah I would've thought the same thing if I was at the game, but no, replays show he touch his hand and not the ball. Hope you enjoyed the game :thumbup:
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
No arguments there. RA's performance over the last decade isn't great, perhaps the last two decades
AndyS
Guest
Probably true OiSA, but perhaps a shame they didn't take that a bit more seriously before now?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Yep. I'm serious. I agree with your contention that rugby in WA seems better supported than in Vic and I was furious when the Force was cut in 2017. It's for that very reason, I want RA to keep their eye on the ball across the country and not focus just on WA. It's an important location but so are the other states where the game is played
Cam Watts
Roar Rookie
Are you serious?? WA has clearly shown over the years that they are far more supportive of rugby union than VIC are!
Mo
Guest
I’m suggesting that thrush is better than Romano and Barrett maybe suspended
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
You don't think your view is a little blinkered, Cam, and that RA has the responsibility to keep their eye on rugby across the country?