Western Force vs Queensland Reds: Super Rugby AU live scores

Thugbyfan, the possibility that the Force would need to play all their games away from home was always on the cards. This is a competition was put together at the last minute, however the "wise men" that came up with the match schedule screwed up (again) when they made the playing field even more uneven. It was surely not the best we could have done under the circumstances. I pointed out from the start that it would be foolish to put weight or base any decisions on the results from this year's competition as the competition lacks integrity. The Reds and Tahs benefited from playing more games at home than any other side and has performed very well. Despite these circumstances I believe the Force performed much better than expected however the risk of blow-outs are high as the grueling schedule, the long time away from home, the pressure of not getting a win and the lack of depth take its toll. If a bye was scheduled for the Force at this stage of the competition it would have been far more beneficial to the health of competition than a bye to any of the other sides. Whoever came up with the schedule deserves to be sacked. I think I understand Matt Hodgson thinking around recruitment. Despite the pressure from Rennie, Rugby Australia and the Eastern State mob that Forrest's must use his millions to bring former Wallabies back to Australia, this will be counterproductive. We need players that commit to WA and that are prepared to do their share to grow the game in WA - not expensive hired hands. The Force is only a means to secure WA's long term future in professional rugby. To be considered part of the heartland of Australian rugby union, we need to have patience and pick up from where we left off in 2017 by again becoming the state where rugby union participation grow the fastest, expanding our junior and under 20 level competitions and improving the quality of junior to club rugby by developing and giving priority to young local talent. To get into the Force players needs to know that you need to play club rugby in WA, do your apprenticeship at the Future Force, connect to the local rugby community and then earn your opportunity to play Superugby/GRR. Once your career ends, it will be more likely that you will give back and help grow the game in Perth and WA. Young upcoming talent from WA, other parts of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pacific Islands needs to know that Perth is the land of opportunity, however you need to play your rugby in Perth. We can recruit gaps in our player group with short term contracts, however the bulk of the playing groups and the bulk of our spedning should be on WA/Perth based players. If you want to use the Force to get notived by the Tahs play for the Rebels.

:laughing: Saw that film when I was about 12. Deeply affected me, not in a good way ...

Lee Warner is decent and so is stander

They have been competitive all season but this is the game that honestly broke them. I think the next 2 games are also going to be blow outs. They have been away from home for over 2 months in and out of hotels, with no home games with a squad that was essentially assembled retrospectively with a matter of days/week before starting their first game together. Recipe for disaster which they bravely handled at the start. However the wheels have now fallen off and they have lost their mental edge.

Plus has the passing and defence game at test standard

McDermott has set the standard. Absolutely love him as a player. Finally a 9 that will take the quick taps and make use of them. Such an under utilised play.

He threw it wide nearly every time and didn't threaten the line. His moves were clearly telegraphed by the defence and the force were caught out because of it. However it was his first game at 10 for the force (usually FB) so will need some time to adjust. I wonder if he is penned as the long term solution at 10...

Always had a soft spot for the Force but after Friday’s effort I reckon it’s time to cut them again. This team is just making up the numbers.

It isn’t but I’m not going to tell him

I agree with your points, but at least it was consistent in SRA. In Aus it just feels like such a mess at the moment, like the refs are winging it at the ruck. The brumbies will be the best equiped for the midfield rucking because of their dynamic backrow (who play wide) and their extensive ruck work in all positions under Laurie Fisher.

Yep, Campbell is not a goal kicker. I reckon that stint as kicker hurt his open play confidence there for a bit and I’m glad O’Connor has taken the duties of late. . Jock seems to be playing great footy since he was relieved of those duties and now has his flair back.

ElysiusRugby, I watched pretty much ALL the SRA games and it was noticeable that after the 1st two weeks the players were more clued on with what the referees were looking at. However in addition the referees began to allow a wee bit of side entry by everyone and (what really annoys me no-end) the belly flops to protect over the ball by teams on the attack returned. In some games, defenders barely bothered attacking the close-in breakdowns except to slow things up, in other words it was back to normal except the really bad transgressions were pulled up. I don't have access to such figures but my observation was most ruck turnovers happened away from the pack as in close, teams with the ball were given too much largesse. This meant that attacking rucks out wide became extra important and it was where the referees were more stringent on ruck attack and defence. As before one loose forward is stationed either side of the middle to attack/defend breakdowns until the big boys arrive. But the better teams even had their centres and wingers put down the handbags, lippy and mirror and join in the rucks. Blokes like J.Goodhue and ALB play an enormous role here. When Aussie teams next travel to NZ, those who haven't trained their midfielders in the dark arts of the ruck will get hammered. I suspect kiwi referees would also give them a flogging as the Aussie referees are far too lenient in breakdowns so the players haven't adapted as well as the kiwi players.

I think which position they play depends on the game plan Rennie plays.

I would have them the same, Joc at 10 and Toomua at 12 for his hard edge defence. The fight is on for the next 10. To me Simone is the next 12 for the Wallabies. I enjoy watching such a big guy with playmaking skills.

ExForce, you gotta feel for the players being in bivouac for nearly 10 weeks of "training, playing, cold baths to ease the pain .. Repeat!" with no loved ones or home life. It gets in the mind and affects team morale and consistency. The Rebels are in the same boat and they are even more inconsistent. Add the Force is missing a couple of young but experienced SR players in their front 5 and that the whole side was hobbled together quickly, with some blokes introducing themselves in their 1st match, then I'm astounded that they have played this well. Early on in the competition they were on track to win at least 2 of their matches but the lack of youth (legs) and quality reserves told on them. If I was WARU and/or Twiggy, now that RA in its wisdom has canned the NRC, I would be looking at the team sheets of The Drua and inquiring if any of their gun forwards would like to make some dosh and play for the "Mining State". You gotta start somewhere and those blokes were a bit rough but are quality.

Does Red Rob live in Tennessee? Am thinking of that scene in the movie Deliverence. They love their piggies down the mountains, and not for the bacon. :silly:

I heard the story back in the day they went to NZ and were very impressed, asked if they could send over 10,000 coaches! The team I coach used to play against the PLA side a couple of years ago. Very strong blokes, all around 6’2, 90-100kg. Was like playing an entire team of backrowers. They aren’t in the comp anymore.

G'day jez, Back in the 90's, China sent a Major to study the set-up at the QRU. It wasn't too bad then. From memory he spent about 6 months at Ballymore. When asked how many players they had, the Major is reported to have said that he could get 10 000 from the army whenever he wanted. I wonder what has happened to Chinese rugby since then?

I have stated from the start that it would be a mistake to put to much weight on the results from this make shift and uneven competition. The way RA put the draw together with an obvious bias in favour of the Tahs and against the Force will come back to haunt them...there was always a lack of depth at the Force and this blow-out exposed it. This could have prevented if the Force also got two byes like all the other teams instead of only one and if the Force didn't get one day less on average between games to prepare for the next game. RA set the Force up for failure and must take their share of the blame for this blow-out.

Yeah it's news to me too!