Western Force
19
Match Complete
Chiefs
20
| D. Miotti |  | 80 | ||
| D. Miotti |  | 69 | ||
| R. Kahui | | 68 | ||
| 56 | | J. Lowe | ||
| 53 | | N. Harris | ||
| 39 |  | D. McKenzie | ||
| 35 | |||
| 6 | | D. McKenzie | ||
| 5 | | A. Nankivell |
| 3 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
After a successful Super Rugby AU season, the Western Force test themselves against a New Zealand outfit in the Chiefs for the first time in four years. Keep an eye on things from Perth with live scores on The Roar from 9:55pm (AEST).
Having returned to top-flight rugby in the 2020 Super Rugby AU season, the Force took the next step by cracking the top three in the 2021 edition. Winning their last three games and sticking with the Brumbies in a tense qualifying final defeat, Tim Sampson’s team are certainly in excellent form.
However, the Chiefs are a step above what they’ve had to deal with since returning to the big stage. They too have enjoyed a landmark 2021 so far, recovering from a winless 2020 campaign to make the final this time around.
Bizarrely, they made it to the big dance despite scoring the fewest points and conceding the most in the New Zealand competition for the season. Really, it was only thanks to a string of clutch efforts from Damian McKenzie at the death that saw them win time and again. Perhaps they’re more vulnerable than they appear.
The first round of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman has suggested the gulf in class between Australian and New Zealand rugby sides is stark. Can the Force show they’re made of stronger stuff?
Game information
Kick-off: 9:55pm (AEST)
Venue: HBF Park, Perth
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Chiefs $1.13, Force $6 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Force
1. Tom Robertson, 2. Feleti Kaitu’u, 3. Santiago Medrano, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Fergus Lee-Warner, 6. Tim Anstee, 7. Kane Koteka, 8. Brynard Stander, 9. Tomás Cubelli, 10. Jake McIntyre, 11. Jordan Olowofela, 12. Henry Taefu, 13. Kyle Godwin (c), 14. Richard Kahui, 15. Rob Kearney
Bench: 16. Andrew Ready, 17. Angus Wagner, 18. Greg Holmes, 19. Ryan McCauley, 20. Ollie Callan, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Domingo Miotti, 23. Jake Strachan
Chiefs
1. Aidan Ross, 2. Nathan Harris, 3. Angus Ta’avao, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Pita Gus Sowakula, 7. Lachlan Boshier, 8. Luke Jacobson, 9. Brad Weber, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Alex Nankivell, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Shaun Stevenson, 15. Chase Tiatia
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Joe Apikotoa, 19. Zane Kapeli, 20. Liam Messam, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Bryn Gatland, 23. Bailyn Sullivan
Malotru
Roar Rookie
I have to say well done to Stan, missed all the best bits of Force v Chiefs and the first few minutes of the Crusaders v Brumbies game. Now I'm no Foxtel fan, but in all the years I watched Rugby on Foxtel it was extremely rare to have any disruption. Stan has managed to stuff up with 10 weeks.
Ex force fan
Guest
Just took a couple of minutes to get used to the faster pace and to get better focus. Australian rugby is behind NZ rugby, the question is if we can close the gap or not.
Ex force fan
Guest
The official number is just more than 13,000. That is closer to the mark.
ScottD
Roar Guru
A great atmosphere at the game. I couldn't believe that they called it at 9,500 people. I struggled to see an empty seat in a +20,000 stadium, I would have said at least 15,000
ScottD
Roar Guru
only the buckle
ScottD
Roar Guru
It's not his life that's the problem , its the length of his willy
ScottD
Roar Guru
Maybe they all went to the game?
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Watch the mini match.
piru
Roar Rookie
Think you need to stop listening to Cheika mate
Double Agent
Guest
There was one tackle after the knock on and then the try.
Double Agent
Guest
"I decided not to have any beers this weekend." This is without doubt the WORST thing I've ever read on the Roar. :shocked:
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Mate, unfortunately same result
piru
Roar Rookie
There are no NRL or AFL games on at 1100 est. Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough, why do you keep coming back?
piru
Roar Rookie
Why do you do this to yourself? Is your life so empty?
piru
Roar Rookie
Do you reckon they all went home early and accidentally turned the power off?
piru
Roar Rookie
Having the same issue, looks like they may have stuffed up completely. A pity as I waslooking forward to rewatching
ScottD
Roar Guru
The Force were good last night. Their up tempo game was really effective but they didn't play at that place long enough . I think several batches of 4-5 phases at up tempo but really they had the Chiefs on the run a couple of times and just didn't keep attacking/slowed down. The Chiefs were the better team on the night but the rock hard Force defence frustrates most teams and encourages the opposition to do silly things (cos they have to). Hence the cards. Good work by the Force but still a bit to do. I couldn't help feeling that if Kuridrani was playing we would have won. I'm looking forward to his return.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Well, it'll be interesting to see if the Reds beat or get flogged by the Saders!
Mel R
Roar Rookie
Noticed that in the tight games the Sanders and Chiefs opened their cynical playbook to seal the deal. Also Aussie sides overall need to execute fast forward passes at speed to fool the Refs and make them gun shy. Next week we must be better, Stan I'm talking to you too!!
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
Personally, I think given all the circumstances the Oz teams did well. They all showed they won't be pushovers at all. IMO it was a one off for the Reds. Tahs got 7 tries for goodness sake even though they ended up with a bit of a hammering. You can be sure the Kiwi teams will know they'll have to up their games if they want to come out on top. Go Super Rugby AU!