Western Force
8
Match Complete
NSW Waratahs
28
| 79 |  | H. Johnson-Holmes | ||
| 45 |  | W. Harrison | ||
| 44 | | J. Maddocks | ||
| 35 | | W. Harrison | ||
| 34 | | A. Newsome | ||
| 31 |  | W. Harrison | ||
| I. Prior | | 27 | ||
| 19 | | W. Harrison | ||
| B. Stander | | 14 | ||
| 8 | | W. Harrison |
| 1 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 0 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 3 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
A winless Western Force outfit will take on the reinvigorated NSW Waratahs at Cbus Super Stadium in Queensland on Friday night. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:05pm (AEST).
With last week’s domination of the Reds and the Western Force remaining winless, the Waratahs head into Friday night’s clash as the clear favourites. However, it may not be that simple. Last week’s upsets have set a precedent in the Super Rugby AU competition, the precedent being that no win is ever guaranteed.
The Force’s series of losses doesn’t accurately tell their story. They have proved themselves to be a formidable underdog, pressuring their opponents right to the end, although making a habit of squandering their winning opportunities. The fact that it is do or die for the Force makes them even more dangerous as a loss would spell the end of their finals aspirations.
Tim Sampson has made four inclusions for the match. Ian Prior returns to the starting side after missing the previous two games due to injury, replacing Nick Frisby. Jake Strachan starts at fullback and Jack McGregor moves to the bench. In the forwards, Pek Cowan will take over from Chris Heiberg who performed well against the Rebels.
Despite Frisby’s flashes of brilliance, Prior is a tremendously important inclusion. He has positioned himself as an expert field-general and one of the Force’s best in the competition’s starting rounds. The Force will be needing a lean on a standout performance from their captain if they are to come away with the win.
On the other side, the Waratahs will be trying to replicate last week’s first-half annihilation of the Reds with a fast start.
Their chances are bolstered by the return of captain Rob Simmons, who was a late omission from last week’s match against the Reds. Despite a brilliant performance last week, Simmons’ return pushes Ned Hanigan to the bench. In the forwards, Harry Johnson-Holmes switches to the bench for Tetra Faulkner and Robbie Abel replaces Andrew Tuala in the reserves.
Jake Gordon and Michael Hooper will be looking to continue their scintillating form this weekend. Both had standout performances in the destruction of the Reds.
Prediction
Continuing with the theme of last week I can see the Western Force jagging their first win of the competition.
Force by 7.
Game information
Venue: Cbus Super Stadum
Kick-off: 7:05pm (AEST)
TV: Fox Sports
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Western Force $3.62, Waratahs $1.29
Teams
Force
1. Pek Cowan, 2. Feleto Kaitu’u, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Fergus Lee Warner, 6. Henry Stowers, 7. Kane Koteka, 8. Brynard Stander, 9. Ian Prior (c), 10. Jono Lance, 11. Brad Lacey, 12. Richard Kahui, 13. Kyle Godwin, 14. Byron Ralston, 15. Jake Strachan
Bench: 16. Andrew Ready, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Tom Sheminant, 19. Johan Bardoul, 20. Ollie Atkins, 21. Nick Frisby, 22. Nick Jooste, 23. Jack McGregor
Waratahs
1. Tom Robertson, 2. Ton Horton, 3. Te Tera Faulkner, 4. Tom Staniforth, 5. Rob Simmons (c), 6. Lachie Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Jack Dempsey, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Will Harrison, 11. Alex Newsome, 12. Karmichael Hunt, 13. Lalakai Foketi, 14. James Ramm, 15. Jack Maddocks
Bench: 16. Robert Abel, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19. Ned Hanigan, 20. Hugh Sinclair, 21. Mitch Short, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Joey Walton
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Thanks Peter, that is the way I thought it worked. When I read the law it seemed more ambiguous: Offside if "in front of a team-mate who kicked the ball and fails to retire immediately behind an onside team-mate or an imaginary line across the field 10 metres on that player’s side from where the ball is caught or lands." There is probably other info somewhere clarifying this so that Gordon would need to retire behind Hunt before moving forward, and I agree he definitely changed direction fractionally before Hunt went through. This would be so unless he was within 10 metres of where the ball was landing in which case he needs to retire immediately behind the imaginary ten metre line. Which is irrespective of whether he is run onside before the ball lands? Old news now, but have been pretending to do some work.
jeznez
Roar Guru
That retreat is only if they are inside 10m of where there ball lands. Otherwise it's just cannot move forward (his move in field is fine, it's just the movement towards the try line that isn't allowed). When you go back 25+ years you were allowed to advance, just not to within 10m of where the ball lands so under the old laws Gordon would have been absolutely fine.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Damn, just 25 years? My bad, I thought I knew the Law 10.4(c) that you cannot move forward by one mm until you are run onside but its worse, it says the offside player MUST retreat. Law 10.7 adds to that: (Other than under Law 10.4c, an offside player can be put onside when : a. An onside team-mate of that player). The key word is OTHER. I think that clears up the misunderstanding most folks have, but I shall put a smelly sock in it. Only excuse is 25 years ago is well after the last time I played rugby. :crying:
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Cheers Red Rob, I will try and provide some where poss.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
He was at the ruck but he actually deliberately walked around it and headed a metre or two downfield where there were no Force players. Can't think why he would have done it apart from being trained to. If he'd stayed at the actual ruck then the penalty would have been utterly ridiculous.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Good post, Sam.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Mate nice analysis, looking forward to hearing more from you.
Ex force fan
Guest
I think Stander, Ralston and Lee-Warner all deserve a closer look. It is difficult to perform in a losing side, but they have done enough to deserve a closer look.
Irish Sam
Roar Rookie
Those who have follow K’s career over a 17 year period are not loss across his multi-dimensional skill set. The passing distance you noted was evident during the test match against Italy in Brisbane where hit Issy (twice I think) Hunt peripheral vision has always been there since he became a professional at 16yrs. During his NRL days he was the pioneer in regards to being a classy ball playing fullback. Hunt is a big game player, coaches, team mates and opposition only know to well he’ll compete and jam where he can. Those who don’t tend to pigeon hole him or snigger at his capabilities due to their purist nature (code specific) and insecurities. I felt for him during the early season when Beal’s was playing. Hunt was tarred with same performance output as Beal and the mob unfairly went after him as the ‘senior player’ when the opposite is true. Hunt game hasn’t change since the beginning of the year the pieces around him have changed, his skillset remains lethal as it was when he entered the professional arena. Roar supporters won’t like reading this however Will Harrison is benefiting playing alongside K, reminisce of Hunt fulfilling his obligations as a young fullback at the Broncos. To the sinister minds In terms of Hunt influence off the pitch, I’m told he lives a completely different life from the urban life he knew one of solace the other heavily immerse in academia.
DanFan
Guest
I’ll keep an eye on it
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Highlanders are currently running a 4221 system right now if anyone's interested.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Well described. 4:24 on the highlights on rugby.com.au as well. If they wanted to penalise someone then Hanigan was a better candidate, he actually held a player for a second as the ruck broke up.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That’s what I thought, that he was at the ruck, which makes it pretty silly and unfair to call back.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
HJH cleaned at a ruck and wasn't really needed so walked around the edge of it about 1m downfield then stopped and turned around to watch the play. He didn't move and Reddy was behind him and milked it, HJH never even saw him, but he had no business going downfield in the first place really. Like the other one, it happens all the time and worse than that. It's at 1:29 on the kayo replay if you have that and want to look.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Haha Catch it is then hey. Yeah maybe next time I will add in a few more around that. Its fascinating stuff and should be shared.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Exactly PK. You obviously know your systems. They may even benefit from a 4221 system to release their dynamic Hooker.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Add more to it mate. Add some pictures. We don’t see enough of this pod by numbers analysis. Btw, I like ‘Catch’. It’s catchy and it might catch on.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Yep. Smart footballer is a good way to put it. I don’t think he will ever be big enough to be a line bender at 13, but he could play the role of the one who keeps things organised and gets the bigger faster men in space very well.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Agree, I’d leave a change like this for the preseason
PeterK
Roar Guru
changing to a 2 4 2 would be next year.